Connecting to Dornsife network drives

Overview
Connecting to your department's network drive on a Windows PC
Connecting to your department's network drive on a Mac
Troubleshooting

Overview

Follow this guide to connect to your Dornsife department's network drive. If you do not have permission to connect to your department's network drive, you can request access:

Request Access Change

A note about non-Dornsife-managed computers

To mitigate security risks, avoid connecting personal computers directly to Dornsife network drives. Instead, connect to remote desktop. Then, once you're signed into remote desktop, you can connect to the necessary network drive:

Accessing your work computer remotely from off-campus

Connecting to your department's network drive on a Windows PC

First time connecting to the network drive

The first time that you connect to your department's network drive, you need to map the network drive in File Explorer:

Quick guide

Connect to the USC network:
- On campus: Use Ethernet or USC Secure Wireless. Do not use USC Guest Wireless.
- Off campus: Connect using VPN.
Open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon in the taskbar.
To begin mapping:
- Windows 11: Right-click This PC in the left pane and select Map network drive.
- Windows 10: Click This PC in the left pane. Click Map network drive at the top.
In the Drive field, select G:
In the following table, locate your department in the first column, and copy the associated address in the second column:

Department abbreviation (alphabetical) Address AHIS \\dtsfs5.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V2 ALI \\dtsfs1.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V4 AMST
ANTH
BISC
CALIS
CASDEN
CBO \\dtsfs5.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V2 CESR \\dtsfs3.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V5 CHEM
CIS
CJRC
CLAS
CMB
COLT
CRCC
CSLC \\dtsfs5.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V2 Dean \\dtsfs1.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V3 DEBI \\dtsfs5.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V2 Ealc
Earth
Easc
Econ
Engl
Enst
Fren
Gend
Geog
Germ
HEB \\dtsfs3.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V5 Hist
HUC
IAS
IR
JEP \\dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V7 KSI \\dtsfs3.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V5 Language Center
LEV
LHI
Ling
Machine Shop
Math
MDES \\dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V7 PERE \\dtsfs4.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V8 PHED
PHIL
PHYS
POIR
POSC
PSYC
REL
Sea Grant
SLL
SOCI
Span (LAIC)
SR_ADMIN
SSC
SSRI
Unruh \\dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V7 VHI (Shoah) \\dtsfs3.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V6 Wrigley
WRIT \\dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V7
In the Folder field, paste the address you copied from the preceding table.
Click Finish.
If you are prompted to sign in, type the following credentials and click OK:
- Username: Your USC NetID@dts.usc.edu (for example, if your USC Net ID is ttrojan, type ttrojan@dts.usc.edu)
- Password: Your USC NetID passphrase
File Explorer opens the address. Double-click your department folder to open your department's network drive. Within your department folder, you can open the usr folder to find your user folder (also known as the U: drive).

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Connect to the USC network:
- On campus: Use Ethernet or USC Secure Wireless. Do not use USC Guest Wireless.
- Off campus: Connect using VPN.
Open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon in the taskbar:
- Windows 11 taskbar:
- Windows 10 taskbar:
To begin mapping:
- Windows 11: Right-click This PC in the left pane and select Map network drive.
- Windows 10: Click This PC in the left pane. Click Map network drive at the top.
In the Drive field, select G:
In the following table, locate your department in the first column, and copy the associated address in the second column:

Department abbreviation (alphabetical) Address AHIS \\dtsfs5.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V2 ALI \\dtsfs1.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V4 AMST
ANTH
BISC
CALIS
CASDEN
CBO \\dtsfs5.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V2 CESR \\dtsfs3.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V5 CHEM
CIS
CJRC
CLAS
CMB
COLT
CRCC
CSLC \\dtsfs5.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V2 Dean \\dtsfs1.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V3 DEBI \\dtsfs5.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V2 Ealc
Earth
Easc
Econ
Engl
Enst
Fren
Gend
Geog
Germ
HEB \\dtsfs3.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V5 Hist
HUC
IAS
IR
JEP \\dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V7 KSI \\dtsfs3.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V5 Language Center
LEV
LHI
Ling
Machine Shop
Math
MDES \\dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V7 PERE \\dtsfs4.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V8 PHED
PHIL
PHYS
POIR
POSC
PSYC
REL
Sea Grant
SLL
SOCI
Span (LAIC)
SR_ADMIN
SSC
SSRI
Unruh \\dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V7 VHI (Shoah) \\dtsfs3.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V6 Wrigley
WRIT \\dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V7
In the Folder field, paste the address you copied from the preceding table.
Click Finish.
If you are prompted to sign in, type the following credentials and click OK:
- Username: Your USC NetID@dts.usc.edu (for example, if your USC Net ID is ttrojan, type ttrojan@dts.usc.edu)
- Password: Your USC NetID passphrase
File Explorer opens the address. Double-click your department folder to open your department's network drive. Within your department folder, you can open the usr folder to find your user folder (also known as the U: drive).

Connecting to the network drive after you map it

Once the network drive is mapped, you can find it by opening File Explorer, selecting This PC, and selecting the network drive under "Network locations."

As long as you are connected to the USC network, you can access the network drive.

Connecting to your department's network drive on a Mac

Quick guide

Make sure you're connected to the USC network:
- On campus: Use Ethernet or USC Secure Wireless. Do not use USC Guest Wireless.
- Off campus: Connect using VPN.
Open Finder by clicking the Finder icon in the dock.
In the menu bar, click Go > Connect to Server.
In the following table, locate your department in the first column, and copy the associated address in the second column:

Department abbreviation (alphabetical) Address AHIS smb://dtsfs5.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V2 ALI smb://dtsfs1.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V4 AMST
ANTH
BISC
CALIS
CASDEN
CBO smb://dtsfs5.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V2 CESR smb://dtsfs3.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V5 CHEM
CIS
CJRC
CLAS
CMB
COLT
CRCC
CSLC smb://dtsfs5.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V2 Dean smb://dtsfs1.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V3 DEBI smb://dtsfs5.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V2 Ealc
Earth
Easc
Econ
Engl
Enst
Fren
Gend
Geog
Germ
HEB smb://dtsfs3.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V5 Hist
HUC
IAS
IR
JEP smb://dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V7 KSI smb://dtsfs3.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V5 Language Center
LEV
LHI
Ling
Machine Shop
Math
MDES smb://dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V7 PERE smb://dtsfs4.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V8 PHED
PHIL
PHYS
POIR
POSC
PSYC
REL
Sea Grant
SLL
SOCI
Span (LAIC)
SR_ADMIN
SSC
SSRI
Unruh smb://dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V7 VHI (Shoah) smb://dtsfs3.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V6 Wrigley
WRIT smb://dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V7
In the address bar, paste the address you copied from the preceding table.
Click Connect.
If you are prompted to sign in, type your USC NetID credentials and click Connect:
- Name: Your USC NetID
- Password: Your USC NetID passphrase
- (Optional) To save your credentials, select the checkbox Remember this password in my keychain.
Finder opens the address. Double-click your department folder to open your department's network drive. Within your department folder, you can open the usr folder to find your user folder (also known as the U: drive).

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Make sure you're connected to the USC network:
- On campus: Use Ethernet or USC Secure Wireless. Do not use USC Guest Wireless.
- Off campus: Connect using VPN.
Open Finder by clicking the Finder icon in the dock.
In the menu bar, click Go and select Connect to Server.
In the following table, locate your department in the first column, and copy the associated address in the second column:

Department abbreviation (alphabetical) Address AHIS smb://dtsfs5.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V2 ALI smb://dtsfs1.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V4 AMST
ANTH
BISC
CALIS
CASDEN
CBO smb://dtsfs5.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V2 CESR smb://dtsfs3.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V5 CHEM
CIS
CJRC
CLAS
CMB
COLT
CRCC
CSLC smb://dtsfs5.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V2 Dean smb://dtsfs1.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V3 DEBI smb://dtsfs5.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V2 Ealc
Earth
Easc
Econ
Engl
Enst
Fren
Gend
Geog
Germ
HEB smb://dtsfs3.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V5 Hist
HUC
IAS
IR
JEP smb://dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V7 KSI smb://dtsfs3.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V5 Language Center
LEV
LHI
Ling
Machine Shop
Math
MDES smb://dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V7 PERE smb://dtsfs4.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V8 PHED
PHIL
PHYS
POIR
POSC
PSYC
REL
Sea Grant
SLL
SOCI
Span (LAIC)
SR_ADMIN
SSC
SSRI
Unruh smb://dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V7 VHI (Shoah) smb://dtsfs3.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V6 Wrigley
WRIT smb://dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V7
In the address bar, paste the address you copied from the preceding table.
Click Connect.
If you are prompted to sign in, type your USC NetID credentials and click Connect:
- Name: Your USC NetID
- Password: Your USC NetID passphrase
- (Optional) To save your credentials, select the checkbox Remember this password in my keychain.
Finder opens the address. Double-click your department folder to open your department's network drive. Within your department folder, you can open the usr folder to find your user folder (also known as the U: drive).

Troubleshooting

Email DTS at ts@dornsife.usc.edu for troubleshooting assistance. You can also try the following suggestions:

"Access to your account on the server has been denied."

This error can occur on Macs if your account has been locked out, which happens after you type your USC NetID passphrase incorrectly twice. Your account will unlock after 30 minutes. To unlock it sooner, you have a few options:

Option 1: Call DTS at 213-740-2775 or email ts@dornsife.usc.edu. DTS operating hours are 9am–5pm, weekdays.
Option 2: Follow our guide, Unlocking your Dornsife Account. Note that this guide will only work if you previously enrolled your Dornsife Account in the Password Administration Portal.

Computer appears stuck on "Connecting to…" / "Attempting to connect…" dialog

If your Windows PC or Mac has been trying unsuccessfully to connect to a network drive for a minute or more, you might not be connected to the USC network. First double-check whether your computer is connected to the USC network, and then you can try following our guide again:

On campus: Use Ethernet or USC Secure Wireless. Do not use USC Guest Wireless.
Off campus: Connect using VPN.

Ethernet connection issues

If you are unable to connect to any network drives and your computer is connected to Internet by Ethernet cable: unplug the Ethernet cable and connect your computer to USC Secure Wireless. Then, try to access the network drives again.

If you are successful accessing network drives using USC Secure Wireless but not using Ethernet, let DTS know at ts@dornsife.usc.edu, and we can troubleshoot your Ethernet connection.

Connection issues after updating USC NetID passphrase

If you recently changed your USC NetID passphrase, this can affect your network drive access.

Using a Windows PC on-campus

Quick guide

Disconnect and then reconnect to the USC network:
- On-campus: Disconnect and then reconnect to USC Secure Wireless. You should be prompted to re-enter your USC NetID credentials.
- Off-campus: Disconnect and then reconnect to VPN.
Lock your computer:
- Windows 11: Click the Start menu. Click your account, and select Lock.
- Windows 10: Click the Start menu. Click the account icon, and select Lock.
Log back into your account using your updated USC NetID passphrase. You should now be able to connect to the network drive again.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Disconnect and then reconnect to the USC network:
- On-campus: Disconnect and then reconnect to USC Secure Wireless. You should be prompted to re-enter your USC NetID credentials.
- Off-campus: Disconnect and then reconnect to VPN.
Lock your computer:
- Windows 11: Click the Start menu. Click your account, and select Lock.
- Windows 10: Click the Start menu. Click the account icon, and select Lock.
Log back into your account using your updated USC NetID passphrase. You should now be able to connect to the network drive again.

"The system cannot contact a domain controller to service the authentication request. Please try again later."

This error can occur if you use Windows Hello or a PIN to sign into your Windows PC: your computer defaults to Windows Hello or a PIN, instead of prompting you to type your USC network credentials. To correct this:

Quick guide

Click More options.
Click Use a different account.
Type the following credentials and click OK:
- Username: Your USC NetID@dts.usc.edu (for example, if your USC Net ID is ttrojan, type ttrojan@dts.usc.edu)
- Password: Your USC NetID passphrase

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Click More options.
Click Use a different account.
Type the following credentials and click OK:
- Username: Your USC NetID@dts.usc.edu (for example, if your USC Net ID is ttrojan, type ttrojan@dts.usc.edu)
- Password: Your USC NetID passphrase