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:

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:

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 Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Quick guide

  1. Connect to the USC network:
    • On campus: Use Ethernet or USC Secure Wireless. Do not use USC Guest Wireless.
    • Off campus: Connect using VPN.
  2. Open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon in the taskbar.
  3. 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.
  4. In the Drive field, select G:
  5. 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 (ASE)
    ANTH
    BISC
    CALIS
    CASDEN
    CBO (DBO)     		\\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
    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 (ERI) \\dtsfs4.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V8
    PHED
    PHIL
    PHYS
    POIR
    POSC
    PSYC
    REL
    Sea Grant
    SLL
    SOCI
    Span (LAIC)
    SR_ADMIN
    SSC
    Unruh     		\\dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V7
    Wrigley
    WRIT     		\\dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu\FSC_V7

  6. In the Folder field, paste the address you copied from the preceding table.
  7. Click Finish.
  8. 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
  9. 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.

Network drive location

Connecting to your department's network drive on a Mac

Quick guide Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Quick guide

  1. 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.
  2. Open Finder by clicking the Finder icon in the dock.
  3. In the menu bar, click Go > Connect to Server.
  4. 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 (ASE)
    ANTH
    BISC
    CALIS
    CASDEN
    CBO (DBO)     		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
    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 (ERI) smb://dtsfs4.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V8
    PHED
    PHIL
    PHYS
    POIR
    POSC
    PSYC
    REL
    Sea Grant
    SLL
    SOCI
    Span (LAIC)
    SR_ADMIN
    SSC
    Unruh     		smb://dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V7
    Wrigley
    WRIT     		smb://dtsfs2.dts.usc.edu/FSC_V7

  5. In the address bar, paste the address you copied from the preceding table. 
  6. Click Connect.
  7. 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.
  8. 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 [email protected] for troubleshooting assistance. You can also try the following suggestions:

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

Mac error - account locked out

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 [email protected]. 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

Computer stuck on Connecting to 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 [email protected], 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 Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Quick guide

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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."

Windows Hello or PIN error

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 Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Quick guide

  1. Click More options.
  2. Click Use a different account.
  3. 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