How to use Gmail as an External Hard Drive

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By codex
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use Gmail as an External Hard Drive

Everyone loves Gmail but not everyone knows that that Gmail can serve as additional hard drive space. In just a few simple steps you can back up all of your important files to your Gmail account.

The process is simple to set up and simple to use. I will not only show you how to do this, but I'll also show you how to automatically send your files to your Gmail archive so that your in-box doesn't get swamped with files. Read on.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Internet Connection
A Gmail Account

Step 1

Gmail offers users up to 4 gigs of storage space. That's more than most users will ever need. That space is just begging to be used up. So, you ask, what's the first step already?

Well if you look down to the resources section you will see a nice blue link that says, "Get Gmail Drive Here". Gmail Drive is a very small, efficient program that creates a virtual drive within Windows. Clink on that and lets get started.
Step 2

The program downloads from Softpedia in zipped format. Remember that it's a good idea to always scan any executable file before you activate it. I trust the makers of Gmail Drive but this is always a good habit to get into.

From within your Archive program click on the "scan" button and choose the anti-virus program that you want to scan with. Once it comes up clean double click on the executable.
Step 3

Gmail Drive will install automatically within seconds. Open your "My Computer" folder and you will see that you now have a "Gmail" drive. Now before moving on to testing your new drive you will want to perform this step so that your in-box does not become swamped in all of the files that you are about to send to your Gmail account.

Log into your Gmail account and click on the "Create a folder" link. This is at the top of the page to the right of the "Search The Web" button and below "Show Search Options".

In the page that comes up enter "GMAILFS" into the subject line without the quotes. It is imperative that you type it exactly as shown or Gmail Drive will not recognize the following instruction.

With that done click on the "Next Step" button. On the next page check mark "Skip in-box (archive it)" and click on the "Create Filter" button.

Voila! Now you can upload files directly to your Gmail account without swamping your in-box or having to search for your uploads after they've been buried under all of your normal mail. Now lets do some testing.
Step 4

If you've closed "My Computer" open it back up. As soon as it opens drag any folder that happens to be on your desktop onto the your new Gmail drive. This will activate the program and you will be prompted to log into Gmail. When you log in Gmail Drive will ship the folder over to your Gmail account.

Note that because you have told Gmail Drive to bypass the in-box you will not receive an alert from Gmail Notifier. To access the data that you've sent to your Gmail account simply click on "All Mail" from within Gmail.

Comments

joanhaines said

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on 4/16/2009 I never thought of doing something like this. Storing your stuff on an external hard drive makes sense. Thanks.

cygnetbrown said

on 4/11/2009 Great idea. You never know when you could lose your computer. Flooding, fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, it's all over the news. Having an external site is essential and when you don't have to pay extra for it, all the better. Well explained. 5* and two thumbs up!