Sync Laptop & Desktop

[keithy397]

Hi,

Can someone suggest a foolproof method of synching certain files on my Laptop and Desktop please.  I haven't found anything that I'm totally comfortable with.

What I'd like:  Once I've updated my new Desktop from my Laptop I'd like to sync certain files in both directions.

TIA

[Jibz]

Perhaps Bvckup 2, if what you need is simple sync over LAN.

[tomos]

I haven't found anything that I'm totally comfortable with.

what have you tried / looked at ?

[x16wda]

I still like FreeFileSync with the caveat that it has an OpenCandy installer.

[keithy397]

Hi,

Perhaps Bvckup 2, if what you need is simple sync over LAN.

I use Bvckup2 for my Laptop but haven't tried it over a LAN.  In fact I haven't got a LAN set up so I'm doing so now.....  Thing is, if I go away the LAN won't work and I'll lose any sync until I get back, I assume.

what have you tried / looked at ?

I tried Box, Dropbox and I have Onedrive and Gdrive but not sure how to get them to sync.

I still like FreeFileSync with the caveat that it has an OpenCandy installer.

I used FreeFileSync many moons ago but again, I wouldn't know how to get it to sync my PC's.

[c.gingerich]

I use DropBox. I sync my Laptop, Desktop, and MS Surface. It works great

[keithy397]

I use DropBox. I sync my Laptop, Desktop, and MS Surface. It works great

So it's possible to sync folders from one device to another both ways with Dropbox?

[dr_andus]

I've been using Allway Sync for selective syncing of folders and files in various directions between Windows computers and it's been working fine for me. Does offer a degree of control for reviewing files manually that you may want to be careful about syncing.

[tomos]

I've been using Allway Sync for selective syncing of folders and files in various directions between Windows computers and it's been working fine for me. Does offer a degree of control for reviewing files manually that you may want to be careful about syncing.

is that in conjunction with dropbox or some other way?

[wraith808]

I use DropBox. I sync my Laptop, Desktop, and MS Surface. It works great

So it's possible to sync folders from one device to another both ways with Dropbox?

Yes.  Changes are synced to all linked machines

[dr_andus]

I've been using Allway Sync for selective syncing of folders and files in various directions between Windows computers and it's been working fine for me. Does offer a degree of control for reviewing files manually that you may want to be careful about syncing.

is that in conjunction with dropbox or some other way?

It's more for one-off or occasional syncing (or backing up). Let's say you have a Windows netbook that you only occasionally take out for trips here and there. Then you can sync your selected folders or drives from the PC to the netbook over the local network, and then sync it back when you return from the trip, and put the netbook away. But if you are using both devices simultaneously all the time, then of course Dropbox would make more sense.

P.S. And it's also for situations when you want to force the direction of the sync, i.e. when you want to ignore certain changes for certain files or folders on one machine and overwrite them with older versions from the other machine.

[Carol Haynes]

What about Syncback Pro?

Very flexible - you can specify what replaces what (with optional prompts) and also if things are deleted if you delete one device.

http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/sbpro.html

There is a freeware version with reduced features too - but it works well.

Only drawback is it isn't realtime - you can schedule though or run a sync manually.

[tomos]

I use DropBox. I sync my Laptop, Desktop, and MS Surface. It works great

So it's possible to sync folders from one device to another both ways with Dropbox?

Dropbox used to sync one folder (which you would nominate). I dont know if it's become more flexible (in that you can sync folders in various locations) --
anyone here know that?

[keithy397]

Thanks for all your input guys.

I've installed Dropbox and it works well.  I sort of imagined I'd be syncing the actual files from one device to the other but as far as I can tell you upload to Dropbox and the files are accessible from the cloud (via a Dropbox folder in your PC) on all devices.  I suppose it's safer that way but if I go away for a week or two I'll have to upload all the Laptop files to be able to change the original files on the other device(s) because I won't remember which files exactly have changed.  Unless there's a way the Dropbox files on any device (copies of originals in cloud) will change when you change the originals?

Anyway, I'm still learning...... 

[tomos]

Unless there's a way the Dropbox files on any device (copies of originals in cloud) will change when you change the originals?

that's the idea of Dropbox: it updates all devices based on the most recent modified version of file.
AFAIK you can backup/sync up to 2GB with the free Dropbox.
It also keeps older versions of your files, for a certain length of time at any rate (click the dropbox tray icon -- you can open the web interface from there and explore a bit).

[keithy397]

Unless there's a way the Dropbox files on any device (copies of originals in cloud) will change when you change the originals?

that's the idea of Dropbox: it updates all devices based on the most recent modified version of file.
AFAIK you can backup/sync up to 2GB with the free Dropbox.
It also keeps older versions of your files, for a certain length of time at any rate (click the dropbox tray icon -- you can open the web interface from there and explore a bit).

So, I can maybe understand dropbox being linked/updated from the source file, but how does the target folder on the other device update.  Should I copy from the dropbox folder to the target folder?  Would that make the connection?

[tomos]

^ Have you installed dropbox on both machines?

I'm not 100% clear what you mean by 'target folder' -- as I said above Dropbox will sync the contents of the chosen 'dropbox' folder from one machine to another.
You'll have to install it, and log in on both machines

[keithy397]

^ Have you installed dropbox on both machines?

I'm not 100% clear what you mean by 'target folder' -- as I said above Dropbox will sync the contents of the chosen 'dropbox' folder from one machine to another.
You'll have to install it, and log in on both machines

I have Dropbox installed on both PC and Laptop and I'm signed in on both.

As the PC is new I want to transfer a lot of files from my Laptop across and then keep them synced - so I select some files from their parent folder on my Laptop and then drop them into the Dropbox folder (which I've previously named).  Now I know I can access these files from my PC (I saw them appear in the Dropbox folder on my PC) but I'd like them to be synced with a folder on the PC (target folder) but I'm not sure how to do that.

Or am I missing the point?  Are you supposed to use the files in the Dropbox folder?  Ideally I'd like to add or amend files in their parent folder (either on PC or Laptop) and they update in their parent folder on the other device???

Sorry for this confusion!!

[wraith808]

^ Have you installed dropbox on both machines?

I'm not 100% clear what you mean by 'target folder' -- as I said above Dropbox will sync the contents of the chosen 'dropbox' folder from one machine to another.
You'll have to install it, and log in on both machines

I have Dropbox installed on both PC and Laptop and I'm signed in on both.

As the PC is new I want to transfer a lot of files from my Laptop across and then keep them synced - so I select some files from their parent folder on my Laptop and then drop them into the Dropbox folder (which I've previously named).  Now I know I can access these files from my PC (I saw them appear in the Dropbox folder on my PC) but I'd like them to be synced with a folder on the PC (target folder) but I'm not sure how to do that.

Or am I missing the point?  Are you supposed to use the files in the Dropbox folder?  Ideally I'd like to add or amend files in their parent folder (either on PC or Laptop) and they update in their parent folder on the other device???

Sorry for this confusion!!

In general, for the use of cloud sync clients like Dropbox, OneDrive, and their ilk, it is assumed that you will use the files in place.  Which is why I like Cubby.  You can turn any folder into a cubby, and have it in place where ever it is on that machine.  It does cost a bit more for a bit less space than the competitors.  But I've found it the one that I use- even though I have 1TB on OneDrive. 

[dr_andus]

Ideally I'd like to add or amend files in their parent folder (either on PC or Laptop) and they update in their parent folder on the other device???

That's the kind of scenario I suggested Allway Sync for. You can choose which files and folders to sync, and in which direction. But it's a manual process, as opposed to the automatic sync with files and folders that are kept in Dropbox.

[keithy397]

That's the kind of scenario I suggested Allway Sync for. You can choose which files and folders to sync, and in which direction. But it's a manual process, as opposed to the automatic sync with files and folders that are kept in Dropbox.

I did download Allwaysync from your link the other night, thanks btw.  I don't mind manually synching so I'll give it a go tonight.

In general, for the use of cloud sync clients like Dropbox, OneDrive, and their ilk, it is assumed that you will use the files in place.  Which is why I like Cubby.  You can turn any folder into a cubby, and have it in place where ever it is on that machine.  It does cost a bit more for a bit less space than the competitors.  But I've found it the one that I use- even though I have 1TB on OneDrive.

As with Allwaysync, I'll give Cubby a run tonight too, thanks.

[dr_andus]

P.S. And it's also for situations when you want to force the direction of the sync, i.e. when you want to ignore certain changes for certain files or folders on one machine and overwrite them with older versions from the other machine.

Just to clarify when this might be useful. Image you have the same already synced copy of a database file on the desktop and on a laptop. Then you do a lot of changes on the laptop to that file.

Then you reopen the same database application later on the desktop, to check something without changing anything. However, even that would have modified the file, as lots of database type apps might modify a file when you just open it to look at it.

Some cloud services might pick the desktop version as the latest version and overwrite the laptop version that has the important changes. Allway Sync allows you to review the files and force the sync in the direction in which you want it to happen, not which file was changed last.

[keithy397]

P.S. And it's also for situations when you want to force the direction of the sync, i.e. when you want to ignore certain changes for certain files or folders on one machine and overwrite them with older versions from the other machine.

Just to clarify when this might be useful. Image you have the same already synced copy of a database file on the desktop and on a laptop. Then you do a lot of changes on the laptop to that file.

Then you reopen the same database application later on the desktop, to check something without changing anything. However, even that would have modified the file, as lots of database type apps might modify a file when you just open it to look at it.

Some cloud services might pick the desktop version as the latest version and overwrite the laptop version that has the important changes. Allway Sync allows you to review the files and force the sync in the direction in which you want it to happen, not which file was changed last.

At least this way then you're always in control.  I don't like the idea of automatic updates of any kind - I always like to see what's being changed or installed etc.

Just one question, can you sync both ways?

[dr_andus]

Just one question, can you sync both ways?

Yes, of course, that's the default behaviour. The most up-to-date versions of files get synced across both directions, unless you specifically exclude certain files or force a specific direction (less up-to-date file to overwrite more up-to-date file).

First press "Analyze", then review all the changed files, make your changes, then sync. There is a helpful section that picks up any unusual file changes that require special attention.

[keithy397]

Just one question, can you sync both ways?

Yes, of course, that's the default behaviour. The most up-to-date versions of files get synced across both directions, unless you specifically exclude certain files or force a specific direction (less up-to-date file to overwrite more up-to-date file).

First press "Analyze", then review all the changed files, make your changes, then sync. There is a helpful section that picks up any unusual file changes that require special attention.

Cool!  Thanks.