Synchronize Laptop with Desk Computer

G

grasshoppr

Member
I am running Vista Home Premium on both my desk and laptop computers.

On my desktop computer, I store all my documents and data inside the "Steve" folder which was automatically created when I first got the computer.

I'd like to be able to transfer everything from my Desktop Steve folder into my
laptop so I can have the up-to-date files with me when I travel.

But 99% of the files in the Steve folder don't normally change and I don't keep track of each and every file that I work with on my desktop computer, and re-copying the entire contents of the folder takes hours.

Is there a way to just copy over those files that have been worked on and been modified?? (Even when I'm not sure which ones they are?)

Or alternatively, is there some better way to accomplish what I'm trying to do?
Perhaps both computers share the same Steve folder??
 

My Computer

System One

There are a couple of ways of achieving this which I have tried and work quite well.

Windows Live Mesh: Creates a folder in the cloud which all your Documents are sent to and can be accessed from anywhere. It also automatically sends copies of the files in the cloud to all registered PCs and anything changed gets synced back to the cloud and back to your other PC. http://mesh.com/

Windows Live Sync: accomplishes the same as the above but in a more streemlined way, I would recomend this. http://sync.live.com/

Oli
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Apple MacBook, 5,1
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4Ghz
    Memory
    4GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 9400m
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3" Apple MacBook LCD Screen + 22" HannsG DVI LCD + 21.5" Samsung USB Lapfit Monitor LD220
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800 + 1920x1080 + 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    SATA Internal 2.5" 500GB (305GB HFS+, 195GB NTFS)
    External USB 3.5" 1TB (HFS+)
    Case
    Aluminium Unibody
    Keyboard
    Apple Late 2009 Wireless Keyboard (US)
    Mouse
    Apple Magic Mouse
    Internet Speed
    6.33Mb/s up. 0.36Mb/s down.
    Other Info
    Harman Kardon Soundsticks II Speakers

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Home Grown Desktop
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5B-E
    Memory
    3006 MB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS 512MB
    Sound Card
    Motherboard - SoundMax
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic VX2235wm / Dell 17" Generic PnP Anolog
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050 x 4294967296 colors / 1024 x 768
    Hard Drives
    3 x ST3250620AS 250GB SATA IDE
    1 x WDC WD1200JD-00GBB0 120 GB SATA IDE
    PSU
    Enerrmax 535W All-in-one SLI 20/24+6+
    Case
    Antec Sonata
    Cooling
    Antec 12cm SmartCool
    Keyboard
    Logitech LX710
    Mouse
    Logitech MX100 Laser
    Internet Speed
    Bell Canada DSL 12MBps (supposedly)
    Other Info
    2 x HP Pavilion 9700v Laptops
Thank you, osholt and Ed.
I couldn't get Live Sync to work. The computers weren't able to detect each other on the network.

Both said they were online, and that remote access was enabled, but neither one showed the other in the Devices area.

So now I'm going to see if I can get Mesh to work.
 

My Computer

System One

osholt said:
There are a couple of ways of achieving this which I have tried and work quite well.

Windows Live Mesh: Creates a folder in the cloud which all your Documents are sent to and can be accessed from anywhere. It also automatically sends copies of the files in the cloud to all registered PCs and anything changed gets synced back to the cloud and back to your other PC. http://mesh.com/

Windows Live Sync: accomplishes the same as the above but in a more streemlined way, I would recomend this. Windows Live Sync

Oli
Click to expand...

I do not want my personal data in "the cloud" or anyplace else on the Internet. I don't think that is secure (don't trust ones who run the "cloud"). I don't know these people! Any other suggestions?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion 6560z
    CPU
    AMD 4450e dual core 2.3GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidea
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 19" LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1024 x 768
    Internet Speed
    cable modem
TeamanFL said:
osholt said:
There are a couple of ways of achieving this which I have tried and work quite well.

Windows Live Mesh: Creates a folder in the cloud which all your Documents are sent to and can be accessed from anywhere. It also automatically sends copies of the files in the cloud to all registered PCs and anything changed gets synced back to the cloud and back to your other PC. http://mesh.com/

Windows Live Sync: accomplishes the same as the above but in a more streemlined way, I would recomend this. Windows Live Sync

Oli
Click to expand...

I do not want my personal data in "the cloud" or anyplace else on the Internet. I don't think that is secure (don't trust ones who run the "cloud"). I don't know these people! Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...

Those are the only two completely software based programs which are reputable and are reliable in my opinion which I have used.

Technically with Windows Live Sync nothing is stored on the cloud as such, it's all stored locally but accessed via the cloud.

Oli
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Apple MacBook, 5,1
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4Ghz
    Memory
    4GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 9400m
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3" Apple MacBook LCD Screen + 22" HannsG DVI LCD + 21.5" Samsung USB Lapfit Monitor LD220
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800 + 1920x1080 + 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    SATA Internal 2.5" 500GB (305GB HFS+, 195GB NTFS)
    External USB 3.5" 1TB (HFS+)
    Case
    Aluminium Unibody
    Keyboard
    Apple Late 2009 Wireless Keyboard (US)
    Mouse
    Apple Magic Mouse
    Internet Speed
    6.33Mb/s up. 0.36Mb/s down.
    Other Info
    Harman Kardon Soundsticks II Speakers
Dear Oli,
I’m sorry, I don’t know what is meant by the term “completely software based program”?

Also:
I have had trouble understanding how Live Mesh works.
I sign in to my Windows Live account from my desk computer with (for example) [email protected].
Then I sign in from my laptop with [email protected].
Now my desk computer only shows one available computer online --- and that’s the desk computer itself.
And my laptop only shows one available computer online, which is of course the laptop.
Now if I sign in from the desk computer with [email protected] I can see the laptop. In fact I can navigate there (using the links on the website) and look at the files on my laptop. But now I can’t see the files on the desk computer which is the actual computer I’m using!
And the vice versa is also true when I log in on my laptop with my desk computer Windows Live ID (email address). Also, I am clueless as to how to initiate a synchronization run.
Any guidance or advice will surely be appreciated.


BTW:
Ed, I am using SyncToy now. You were right, it does exactly what I want. Thanks.
But I'd also like to give Live Mesh and Live Sync a try, if I can ever get them to work.
 

My Computer

System One

grasshoppr said:
Dear Oli,
I’m sorry, I don’t know what is meant by the term “completely software based program”?

Also:
I have had trouble understanding how Live Mesh works.
I sign in to my Windows Live account from my desk computer with (for example) [email protected].
Then I sign in from my laptop with [email protected].
Now my desk computer only shows one available computer online --- and that’s the desk computer itself.
And my laptop only shows one available computer online, which is of course the laptop.
Now if I sign in from the desk computer with [email protected] I can see the laptop. In fact I can navigate there (using the links on the website) and look at the files on my laptop. But now I can’t see the files on the desk computer which is the actual computer I’m using!
And the vice versa is also true when I log in on my laptop with my desk computer Windows Live ID (email address). Also, I am clueless as to how to initiate a synchronization run.
Any guidance or advice will surely be appreciated.


BTW:
Ed, I am using SyncToy now. You were right, it does exactly what I want. Thanks.
But I'd also like to give Live Mesh and Live Sync a try, if I can ever get them to work.
Click to expand...

Live Mesh does not work across Windows Live IDs.

You have to have both PCs on one Windows Live ID and both PCs logged into that same Windows Live ID for Live mesh to work.

It may be that in order to see itself in the list of logged in computers you have to restart the computer or make sure mesh.com knows it's registered.

If SyncToy is working for you then you might as well stick with it.

Oli
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Apple MacBook, 5,1
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4Ghz
    Memory
    4GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 9400m
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3" Apple MacBook LCD Screen + 22" HannsG DVI LCD + 21.5" Samsung USB Lapfit Monitor LD220
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800 + 1920x1080 + 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    SATA Internal 2.5" 500GB (305GB HFS+, 195GB NTFS)
    External USB 3.5" 1TB (HFS+)
    Case
    Aluminium Unibody
    Keyboard
    Apple Late 2009 Wireless Keyboard (US)
    Mouse
    Apple Magic Mouse
    Internet Speed
    6.33Mb/s up. 0.36Mb/s down.
    Other Info
    Harman Kardon Soundsticks II Speakers
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