Setting Up Maxtor Shared Storage II on Windows XP/2000 & Mediacenter The Maxtor Shared Storage II Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
is a network-attached storage (NAS) device designed to bring centralized storage, automatic backups, and media sharing to home and small office networks. Connecting this device to legacy operating systems like Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Media Center Edition (MCE) is straightforward, relying on Ethernet connectivity and a web-based management interface.
This guide will walk you through the physical installation, software setup, and network configuration to get your drive running on older Windows systems. Phase 1: Physical Setup & Installation
Before turning on the computer, you must connect the drive to your network.
Connect to Network: Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the Maxtor Shared Storage II and the other end into your router or switch.
Power On: Plug the power adapter into a wall outlet and connect it to the drive.
Wait for Initialization: The drive will go through a boot-up sequence. The LED lights on the front will blink, then settle into a steady state (usually blue or white depending on the model) once it has acquired an IP address from your router. Phase 2: Installing Software on Windows XP/2000/MCE
While the drive works without software, installing the Maxtor Shared Storage Manager provides a better user experience for finding the drive on the network and setting up automatic backups. Insert CD: Place the Maxtor Shared Storage II CD into your Windows XP/2000 computer.
Run Setup: The software installation should start automatically. If it does not, open “My Computer,” open the CD drive, and run setup.exe.
Follow On-Screen Prompts: The installation wizard will guide you through installing the Shared Storage Manager.
Launch Manager: Once finished, open the Maxtor Shared Storage Manager from your Start Menu or desktop icon. It will automatically scan your network for the drive. Phase 3: Accessing and Configuring the Drive
Once the software detects the drive, you can map it as a local drive letter for easier access.
Open Management Interface: In the Maxtor Shared Storage Manager, select your drive and choose Manage or Configure. This will open the web browser interface.
Log In: The default login is usually admin with no password, or it may ask you to create a password during the initial setup wizard. Map Network Drive (Windows XP/2000): Open “My Computer.” Click “Tools” > “Map Network Drive.” Choose a drive letter (e.g., M:).
For the folder, type: \ (Replace mssii). Check “Reconnect at logon.”
Configure Users/Folders: Within the web interface, you can create new folders, set permissions, and enable Drag and Sort™ features to automatically organize files. Phase 4: Setting Up Backups (Maxtor Backup) Maxtor Shared Storage II
includes software to automatically back up your files, which is particularly useful for protecting XP/2000 systems.
Open Maxtor Backup: Launch the backup application from the CD tools.
Create Plan: Choose which folders on your local XP/2000 machine to back up (e.g., My Documents).
Set Frequency: Schedule daily or weekly backups to run automatically to the network drive.
SimpleView™: Use the SimpleView™ utility to monitor the status of your backups across all connected computers on the network. Troubleshooting Tips
Drive Not Found: Ensure the network cable is securely plugged in and the drive is on the same subnet as your computer.
Access Denied: Ensure your Windows username/password matches the user set up in the Maxtor Web Management interface.
Firmware Updates: Occasionally check for firmware updates through the ADVANCED SETTINGS > SYSTEM MAINTENANCE section of the web interface to ensure optimal performance. Disclaimer: Note that the Maxtor Shared Storage II
is a legacy device designed for older network protocols. Using it on modern networks might require enabling legacy SMB 1.0 protocols. If you’d like, I can: Tell you how to map the drive in Windows XP/2000 Explain how to configure the backup software Give you tips on how to access the drive’s web interface Let me know what you’d like to do! Maxtor Shared Storage Plus Windows User’s Guide