While external hard drives are a convenient way to expand storage, they typically don’t come with multiple USB ports that would allow for simultaneous connection to more than one computer. However, there are efficient solutions to this limitation. This article will guide you on how to connect two computers to a single external hard drive.
NAS Storage Solution
NAS (Network Attached Storage) solutions might be a bit pricey, but they are practical, flexible, and definitely worth the investment. With a NAS, you can access the storage not only from multiple devices but also from outside your local internet network.
A NAS box will give your computer a data transfer speed exceeding 100MB/s if connected via an Ethernet cable. If connected wirelessly, the speed might drop to about half. If you find NAS solutions too expensive and don’t have the budget for it currently, there are two other methods to connect an external hard drive to more than one computer.
USB Sharing Switch Box
One solution is to purchase a USB Sharing Switch Box. Unfortunately, there aren’t many options available as USB controllers don’t support Network Sharing, a feature that allows file sharing between computers connected to the same local internet network.
A good example of a USB Sharing Switch Box is the Rosewill USB 2.0 Sharing Switch Box, which costs approximately $28. If you want to connect more than two devices at the same time, you’ll need a model that supports connection with four different devices. If your external hard drive operates at USB 3.0 speed, you’ll need a model that supports USB 3.0 to ensure you can take advantage of its true data transfer speed.
TeamViewer Software
Another modest but effective method is to use TeamViewer software. In this case, the computer connected to the external hard drive is the administrator, while the second computer is the host.
After downloading and installing TeamViewer on both devices for personal use (which is free), send the ID and password from the administrator computer to the host computer. On the host computer, enter the ID in the Partner ID field and click Connect. After entering the password, you can select Full Control or File Transfer to access files on the external hard drive.
The speed of this method depends on your internet upload and download speed. It’s not a bad option, but it will consume your internet data if you’re transferring large files like games or high-quality movies.
Key Takeaways
- External hard drives typically don’t come with multiple USB ports that would allow for simultaneous connection to more than one computer.
- NAS (Network Attached Storage) solutions are practical and flexible, allowing access to the storage from multiple devices and from outside your local internet network.
- A USB Sharing Switch Box is a device that allows you to connect an external hard drive to more than one computer.
- TeamViewer is a software solution that allows one computer to access files on an external hard drive connected to another computer.
Remember, the method you choose depends on your specific needs and budget. Whether you opt for a NAS, a USB Sharing Switch Box, or TeamViewer, each solution offers a way to connect two computers to a single external hard drive.
