Many Drew employees still use the network drives – often referred to as G: or O: - to save and share files they need to work on collaboratively.
Especially for those working with sensitive data, going through CloudPC helps to protect that data.
If you find yourself consistently editing existing files saved to a network drive, or working with content that is protected (see the Responsible Use of University Data Policy), please use CloudPC (cloudpc.drew.edu).
File Explorer - Inuvika OVD Desktop Client
For the best experience working with files saved to both the local machine you are physically touching and the virtual desktop with access to Drew's network drives, we highly recommend using the Inuvika OVD Desktop Client. While you can work with local files in the web client, the experience is not as seamless.
Both Mac and Windows users should launch the File Explorer app (see the instructions at CloudPC for how to launch an app using the desktop client on each operating system).
Start from This PC (in the menu on the left). The folders along the top are shortcuts to your F: drive.
The network drives are available in the "Network locations" section.
Your local file directories will be available in the "Redirected drives and folders" section at the bottom. You will probably be prompted for permission to access those local directories the first time you open one. Make sure you permit access.
You can open files by double-clicking them. The appropriate app will launch.
Note: PDF files will open in Microsoft Edge. If you would rather open them in PDF-XChange Editor, you can either follow the directions below to open from PDF-XChange Editor, or right click on the file and choose to open it in PDF-XChange Editor.
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF-XChange Editor, etc.
Once you’ve opened, for example, Word, go to Open > Browse.
You will be in your F: drive.
As with File Explorer, click on This PC to the left in order to navigate to other file locations.
If you haven’t seen the pop-up already, you will be prompted for permission to access information; be sure to permit all access or grant read/write permissions (depending on your OS).
From here, you can navigate to, open, edit, and save the file you need to interact with just as you would on campus.
Reminder: Close Apps!
Please be sure to close the app windows when finished to avoid a hung session.
One of the biggest problems we've seen is when people can't launch applications anymore or an app they have running freezes. Often, this is due to a "hung session", which someone in IT has to clear.
To avoid this problem, please be sure to close all of the windows you have open for every application you use in CloudPC. For an app like SPSS, this includes that welcome window that first opens, as well as any and all data sets you open during use.
Closing your browser (or browser tab) or shutting your computer lid is not sufficient to properly disconnect your virtual session.
Reviewed October 29, 2026