Connecting to Windows shared network drives with an Apple computer

Do you need to access shared network drives hosted by Windows server from your Apple computer? When you're a MacOS user, sometimes it seems like the world is against you, at least in the corporate world. But accessing Windows network shares is quick and easy thanks to the network "Browse" functionality built into MacOS X. You can access the network Browser via two different methods:

1) Open a new window in the Finder and click the "Network" icon in the top left. (If you don't see a left-hand toolbar with Network, Hard Drive, Home, etc. click the "View" menu at the top of the screen and select "Show Toolbar")
2) From the Finder type the shortcut "Command-K" (The command key is also known as the "Apple" key, it has the Apple logo, and a weird flower shape on it) and click the Browse button.
Once you are browsing your local network you can look through the "My Network", "Workgroup" and "Servers" folders for important network shares. Once you find one you'd like to connect to, just double-click to connect to the share. You will have to provide your Domain (normally the company name), username and your password. IMPORTANT: This login information is normally different that the username and password for your local Mac, so you'll have to check with your local network administrator if you don't have a login.
An alternative to the Browse network method, is to know the name of the server, and the share on the server you wish to access. (See the bottom of this article for some ideas on finding the server and share name if you aren't sure.)
- Make sure you have the Finder as your current application (click on the desktop background or the MacOS icon in the dock) by looking for the word "Finder" just to the right of the blue Apple icon in the top, left-hand side of the screen.
- From the Finder type the shortcut "Command-K"
- You will be presented with a "Connect to Server" dialog box that allows you to enter a Server Address. Type one of the following, substituting your share and server name for the uppercase examples:
smb://SERVER/share
cifs://SERVER/share
Bonus: The "Connect to Server" dialog will remember your previously used network shares, click on the little clock button to access the list so you don't have to retype it each time. You can even use the plus button to store the Server Address as a favorite, but I suggest making sure the connection works once before doing this.
- Assuming the share is protected, you will then be prompted for your username, password and domain. Click "Remember in Keychain" so you won't have to re-type this each time.
- Your share will appear on the desktop, or depending on how your Finder is configured, in a Finder browser window on the left-hand panel. (From the Finder, type Command-N to open a Finder browser window)
Troubleshooting tips: You can be certain you have the correct server and share names by visiting a neighbor on the network with a Windows workstation, and right-clicking a share and choosing properties, you will see a path that looks like \\SERVER\SYS\PUBLIC\, this path needs to be changed to smb://SERVER/SYS/PUBLIC to work in the "Connect to Server" dialog.
If you still can't connect to the share, you may have to use the fully qualified domain as the server name. (SERVER vs. SERVER.corp.company.com) Ask your local network administrator what domain to use.
If all else fails, find the IP address for the server and use that in place of SERVER name.

source by helium