Sync Laptop to Desktop?

[Mellowed]

I have a Win8 Pro Laptop that I use for travel and I would like to keep
the files updated to the Desktop (Win7 Pro). The Desktop is the primary
computer. They share a common router. Desktop is hard wired to router.

When initially setting up the Laptop I manually copied via thumb drive
the files in the Document folder. I'm thinking there must be a better
way maybe through the router and home network.

I considered Windows File Transfer via my WD Passport. Then I got
concerned about what happens when a transferring file sees the same file
on the Laptop. Also I think Win8 file locations are different than Win 7.

Clearly I don't know what I'm doing, but some guidance getting me
pointed in the right direction would be appreciated.

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per Mellowed:

Clearly I don't know what I'm doing, but some guidance getting me
pointed in the right direction would be appreciated.

That makes two of us.

Having said that...

I use something called "Beyond Compare" to back up my NAS box to an old
Windows Home Server.

Seems to me like a top-quality product.

For your use, you would point it at the laptop and at the desktop; it
would show you a list of all files on each (optionally limited to
differences), and allow you to automagically synch with various options
around file date, file content, and so-forth.

I'd say it's worth downloading the freebie trial version and
experimenting.

http://www.scootersoftware.com/download.php

 

[Mike Barnes]

I have a Win8 Pro Laptop that I use for travel and I would like to keep
the files updated to the Desktop (Win7 Pro). The Desktop is the
primary computer. They share a common router. Desktop is hard wired
to router.

When initially setting up the Laptop I manually copied via thumb drive
the files in the Document folder. I'm thinking there must be a better
way maybe through the router and home network.

I considered Windows File Transfer via my WD Passport. Then I got
concerned about what happens when a transferring file sees the same
file on the Laptop. Also I think Win8 file locations are different than
Win 7.

Clearly I don't know what I'm doing, but some guidance getting me
pointed in the right direction would be appreciated.

What you're looking for is "synchronisation" software. You tell it the
paths of two folders (e.g. My Documents on each of your PCs) and it
analyses the differences and offers to do whatever copying and deleting
is necessary to bring them into line.

Obviously you need to be careful not to overwrite a new file with an
older version and the software should assist with that, especially where
a file has been updated on *both* PCs.

There are many products that claim to solve this problem but there are
huge variations in flexibility, usability, and reliability. I'm a big
fan of AJC Sync (http://www.ajcsoft.com/file-sync.htm) which is the
nearest to perfection I've seen. Of particular benefit is that when it
shows you the differences and proposed actions (the "sync plan"), it
does it in an Explorer-like folder tree that gives you an excellent
overview of what's about to happen.

 

[Yousuf Khan]

I have a Win8 Pro Laptop that I use for travel and I would like to keep
the files updated to the Desktop (Win7 Pro). The Desktop is the primary
computer. They share a common router. Desktop is hard wired to router.

When initially setting up the Laptop I manually copied via thumb drive
the files in the Document folder. I'm thinking there must be a better
way maybe through the router and home network.

I considered Windows File Transfer via my WD Passport. Then I got
concerned about what happens when a transferring file sees the same file
on the Laptop. Also I think Win8 file locations are different than Win 7.

Clearly I don't know what I'm doing, but some guidance getting me
pointed in the right direction would be appreciated.

Download SyncToy 2.1 from Official Microsoft Download Center
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=15155

 

[Mellowed]

I have a Win8 Pro Laptop that I use for travel and I would like to keep
the files updated to the Desktop (Win7 Pro). The Desktop is the primary
computer. They share a common router. Desktop is hard wired to router.

When initially setting up the Laptop I manually copied via thumb drive
the files in the Document folder. I'm thinking there must be a better
way maybe through the router and home network.

I considered Windows File Transfer via my WD Passport. Then I got
concerned about what happens when a transferring file sees the same file
on the Laptop. Also I think Win8 file locations are different than Win 7.

Clearly I don't know what I'm doing, but some guidance getting me
pointed in the right direction would be appreciated.

Pete, Mike and Yousuf, many thanks for your suggestions. But they are a
little out of my comfort zone, although the solution just might be in
one or more of them.

If I were to create a 'Windows Easy Transfer File' and just download it
to the Laptop, what would happen??

 

[Art Todesco]

Pete, Mike and Yousuf, many thanks for your suggestions. But they are a
little out of my comfort zone, although the solution just might be in
one or more of them.

If I were to create a 'Windows Easy Transfer File' and just download it
to the Laptop, what would happen??

A lot depends on how often you need to to all this. I have a desktop
and a laptop. I don't travel a lot, but it comes with when I go. BTW,
I also have a 2nd (older) laptop, and several other desktops in various
places in the house .... can you say geek? I am retired, so I am not
on the road regularly. In my case, I don't conform to the microsoft
"My This" and My That" But I do have the username folder on the
desktop, with many, many subfolders. I keep a few special files on the
desktop, like password list (I know, secrurity) and recent phone
numbers, etc. When I get ready to travel, I copy these to the laptop
over the network. I do keep my calendar with Google Calendar. Also, I
sync Firefox bookmarks, etc. using xmarks. This works for me. If you
regularly go between the 2 PCs, maybe a cloud drive service you be good
for you. I use Google Drive, which is free, for the 1st 2G (I think).
If you have an on line connection when you travel, this might be good
for you. If you need more storage, it can be bought.

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per Mellowed:

many thanks for your suggestions. But they are a
little out of my comfort zone, although the solution just might be in
one or more of them.

No matter what you do, I would suggest adopting the discipline of
separating "Data" from everything else.

For me, that means a separate "D" partition on every PC.

For somebody else, it might be as simple as creating a "C:\Data" folder
and making sure everything gets saved to it.

Now you are on the way to simplified backups too....

No matter what tool I used, the first thing I would do before synching
would be to do a complete backup of both PC's "Data".

 

[Mellowed]

A lot depends on how often you need to to all this. I have a desktop
and a laptop. I don't travel a lot, but it comes with when I go. BTW,
I also have a 2nd (older) laptop, and several other desktops in various
places in the house .... can you say geek? I am retired, so I am not
on the road regularly. In my case, I don't conform to the microsoft
"My This" and My That" But I do have the username folder on the
desktop, with many, many subfolders. I keep a few special files on the
desktop, like password list (I know, secrurity) and recent phone
numbers, etc. When I get ready to travel, I copy these to the laptop
over the network. I do keep my calendar with Google Calendar. Also, I
sync Firefox bookmarks, etc. using xmarks. This works for me. If you
regularly go between the 2 PCs, maybe a cloud drive service you be good
for you. I use Google Drive, which is free, for the 1st 2G (I think).
If you have an on line connection when you travel, this might be good
for you. If you need more storage, it can be bought.

Thanks for your insight. I am also retired and use the laptop when
going to AZ from CA. However, we're planning about a 2 month RV trip
and the laptop will be it. So I was looking for a convenient method to
make it look like the Desktop. At the moment it looks like I should
just leave 'well enough alone' and not start changing things. I've got
a 32GB thumb drive that I can carry along my most critical files.

 

[Mellowed]

Per Mellowed:

No matter what you do, I would suggest adopting the discipline of
separating "Data" from everything else.

For me, that means a separate "D" partition on every PC.

For somebody else, it might be as simple as creating a "C:\Data" folder
and making sure everything gets saved to it.

Now you are on the way to simplified backups too....

No matter what tool I used, the first thing I would do before synching
would be to do a complete backup of both PC's "Data".

Good suggestion. Thanks Pete.

 

[Philip Herlihy]

I have a Win8 Pro Laptop that I use for travel and I would like to keep
the files updated to the Desktop (Win7 Pro). The Desktop is the primary
computer. They share a common router. Desktop is hard wired to router.

When initially setting up the Laptop I manually copied via thumb drive
the files in the Document folder. I'm thinking there must be a better
way maybe through the router and home network.

I considered Windows File Transfer via my WD Passport. Then I got
concerned about what happens when a transferring file sees the same file
on the Laptop. Also I think Win8 file locations are different than Win 7.

Clearly I don't know what I'm doing, but some guidance getting me
pointed in the right direction would be appreciated.

Consider Dropbox or Skydrive - via the Cloud.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Download SyncToy 2.1 from Official Microsoft Download Center
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=15155

Unless they've updated since I last used it, SyncToy is confused by
Daylight Saving Time.

At least when FATxx volumes are involved.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Pete, Mike and Yousuf, many thanks for your suggestions. But they are a
little out of my comfort zone, although the solution just might be in
one or more of them.

If I were to create a 'Windows Easy Transfer File' and just download it
to the Laptop, what would happen??

I use AllWay Sync, similar to the other suggested approaches, and I have
to say that once you've played with one of these programs, it might not
be as hard as you fear.

Since they do a good job with (usually) little effort on the user's
part, they are IMO well worth inviting into your comfort zone.

 

[Fokke Nauta]

I have a Win8 Pro Laptop that I use for travel and I would like to keep
the files updated to the Desktop (Win7 Pro). The Desktop is the primary
computer. They share a common router. Desktop is hard wired to router.

When initially setting up the Laptop I manually copied via thumb drive
the files in the Document folder. I'm thinking there must be a better
way maybe through the router and home network.

I considered Windows File Transfer via my WD Passport. Then I got
concerned about what happens when a transferring file sees the same file
on the Laptop. Also I think Win8 file locations are different than Win 7.

Clearly I don't know what I'm doing, but some guidance getting me
pointed in the right direction would be appreciated.

Allway Sync (http://allwaysync.com/) is a nice application. I use the
free version to sync data between my desktop and laptop. It works two
ways. It serves me well.

Fokke

 

[Mellowed]

Allway Sync (http://allwaysync.com/) is a nice application. I use the
free version to sync data between my desktop and laptop. It works two
ways. It serves me well.

Fokke

Gene Bloch also recommended Allwaysync. I'll check it out. Thanks.

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Unless they've updated since I last used it, SyncToy is confused by
Daylight Saving Time.

At least when FATxx volumes are involved.

Don't know, all of my volumes are NTFS now, unless they're on some kind
of thumb drive.

Yousuf Khan

 

[John Williamson]

I have a Win8 Pro Laptop that I use for travel and I would like to keep
the files updated to the Desktop (Win7 Pro). The Desktop is the primary
computer. They share a common router. Desktop is hard wired to router.

When initially setting up the Laptop I manually copied via thumb drive
the files in the Document folder. I'm thinking there must be a better
way maybe through the router and home network.

I considered Windows File Transfer via my WD Passport. Then I got
concerned about what happens when a transferring file sees the same file
on the Laptop. Also I think Win8 file locations are different than Win 7.

Clearly I don't know what I'm doing, but some guidance getting me
pointed in the right direction would be appreciated.

Microsoft Synctoy:-

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=15155

I use SynchronX, which will synchronise the contents of any two
directories and all their subdirectories, if set that way, by copying
the files with the later modification date in each directory to the
other, and copying files which only exist in one folder to the other folder.

So, synchronising "My documents" on two computers will result in both
directories having the latest version of every file. I use it on XP,
Vista and 7, but it's no longer supported by the writers.

http://www.brothersoft.com/synchronx-4732.html

 

[Mike Barnes]

Unless they've updated since I last used it, SyncToy is confused by
Daylight Saving Time.

At least when FATxx volumes are involved.

*Microsoft* is confused by DST, especially where FATxx volumes are
concerned.

For that reason, the AJC Sync program I mentioned elsethread has an
option to ignore one-hour differences in file times.

 

[Steve Hayes]

I have a Win8 Pro Laptop that I use for travel and I would like to keep
the files updated to the Desktop (Win7 Pro). The Desktop is the primary
computer. They share a common router. Desktop is hard wired to router.

When initially setting up the Laptop I manually copied via thumb drive
the files in the Document folder. I'm thinking there must be a better
way maybe through the router and home network.

I considered Windows File Transfer via my WD Passport. Then I got
concerned about what happens when a transferring file sees the same file
on the Laptop. Also I think Win8 file locations are different than Win 7.

Clearly I don't know what I'm doing, but some guidance getting me
pointed in the right direction would be appreciated.

I use a USB flash drive and a batchfile, or rather four batch files:

dsk2flsh
flsh2lap
lap2flsh
flsh2dsk

Works for me.

There is also a thing called Allway Sync, but that only seems to work on one
directory at a time.

If you'd like to try it, here's my dsk2flsh batch file. My desktop computer
runs XP, and my laptop runs Win 7. The flsh drive is drive j:. The others are
on different hard disks on the computer.

echo Copying transfer files from Steve's Desktop to Flash
c:
Echo Copying FHS files
e:
cd \Family\Famhist
move *.fil f:\FHSBack
pause
move *.tmp f:\FHSback
move *.ged f:\FHSback
pause
move *.bak f:\FHSback
pause
Echo Copying askSam files
cd \asksam
move *.tmp f:\tempback
move *.bak f:\tempback
move *.sav f:\tempback
cd \inmagic
move *.tmp f:\tempback
move *.bak f:\tempback
Echo Archiving data files
f:
cd \Archives
arj u -r FHSTrans e:\family
arj u -r Inmagic e:\Inmagic
arj u -r Textfile g:\Textfile
arj u -r AskSam e:\asksam
arj u -r rdfFiles e:\paf\rdfdata\*.doc
arj u -r rdfFiles e:\paf\rdfdata\*.dat
arj u -r askSam4 g:\stevedoc\*.ask
arj u -r jotnote g:\stevedoc\*.jot
arj u -r PAF4file g:\stevedoc\*.paf
arj u -r htmldocs e:\html\*.htm
arj u -r htmldocs e:\html\*.jpg
arj u -r htmldocs e:\html\*.gif
arj d Inmagic *.tmp
arj d Textfile *.tmp
bac *.arj j:
Echo Copying Legacy data files
e:
cd \Legacy\Data
move *.tmp f:\tempback
move *.bak f:\tempback
move *.zip f:\tempback
move *.jpg f:\tempback
move *.tmp f:\tempback
move *.doc f:\tempback
bac *.* j:\Legacy\Data
cd \Legacy\Pictures
move *.doc f:\tempback
move *.zip f:\tempback
move *.lnk f:\tempback
bac *.* j:\Legacy\Pictures
j:
cd \Legacy\Data
move *.tmp f:\tempback
move *.bak f:\tempback
move *.zip f:\tempback
move *.jpg f:\tempback
move *.tmp f:\tempback
move *.doc f:\tempback
move *.lnk f:\tempback
cd \Legacy\Pictures
move *.doc f:\tempback
move *.zip f:\tempback
move *.lnk f:\tempback
move *.bak f:\tempback
move *.dat f:\tempback
move *.txt f:\tempback
cd \
c:
cd \windows
bac outlook.pst j:\
e:
cd \Treepad
bac *.hjt j:\
pause
Dir j:
pause

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Don't know, all of my volumes are NTFS now, unless they're on some kind
of thumb drive.

Yousuf Khan

Thumb drive; camera memory cards; cell phones. These are places where
SyncToy has burned me...

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

*Microsoft* is confused by DST, especially where FATxx volumes are
concerned.

For that reason, the AJC Sync program I mentioned elsethread has an
option to ignore one-hour differences in file times.

AllWay Sync does this even for larger multiples of one hour. It helps
when you change time zones as well as DST. It doesn't help when you
travel through time zones with half- or quarter-hour differences.

Luckily, I don't often get to those places