Synchronize data Vista <> XP?

[Stan in South Africa]

I have a laptop (Vista Home Premium, 250GB hard drive), a PC (XP Pro, 80GB
hard drive - almost full {40GB docs & pics= 'data'}) and recently purchased
a Verbatim portable (USB powered) 320GB hard drive.
I wish to make more space on the PC for software and transfer the data to
the laptop and copy same to the portable hard drive, and then keep the data
always automatically in synch on both laptop and the portable hard drive,
allowing me to add/edit data on either.
Both PC & laptop are usually connected to a router and can 'see' each other.
My hobby is photography and I will then travel with the laptop and portable
hard drive
Any advice for a complete novice will be appreciated.
Would a 'Y' USB cable help in this scenario?

 

[Andre Da Costa]

I would use My Briefcase which is still available Windows Vista.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307885

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

I would use My Briefcase which is still available Windows Vista.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307885

Hmmn.. I have not seen the need to use Briefcase since I stopped using Zip
Disks around 2001, and I cannot see how it would be ideal in this situation.
It's only useful with removable media, like floppy disks, Zip Disks,
flashdrives, or occassionally network connected laptops, etc..., if you know
how it works.

Briefcase is similar to using Offline Files, although it works in both
directions, but is not automated in the same way. He said he want it
'automatically in synch'.

There are loads and loads ideal of third party synch programs that can be
used for this. I use automated XXCOPY scripting for this, using complex
rules, and ROBOCOPY for more manual sorting, using Total Commander as the
GUI.

As the OP is looking for something easier to use, I would recommend SyncToy
as much more suitable than Briefcase.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...36-98e0-4ee9-a7c5-98d0592d8c52&DisplayLang=en

ss.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

I have a laptop (Vista Home Premium, 250GB hard drive), a PC (XP Pro,
80GB hard drive - almost full {40GB docs & pics= 'data'}) and recently
purchased a Verbatim portable (USB powered) 320GB hard drive.
I wish to make more space on the PC for software and transfer the data to
the laptop and copy same to the portable hard drive, and then keep the
data always automatically in synch on both laptop and the portable hard
drive, allowing me to add/edit data on either.
Both PC & laptop are usually connected to a router and can 'see' each
other. My hobby is photography and I will then travel with the laptop
and portable hard drive
Any advice for a complete novice will be appreciated.
Would a 'Y' USB cable help in this scenario?

Y-cables do not exist for USB, and as you have a networked scenario, there
are loads of synching programs that you could use. Briefcase is not
intended for networked computers, but SyncToy is

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

Y-cables do not exist for USB, and as you have a networked scenario,
there are loads of synching programs that you could use. Briefcase is
not intended for networked computers, but SyncToy is

Oops, I had discarded that reply, but I posted it accidentally.

My point was that as the computers are networked, there are a lot of
solutions that you could use, if you Google for file synchronising software,
but SyncToy shoudl be fine..

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...36-98e0-4ee9-a7c5-98d0592d8c52&DisplayLang=en

ss.

 

[Quaoar]

I have a laptop (Vista Home Premium, 250GB hard drive), a PC (XP Pro, 80GB
hard drive - almost full {40GB docs & pics= 'data'}) and recently purchased
a Verbatim portable (USB powered) 320GB hard drive.
I wish to make more space on the PC for software and transfer the data to
the laptop and copy same to the portable hard drive, and then keep the data
always automatically in synch on both laptop and the portable hard drive,
allowing me to add/edit data on either.
Both PC & laptop are usually connected to a router and can 'see' each other.
My hobby is photography and I will then travel with the laptop and portable
hard drive
Any advice for a complete novice will be appreciated.
Would a 'Y' USB cable help in this scenario?

I use Microsoft's SyncToy. It works well, mostly in the background, but
requires the source computer and the target computer to be online and
networked.

Q

 

[Stan in South Africa]

Thank you, I thought they could 'see' each other but this is not so.
How do I network both PC & laptop via the router?