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Use GMail’s 8GB As Storage In Windows Explorer

By on September 22, 2009 (8 Comments)

Google offer a very healthy 7372 MB of storage to it’s GMail users.  Previously i’ve covered how to use Windows SkyDrive to your advantage.  This time it’s Googles turn.

This guide will show you how to add your GMail account to Windows Explorer, thus enabling a drag & drop system for you to use you GMail account as additional storage on your computer.  Even if you don’t use GMail as an email provider nobody can turn down an extra 8GB of storage, can you?

Be aware that support for this tool may suspend at any time if Google decides to block its use.

To get started, download the latest version of GMail Drive from www.viksoe.dk/gmail/ and install it.

You’ll notice that it’s dropped an addition to your ‘Computer’ in Explorer.

11 Use GMails 8GB As Storage In Windows Explorer

Right click the GMail Drive in Computer an select Login As…

21 Use GMails 8GB As Storage In Windows Explorer

Enter your vital statistics and hit OK

36 Use GMails 8GB As Storage In Windows Explorer

You may get a window saying “enumerating folder”.  Try not to disturb Explorer or this window whilst it’s working.

Once your in, it’s a simple case of dragging and dropping your documents, pictures, music into the GMail Drive.

It’ll instantly sync your GMail Drive with your online GMail account, where you can view the item, download, or view as a Google Document.

41 Use GMails 8GB As Storage In Windows Explorer

If you don’t use GMail as your primary email handler, it’s worth setting GMail up to forward any mail you do get to your primary email address, also set GMail to archive the forwarded email.

I have tested this on Windows Vista 32bit and Windows 7 32bit.  On both systems, GMail Drive works flawlessly.

Use GMails 8GB As Storage In Windows Explorer

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Comments

  • Tony Poupa

    Have had GMail for a while now and always thought I’ll never ever use up 7 and a half gigs of storage…but NOW I can! Thank you rsvr85, this will definitely come in handy.
    Can I suggest: As a Windows Guide, these sort of informational how-to’s should be available as a down-loadable .pdf too. A button to “download as…” at the end of the document would be great. That would make them much easier to use, print and archive.
    Cheers!

  • Tony Poupa

    Have had GMail for a while now and always thought I’ll never ever use up 7 and a half gigs of storage…but NOW I can! Thank you rsvr85, this will definitely come in handy.
    Can I suggest: As a Windows Guide, these sort of informational how-to’s should be available as a down-loadable .pdf too. A button to “download as…” at the end of the document would be great. That would make them much easier to use, print and archive.
    Cheers!

  • http://mintywhite.com RSVR85

    Thanks for the feedback Tony. I’ll be sure to mention this one to Rich and see what we can come up with :D

  • rsvr85

    Thanks for the feedback Tony. I’ll be sure to mention this one to Rich and see what we can come up with :D

  • http://mintywhite.com RSVR85

    Here’s the PDF just for you Tony!!
    http://hnbzng.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pHQsskrc0SlR9FfWr0RaHfpDVqtRLBCd0xPGy4Fi0_k-MemezAgoESVMi19OJOrzQOuaudChzbx6fpegHEQ3laQ/Use%20Gmail%20as%20Extra%20Storage%20on%20Your%20Computer.pdf?download
    It’s not from the main site, it’s a link to my public SkyDrive.
    It’s a bit sketchy but you got the PDF. :D

  • rsvr85

    Here’s the PDF just for you Tony!!
    http://hnbzng.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pHQsskrc0SlR9FfWr0RaHfpDVqtRLBCd0xPGy4Fi0_k-MemezAgoESVMi19OJOrzQOuaudChzbx6fpegHEQ3laQ/Use%20Gmail%20as%20Extra%20Storage%20on%20Your%20Computer.pdf?download
    It’s not from the main site, it’s a link to my public SkyDrive.
    It’s a bit sketchy but you got the PDF. :D

  • Sonykid101

    does this work with 64 bit versions of windows?

  • http://richr.org/ Rich

    Yes, it does.


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