File Synchronisation Software?

[rogermatthews]

Time to tap into the vast amount of knowledge of forum users!

My wife works on hundreds of files in loads of folders at her school (one for each class/subject etc) but also works on them at home when marking homework or writing reports. To transfer easily between the two, I bought her a portable hard drive for Christmas and thought that it would be easy simply to update incrementally. But we haven't yet found out how!

Windows backup is no use - apart from writing eveything to one (non-readable) file, it only wants to restore to the same computer in the same location. Windows briefcase worked for a few files as a test, but wouldn't do it for real (unless something went wrong). Ideally, all she wants is something which will simply copy across everything on one computer to the portable drive, copy it across to the other (a different location), let her work on any files on either PC, then when she updates the portable drive at the end of the day, overwrite/copy only the files which have been changed - similarly when updating each PC. Basically, a straightforward copy function, without the delay of overwriting everything. And which keeps the files in readable form on her portable drive so she can work on them from that if desired.

Can anyone recommend a good, preferably freeware, bit of software? Whenever I've looked at such things, they rant on about wonderful capability of encryption, backup facility, etc., but all she wants is something really simple!

THanks

Roger

[Easilyconfused]

Interesting problems there Roger.

First off, I would have her speak to the school IT department to see what policies and procedures they have in place. In my experience schools are locking down their networks and PCs more thoroughly these days. It may well be against the school's policy to do what you are trying to do in which case it could lead to disciplinary proceedings or worse.

If remote access to the files is required / expected then it should be the IT department specifying how to do it either by encrypted USB drives or some sort of VPN access.

Windows Backup almost certainly will not do what you want. Windows Briefcase was a fantastic piece of software that worked excellently for me under Windows XP but seems to have vanished under Windows 7. I used it all the time to synchronise network and USB drives with my PC in work.

[gougha]

Hi

Have you thought about using something like dropbox. http://Www.dropbox.com

It allows you to save stuff on your computer, backs it up in "the cloud" and also updates any other connected computers when they are switched on.

There is a limit on the amount of storage that is given for free and im not sure if it would be available at the school if they restrict access but it might be worth a look.

Regards

Andy

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

[terrycunliffe]

i use SyncToy
Free, simple to use, microsoft utility.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download ... x?id=15155

[rogermatthews]

Thanks for your replies, guys - for an 'interesting problem', it seems to me such a simple requirement for those using two computers!

John, you make a fair point about the IT requirements, and I wholly concur. That said, this is effectively an alternative to my wife lugging her laptop home, or emailing it home - the alternative is that they won't get their homework marked or reports written!

Briefcase is still there in WIndows 7, but it is designed to sync a PC and portable device - not TWO PCs (as I say, it didn't work in practice)

Andy, funnily enough I have just started using dropbox myself (for sharing MSTS and RW screenshots with a friend!), though there would definitely be security issues (as perceived, at any rate) and I can't see it would solve the problem - either she would have to upload EVERYTHING each night (which takes time) or go through loads of folders identifying the files she has changed - which is what she wants to avoid

Terry, I came across SyncToy in my research, though again, it does seem to be aimed at one PC and one portable, so I didn't go further - but I'll investigate it. Thanks

Regards

Roger

[rogermatthews]

Terry, I've investigated SyncTop further and it does indeed look promising - the Wikipedia article on it was a bit misleading (though I can't say I studied it fully). I've tried a small test with a few files and it does seem to do what is wanted.

But if you know the answer I'd be grateful: the link you provided gives two download options with Microsoft's usual helpful advice "Download the files appropriate for you". I can';t see any other guidance anywhere on the page. I assume one is 64bit the other 32, but one file is suffixed X64 (which I would normally take to be 64bit, suprise surprise) but the other is suffixed X86 - what on earth is that!

I downloaded the latter and it seems to work, though only a full test will answer it fully

Thanks again for the lead

Roger

[terrycunliffe]

Terry, I've investigated SyncTop further and it does indeed look promising - the Wikipedia article on it was a bit misleading (though I can't say I studied it fully). I've tried a small test with a few files and it does seem to do what is wanted.

But if you know the answer I'd be grateful: the link you provided gives two download options with Microsoft's usual helpful advice "Download the files appropriate for you". I can';t see any other guidance anywhere on the page. I assume one is 64bit the other 32, but one file is suffixed X64 (which I would normally take to be 64bit, suprise surprise) but the other is suffixed X86 - what on earth is that!

I downloaded the latter and it seems to work, though only a full test will answer it fully

Thanks again for the lead

Roger

Hi Roger,
I'm a little red faced , as I'm running version 2.0 on XP Pro. I hadn't known about / noticed an upgrade until I'd (just) revisited the link I posted! . So until I investigate further, I'm unsure!