SyncToy installation

[Guest]

Hi
In a previous post (Laptop / PC data Synchronization on 18-06-07) I was
advised to install SyncToy in order to synchronize data files between my PC
and Laptop.

I have downloaded Synctoy V1.4. When attempting to install this, I am
informed "this setup requires the .NET Framework V 2.0.50727" when clicking
on the option to down load this file, you are redirected to a page that gives
you the option of "X86", "X64" & "IA64" which of these three do I need?

I already have "Windows Installer 3.1" which was downloaded under (KB893803)
when released. My OS is XP Home SP2

Thanks for any help
Joco (London)

 

[P. Di Stolfo]

Hello,

normally, you need the X86 version (I think you have XP SP2 32-bit, which is the "normal" version.) The other two mean two other processor architectures, X64 for 64-bit processors and operating systems, and IA64 for the Intel Itanium.

Greetings,
P. Di Stolfo

 

[Guest]

Hi, and thanks for your quick reply

I have now installed SyncToy which appears to work ok, I have moved files
between my PC and removeable storage, without a problem.

How do I move files between my PC and laptop? do I need cables, use my
router, or use the internet.

Amongst all the information I read, I thought you could synchronize via the
internet, but are now unable to find any information about this. If you could
advise me it would be greatly appreciated.

Once again thanks for the info which resulted in a successful install of
SyncToy V1.4

Regards Joco (London)

 

[P. Di Stolfo]

Hello,

have you got a home network? Then you can install the SyncToy on your desktop and create a folder pair, using the left folder as a local folder on your Desktop computer (e.g. ...Documents\My_Sync_Folder, and the right folder as a network folder (while in the folder pair wizard, you can choose Browse... -> "Network" -> your Laptop on the network -> and a network folder or resource) which is on your Laptop.

Please feel free to ask again if I my answer was not clear enough ; )

Greetings,
P. Di Stolfo

 

[Guest]

Hi,
Yes I have a home network. Currently both my PC and Laptop are connected to
the router with Patch cables and I can access the internet from either.
The path to load SyncToy is C:\Documents & Settings\Owner\Local
Settings\Application Data\SyncToy
I understand the principal of SyncToy, it's similar to the advanced backup
programs I curently use for backing up to my remote drives. When searching
for the network on the right hand folder all I can see is My
Networkplaces\Entire Network\Microsoft Windows Network\MSHome all these
directories appear to be empty, the content of MSHome may be hidden.

I am not sure how to access my laptop from the PC. The router has only just
been installed, and I have not setup any links, I think this might be the
cause of the problem. I am very new to networking hense the difficulties.

Thanks and regards Joco (London)

 

[P. Di Stolfo]

Hello,

do both computers have Windows XP? So then I think they are both on the same
network, MSHOME.
To see if both computers are visible on the network, click Start -> My
Network Places -> View Workgroup computers.
* If not, do the following on both XP computers: Right-click "My Computer",
click Properties -> tab "Computer Name", click "Change" for the workgroup.
In the workgroup, type in MSHOME. - For the desktop, choose the Computer
name "DESKTOP", and for the Laptop use "LAPTOP". I think you'll have to
restart both computers.

If both computers are visible, on the laptop, now create a folder.
Right-click it, and choose Properties, and then click the Sharing tab, and
"Share this folder on the network".
(For XP Home, it should look like this:
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing/filesharing11.gif)
Check "Allow network users to change my files". Choose an easy share name,
like "SyncLaptop".
Now on the desktop (in the folder sync wizard), choose the right folder as
you did before with the network, but now in MSHOME, the Laptop should be
visible, and in it the shared folder you created.

I hope I didn't mix anything up. Please tell us if there's a problem.

Greetings,
P. Di Stolfo

 

[Guest]

Hi again, thanks for your last reply, my PC & Laptop both hav XP SP2

Both computers were not Visable on either my PC or Laptop.
I have changed the workgroup to MSHOME on both & Named them LAPTOP & DESKTOP.

Both computers are not visabl on the laptop, A directory has been created MY
Network Paces, with sub directories, Microsoft Terminal Services, Microsoft
Windows Network, With sub Directories MSHOME>John's Laptop>Shared Docs (with
Music Video & Pictures sub directories) & WEb Client Directory.

On my PC My Network Places>Entire Network>Microsoft Windows Network>MSHOME &
Web Client Network

If you click on the MSHome Icon there is an error message Mshome is not
accessable. You might not have permission etc & The list of servers for this
workgroup is not currently available. The same error message appers following
Start>My Network Places>View Workgroup computer.

Sorry to be a pain, but I am now completly lost.

Thanks for your help it really is appreciated
Joco (London)

 

[P. Di Stolfo]

Hello,

do you have any firewalls turned on?
Here is a link if you want to check on this: http://www.ckollars.org/networkingxp.html (especially the paragraphs "Firewalls" and "Settings")
Have you got XP home or XP professional or both?

Greetings,
P. Di Stolfo

 

[Guest]

Hi again,

My laptop and PC are both XP Home with SP2 installed

I have disabled both Norton 360 and Windows Firewall, and are still getting
the same error message. Both were already disabled so I rebooted and tried
again, and still had the error message. I was logged in as owner, so should
not have had an access issue/

I have just printed the pages from networking XP Home and will read the
prior to trying anything else.

Thanks again Joco (London)

 

[frodo]

it sounds like you do not have both computers setup to do file sharing - a
common security measure if you don't need it, but now you do want it in
order to run SyncToy between the two PCs.

I'd suggest running the Network Setup Wizzard on each machine. It will
set everything up so that file sharing will work. Note that it always
likes to name your workgroup MSHOME, if you want to use a different name
make sure you change it when running the wizzard ON EACH MACHINE.
The wizzard can be found on the control panel | networking page.

After the reboots, you should then be able to designate a folder on the
laptop as shared, and then give it a "share name" (keep it simple).
Then, from the desktop's network neighborhood page you should be able to
browse to the workgroup, then the laptop, and then find that share. You
will need to give a password for the account on the laptop than owns the
folder, then you'll see its contents. Once you can do that with Explorer,
you should be able to find it w/ SynchToy too, and designate it as your
"right-side" folder. And you're set.

Confused? then click the desktop, fit F1, and enter "File Sharing" in the
search field of the Help and Support page that comes up.

Note: I would recommend that you turn off Simple File Sharing, and use
regular file sharing instead. It's a bit more secure. This will be
important mostly on your laptop, since in the future it may attach to a
wireless network on the road, and having it expose Simple File Sharing to
the public isn't a good idea.

 

[Guest]

Hi, thanks for your message

I have followed your suggestions, and I think my laptop may be ok, when
clicking on the Mshome directory, I now have a directory "LAPTOP (laptop)"
with shared docs, music, pictures, video and printers and faxes directories.

On my PC I still have the error message when clicking on the Mshome
directory, and there are no sub directories to the Mshome directory.

Both the Laptop and PC were setup the same way apart from the computer names
of laptop and desktop.

I will now search help for "File Sharing" and see what I can find.

I feel I am close than I was lastnight, and that the problem is the PC
rather than the Laptop.

Thanks again for your help

Regards Joco (London)