Unclear on how to use Briefcase

[Guest]

On my desktop, I clicked "New" on My Computer and created "New Briefcase"

I dragged the folder I want to synchronize over to "New Briefcase"

The files copied (does it actually have to copy all this st uff in order to
synchronize it, thus doubling the disk space required?). Let's say the
folder is named XYZ.

I've plugged my laptop into the same router to which my desktop is connected.

Now what? How do I tell the computers to synch? How do the computers know
that the other exists? The laptop has a folder named c:\XYZ just as the
desktop does -- I want the most recent version of all the files in that
folder to survive. What do I do next?

 

[Sharon F]

On my desktop, I clicked "New" on My Computer and created "New Briefcase"

I dragged the folder I want to synchronize over to "New Briefcase"

The files copied (does it actually have to copy all this st uff in order to
synchronize it, thus doubling the disk space required?). Let's say the
folder is named XYZ.

I've plugged my laptop into the same router to which my desktop is connected.

Now what? How do I tell the computers to synch? How do the computers know
that the other exists? The laptop has a folder named c:\XYZ just as the
desktop does -- I want the most recent version of all the files in that
folder to survive. What do I do next?

You have the two computers connected to a router. Is a workgroup setup and
both computers can see each other over this network connection? If no, you
need to set that up. An article that is helpful in getting the shares
established can be found here:

Windows XP Professional File Sharing:
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_filesharing/index.htm
(If using XP Home, there is a link in the first paragraph to an article
based on using XPH.)

There's lots of info in Help and Support about Briefcase. Basically, if the
files have not updated automatically, open briefcase on the laptop and tell
it to update all. More info here:

How To Use the Briefcase Feature in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307885/en-us

Since you have the router and a network connection... if you have XP Pro
you could use Offline Files instead of briefcase:

How to use offline files in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307853/EN-US/

and info about another built in XP tool that can be used with Offline
files:

HOW TO: Synchronize Mobile Devices and Desktop Computers with
Synchronization Manager
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314512/EN-US/