Best way to sync two computer

Shrimply

Hi, looking for a bit of help. Hope you understand what I want to achieve.

I've recently got a laptop to be used occasionally, e.g. weekends when I'm home rather than at uni, or occasionally on the move, or just if I'd rather not be sitting at a desk.

I'd like an easy, secure and free way of simply keeping the content of my User folder identical between the two. Both run windows 7 and I'd like for anything new on the computer to be copied to the laptop and vice versa with as little effort as possible.

Anyone know of a simple way of doing this?

Thanks.

tronator

Shrimply wrote: »

Hi, looking for a bit of help. Hope you understand what I want to achieve.

I've recently got a laptop to be used occasionally, e.g. weekends when I'm home rather than at uni, or occasionally on the move, or just if I'd rather not be sitting at a desk.

I'd like an easy, secure and free way of simply keeping the content of my User folder identical between the two. Both run windows 7 and I'd like for anything new on the computer to be copied to the laptop and vice versa with as little effort as possible.

Anyone know of a simple way of doing this?

Thanks.

I assume that you only need to sync both PCs when you're at home. Back in my Windows times I used SyncBack SE for such things. There is a freeware version available too. But carefully, if you delete on one side and sync, it will be deleted on the other side too. So you should make backups regularely anyway.

If you more techie ;-), then you could try Unison. It comes from Unix/Linux, but there is a Windows port using cygwin too. It can be tunneled over SSH to sync remotely over a secure connection.

MX5huggy

SyncToy from Microsoft will do exactly what you want. You will have to set up shared folders on both computers to sync the files. It has the option of not doing deletions.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=c26efa36-98e0-4ee9-a7c5-98d0592d8c52&displaylang=en

enigma52

Dropbox works and is free up to 2gb

Vuze

Yes Dropbox is a good choice, check it out here:

http://www.dropbox.com/

Apparently it is not just about moving files like you would in ftp, but if you edit something, it will efficiently transfer the edits over without necessarily transferring the whole file (at least that's what I think it does).

Shrimply

Wow Ok, lots of options.

Ideally I want to sync everything pictures, music documents etc, I don't think dropbox is really the right solution. Also not totally sure I really want to have everything uploaded to the web, I'm more looking at a local network scale, ideally over the wireless but more practically by crossover cable.

I'll look into the other in a bit more detail before I comment.

Thanks

enigma52

Shrimply wrote: »

Hi, looking for a bit of help. Hope you understand what I want to achieve.

I've recently got a laptop to be used occasionally, e.g. weekends when I'm home rather than at uni, or occasionally on the move, or just if I'd rather not be sitting at a desk.

I'd like an easy, secure and free way of simply keeping the content of my User folder identical between the two. Both run windows 7 and I'd like for anything new on the computer to be copied to the laptop and vice versa with as little effort as possible.

Anyone know of a simple way of doing this?

Thanks.

if you don't upload to the web, tell me how you think you can sync "when on the move"

Shrimply

I never said I wanted to sync files when I was on the move, I explained the reasons behind getting a laptop and that it wouldn't be used that often.

I need to be able to sync the two when they're together so that relevant information goes onto the laptop before I take it away or back onto the computer when I get back. Sorry if I didn't make that clear but I think the others understood.

enigma52

Shrimply wrote: »

I never said I wanted to sync files when I was on the move, I explained the reasons behind getting a laptop and that it wouldn't be used that often.

I need to be able to sync the two when they're together so that relevant information goes onto the laptop before I take it away or back onto the computer when I get back. Sorry if I didn't make that clear but I think the others understood.

read the text highlighted in red in last post and also your original post and you will find you did state you wanted to sync when occasionly on the move. Hence using Dropbox was suggested,

tronator

enigma52 wrote: »

if you don't upload to the web, tell me how you think you can sync "when on the move"

See post 2, last paragraph. I have to admit that it might be too advanced for most people though...

Alternatively you could setup a VPN to your PC or router at home.

closed

enigma52 wrote: »

read the text highlighted in red in last post and also your original post and you will find you did state you wanted to sync when occasionly on the move. Hence using Dropbox was suggested,

OP didn't say sync on the move, they said the laptop may be used on the move.