How to Set up FTP in Vista using default Network Location feature?
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FTP is one of the most used utility by bloggers, webmasters and by people who used to upload and download large files from the Internet. More often they use third party FTP software like Smart FTP, Cute FTP etc. But with Vista, you can set up FTP using Network Location feature and so there is no need of installing a third party FTP program.
By setting up the default FTP feature of Vista, you will be able to browse, edit or manage files in the same way you do it in Windows Explorer Interface. You may not be able to change advanced features like changing CHMOD of a file etc.
How to Set Up FTP in Vista?
Follow these simple steps to set up FTP in Vista using the default Network Location Feature.
1) Open My Computer and Right Click on an empty space.
2) Click Add a Network Location
3) You will get a new wizard to add a network location which allows you to create a shortcut to a website, an FTP site, or other network location.
4) Click Next and Click Choose a custom network location.
5) You will be asked to enter the location of the website. Note: when you give the location address for FTP use the following syntax, (FTP://ftp.yoursitename.com)
6) In the next step specify the User Name if you have any otherwise it will log on anonymously.
7) Give a name for this location by which you would like to refer later.
You will receive the message that you have successfully created this network location and click Finish.Now you will have a link for this FTP location in My Computer under Network Location.
Double Click this link and you will be promted for password before log on. The rest is silence as its just like the normal browsing in windows.
Note and Debug:
This feature will work only if FTP Folder View outside of Internet Explorer is enabled.
How to enable FTP Folder View outside of Internet Explorer?
Open Internet Explorer -> Tools -> Internet options -> Advanced
Under the section Browsing, make sure Enable FTP folder View (Outside of Internet Explorer) is checked and Click Ok.
[...] How to Set up FTP in Vista using default Network Location feature? -by Lytebyte [...]
[...] Setting up FTP in Vista using the default Network Location Feature – Joel [...]
gud tip buddy…
How do you update files in Vista once you do this?
@ourtnfamilytree, Once you have done this, it acts more like windows explorer..You can copy, paste or edit in the usual way that you do in Windows…
Goodbye ftpNow…
Hello,
This is not working for me. I cannot copy, paste, or move folders. Could this have anything to do with my security software? Appreciate any help on this.
Thanks.
M
@ Melissa, Check if you are logging in with enough rights as admin. If you want access, you can change the CHMOD values of these files to give access to you. But you cannot change the CHMOD values through this method and you can use regular stand alone FTP to do that.
Followed procedure above. No able to connect. Are any firewall settings that need to be changed?
Slick-est!
Thank you
Hey, This is the best and cool technique. No more headache of FTP programs…..
hi
tanx for advice but one problem with mine,
i have set it up and all but it keeps saying that
“windows cannot access this folder. make sure you have typed the file name correctly and that you have permission to access the folder.
details:
the server name or address could not be resolved.
i would greatly appreciate some help from anyone, tanx
xx
this is excelent. thanks this really helped me a lot
How to undo please?
I have set a user name and completed the whole installation processing. The ftp has been successfully created on the “My computer”. When I link the ftp, there is no dialogue box ask the password, but shown that Windows cannot link up the ftp folder, which said that the name and the location of the ftp folder are unknown, and I have no permission to access the folder.
I am sure the info is correct as I have set up several time on WinXP. In addition, the wrong ftp setting are still on the computer and cannt be deleted.
Please help me!
Many times ftp username has to be full address.
i.e. username=abc, domain=xyz.com
So username should be abc@xyz.com
Try it….
as if the ftp setting is successfully installed, which will show as “abc@xyz.com”. However, the ftp function on my Vista seems block to connect the ftp server.
@onon, Did you enable FTP Folder View outside of Internet Explorer? See the Note section at the end of article for more on how to do it.
I have followed the above setting, but the ftp is still cannot connected. I have istalled “Norton Internet Security”, is it block some network setting? How can I check this?
Hey, followed procedure and all went well first time. Everything is working great. Thanks for the article.
you are the best. thanks a lot
onon,
Have you tried going to Control Panel -> Programs -> Turn Windows features on or off -> Internet Information Services -> FTP Publishing Services… and turning them on?
Hi,
Thank for this tip… I just want to know i had created a small site for our church and im using http://www.dot.tk how can i upload my microsoft frontpage site that i made…
Hope to hear from your soon.
Thanks
Melvvin
@Melvin, You have to upload all the contents to public_html but I would suggest you getting help from the web host to guide you.
I am going to migrate all outlook express messages to window mail. But I found two problems.
1. the outlook express folder with its subfolders cannot free from “read only”. Such folder is always as “read only” no matter any setting.
2. I want to setup the window mail at D drive. But an error is always occured while the “window mail” is migrated from “C” drive to “D” drive. I have closed all application while coping or reloading.
Thanks a lot for any comment.
Worked great first time. Able to cut and paste just fine. Thanks.
DM
Worked 2 time. Able to cut and paste just fine.
Thx
I have tried all of the above and still i cannot even connect to my FTP site???
Any ideas guys?
Error Code: 502 Proxy Error. The password was not allowed. The password might have been changed or typed incorrectly. Try typing the password again. If the problem continues, contact the administrator for the remote server and report the problem.
Error above
@Kevin, there are many reasons why some may get this error message. Can you confirm, if you are able to access the ftp site through some third party applications like smartftp?
Also just to confirm, did you give the site name as ftp://ftp.sitename.com and not as http://sitename.com as 502 is more likely to come when the extensions are wrong (In technical terms when the protocol varies between the one you had mentioned and the actual one).
Nice tip
All is working but when i try to delete a file it keeps there. any clues why?
Ty @ lot, nice tip easy to understand even 4 me ;D
Hi,
About Mapping to an ftp account.
Connecting works fine. But, when I try to open a file it opens in the default browser and ask for password again. Not the assigned program. Any solution to this
I set this up on my xp system and its is working fine. Just like a normal copy and paste system. However on my vista32 bit system i can login to my server but when i try to add the file it says:
An error occured copying a file to the FTP server. Make sure you have permission to put files on the server.
Details:
Type 200 is now 8-bit binary
227 entering passive mode
150 accepted data connection.
I have enabled passive mode and ftp folder view. And also tuned on ftp publishing services through windows features.
My gaming clan using an FTP site to store all of our maps files. I cannot copy/download those files with Vista. I can log in and see everything. If i want to copy or click and drag a file it says “error copying file or folder” and “access denied”. I have already logged into the ftp correctly. Also I can copy a map file I already have on my computer, I just can’t copy new ones. How do I fix this??
.
Ok, so after you “Add a Network Location” (a folder on another pc on your home network, for example) how do you get rid of it if you don’t want it showing up in the “Computer” section anymore?
.
When you right click on the new network folder the only menu item that sounds reasonable is “Delete”, but I am afraid that will actually delete the contents of the network folder, which is obviously not what we want.
.
Any ideas??
“You may not be able to change advanced features like changing CHMOD of a file etc.”
on Vista, you can the file property ( CHMOD )by right clicking the file and selecting Properties
thnx a lot, no more ftp other FTP Clients. Realy great TIP
I have ftp mapped to a server location, and upload/download works ok for small files. It crashes with big files (400 meg movie) – it either hangs at 99%, or it just quits and erases the downloaded file – any ideas
Thanks SO MUCH! This is fantastic!
I am having the same trouble as florence
“windows cannot access this folder. make sure you have typed the file name correctly and that you have permission to access the folder.
details:
the server name or address could not be resolved.”
I have also tried to install IIS but same result.
Any help is appreciated.
Unfortunately, the process crashes if you are downloading large files. Internet Explorer has a timeout feature that lets you wait until your multi-megabyte download has completed, then informs you the connection was dropped before the file closes. Thanks, Microsoft.
Hi, I’ve tried connecting to my modded xbox using this method but have not been able to connect.
It didn’t have a site as such, it just has an ip address, which works in SmartFTP.
In the address box I typed ftp://xxx.xxx.x.x (x= the xbox’s ip)
The wizard completed successfully but when I try to connect it says “Windows cannot access this folder”
Thanks A Ton . . I Hope it works further . .
Regards
Shashank
I’m about ready to tear out my hair, return my new laptop, or get a good self-respecting geek to take Vista off my laptop and put XP on it. I have tried every single thing in very clear procedure, have enabled the ftp folder view in advanced internet settings. I went to Control Panel>Programs>Windows Features on or off>Internet Information Services …. and THERE IS NO FTP PUBLISHING SERVICES option to turn on!! I am sooooooo frustrated. Is there anyone who can walk me through some troubleshooting?
Folks, I was having the same frustrations as Kevin, Jo Robbins, etc. Denied permission when trying to access my ftp account through windows explorer, though I double checked all the details (like enabling ftp folder view outside IE etc.). What finally worked: Control Panel>Programs>Windows Features on or off>TFTP. You check this box and Vista installs an ftp client, that ostensibly is for command-prompt ftp access, but lo and behold, once I had it installed, windows explorer-ftp also started working. It took several minutes to install on my machine so beware. But now, life is good.
I mapped my FTP site but have the same problem as another earlier poster: I cannot open files within my network folders without being prompted for a password each time, then audio files for instance cannot be found. I hope Windows 7 fixes this.