How to Use Gmail as an Online Hard Drive

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By DiDill
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Gmail, the free email service offered by Google, is offers more than 2 GB of storage for your email attachments. This free online storage can actually serve as a virtual hard drive that you can access from any Internet connection! You can do this by creating a file extension that links you directly to your Gmail account. Here’s how:

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Use GMail Drive shell extension to create a virtual hard drive on gmail

Step 1

If you do not have one yet, you need to sign up for gmail’s free email account at the Gmail website.
Step 2

Log into your gmail account. Click on the Create a filter button. A dialogue box will pop-up. In the subject field, type in “GMAILFS” and click Next Step.
Check the option that reads “Skip the Inbox (Archive it).” Click on Create Filter.
Step 3

You will now download the GMail Drive shell extension. (See resources below for the link). The download will likely be in zip format, so extract the files. Next, install the setup.exe file and follow the step-by-step instructions
Step 4

You can now view and access your new gmail drive by going to My Computer. To add files to this virtual drive, you will either copy and paste them, or right-click the particular file, click send to and select gmail drive

Use the RoamDrive shell extension to create a virtual hard drive on gmail

Step 1

Log into your gmail account. Click on the Create a filter button. A dialogue box will pop-up. In the subject field, type in “RoamDrive” and click Next Step.
Check the option that reads “Skip the Inbox (Archive it).” Click on Create Filter
Step 2

Next, download the RoamDrive shell extension. (See resources below for the link). The download will likely be in zip format, so extract the files.
Step 3

Next, install the setup.exe file and follow the step-by-step instructions. This installs your gmail drive and it is ready for use.

Happy virtual computing!