Synchronizing files between two computers. (Win2k, WinXPHome)

Hey.

I'd like to know if I can synchronize files and folders between my laptop and my desktop. I'm not certain if I will have to get a third-party program to do this, so I'm wondering if it's built into Windows.

Basically, I'm going to have a laptop so I can edit my papers while I'm about, and have spare time, instead of having to come home to do it all the time. I do prefer editing on my desktop though, but it's a pain to have to file copy everything from one computer to the next, manually.

I'm just curious if I can synchronize files, or folders, by timestamp, and have them copy the newest (by date) file to the other computer which does not have that file, or the file is older by date.

Any ideas?

Yes. It is possible.


It also depends on how complex you want to get with synchronizing...

The simplest solution would be to share a folder on the desktop, put the files you wish to sync inside said folder, then map a network drive to it through the laptop.

Once you have the network drive mapped (using the laptop to connect here), right click it and choose 'make available offline' from the menu. Follow the wizard, have it sync to the desired schedule (I suggest at minimum when you log on and off).

You can then sync the files at anytime via the synchronize command in your explorer. If you have files you want synced all the time regardless of modification you can 'pin' them by marking them available offline with the same method.

What he said. :p

Sweet. I'll try it out tomorrow. Thanks :D

Problems!

For future reference, my computer names are Skyly and Skybook, respectively.

I'm on my laptop, I mapped the network drive Z to the \\Skyly\My Documents share, and it's on my desktop as the Z:\. I right-click it, and I don't see anything "make available offline". The closest I can come to that is in explorer, I select Tools -> Synchronize, and then it gives me a blank box that says, "There are no offline items to synchronize."

I can click setup, gives me 3 tabs: Logon/Logoff, On Idle, and Scheduled.

It asks me to specify which connection to use, and I select LAN, but below it says "Synchronize the following checked items:" and the screen is blank again. I don't know how to add My Documents on \\Skyly as a valid option, because I don't see "Make available offline".

Though I do have "when I log on/off" checked to sync.

Any other ways to make Z:\ available while offline? Or is it gutted out because Microsoft is cheap enough to create two totally different operating systems, but one has beefier network support?

Thanks :)

Have you enabled offline file usage? (Tools, folder options, check off enable offline files)

Try not to use the Z: drive, it's used nativly through login processes and generally bad practice as a result.

What are the OSs of the systems in question? I made the assumption you were running XP, but your different OS comment may rule that out.

Here's a Technet article on offline files for more clarification.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/proddocs/datacenter/csc_setup_computer.asp

I can see "Enable offline files" in Windows 2000 Professional, but not in XP Home.

I am so close to formatting this laptop just so I can put Win2k on it, heh. I never realized how much guts Microsoft took out of XP.

I enabled offline files in Win2k, shared a folder, went to Tools -> Synchronize, and the only thing available in that list is "My Current Home Page", and I don't see any "Make available offline" checkmarks on ANY right-click or Tools menu. :(

Sorry for the late reply.

XP home edition does not support offline files, it is only available in the professional version. You are going to need a third party application unless you upgrade to the more robust pro version of XP.

I figured as much.

Though on my Windows 2000 Desktop, I'm not able to mark things as "Available Offline", but, I have a "My Offline Files" Folder on my desktop, and it won't let me copy or drag anything into it...

When I open the synchronize box, the only available thing there is "My Current Home Page" and it won't let me do anything in that window except for "What's This?"