Sharing an External drive from Linux Mint to Windows 11 Via Samba Server

temuzin

📁 Sharing a Seagate External Drive from Linux Mint to Windows 11 via Samba Server

This guide walks through setting up a Samba server on Linux Mint Cinnamon to share a Seagate external drive with a Windows 11 Pro PC over a local Wi-Fi network.

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🖥️ System Setup

• Linux Host: Linux Mint Cinnamon
• Windows Client: Windows 11 Pro
• Drive: Seagate external HDD (auto-mounted at /media/temuzin/Seagate Hub)
• Network: Both systems connected to the same Wi-Fi and you should be knowing your Linux connected ip address .

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🔧 Step 1: Install Samba on Linux Mint

$:sudo apt update
$:sudo apt install samba

📂 Step 2: Add the Share in the conf file

Edit the Samba configuration file:

$: sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
````

Add the following block at the end of the file:
```ini
[SeagateHub]
   path = "/media/temuzinusername_linux/Seagate Hub"
   browseable = yes
   writable = yes
   guest ok = yes
   public = yes
   force user = username_linx

Replace username_linux with your actual Linux username.
Replace Seagate Hub with actual drive name that appears when the drive is connected and mounted on Linux.

Save and exit (Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X).

🔄 Step 3: Restart Samba Service , enable auto start at the boot up

$ sudo systemctl restart smbd nmbd
$ sudo systemctl enable smbd nmbd 

🔐 Step 4: Optional — Adjust Folder Permissions

Ensure the drive is accessible by the Samba user:

ls -ld "/media/temuzin/Seagate Hub"

If needed, adjust permissions:

sudo chmod -R 755 "/media/temuzin/Seagate Hub"

🪟 Step 5: Connect from Windows 11

• Open File Explorer right click on the Network icon, and select Map Network Drive

• In the opened pop up window give \ \ Linux ip \

• To know your linux ip from linux terminal

$ hostname -I

This will show

• Example:
  \192.168.1.100\
  With this you should get connected to the IP and below that you should see your drive as a folder. Select this Click "Finish" .

⚠️ Troubleshooting Tips

• If you see “network name cannot be found”:
• Double-check the share name and path
• Ensure the drive is mounted and accessible
• Use quotes or escape spaces in the path ("Seagate Hub" or Seagate\040Hub)
• If guest access fails:
• Enable insecure guest logons in Windows:
• Run gpedit.msc

• Navigate to:
  Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Lanman Workstation

• Enable:
  Enable insecure guest logons

• If using credentials:
  net use Z: \192.168.1.100\SeagateHub /user:temuzin yourpassword

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✅ Result
Your Windows 11 PC can now access the Seagate external drive connected to your Linux Mint system as a network drive.

🙌 Credits
Tested and documented by temuzin
Linux Mint Cinnamon + Windows 11 Pro
October 2025

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