SyncToy vs Windows Synchronization?

[Pat]

I would like to keep an identical copy of MyDocuments, Outlook email
folders, and web browser favorites on my desktop and laptop PCs. Both are
running XP Pro SP2 and connected through a network (p2p).

Which would be better (more robust and reliable) to use for this, the
built-in synchronization in Windows XP, or SyncToy, or perhaps some other
third
party application?

I might also want to synchronize some folders with an external hard drive
(as an on-the-fly backup). So it would be nice if the same utility could do
this also.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[frodo]

I would like to keep an identical copy of MyDocuments, Outlook email
folders, and web browser favorites on my desktop and laptop PCs. Both are
running XP Pro SP2 and connected through a network (p2p).

Which would be better (more robust and reliable) to use for this, the
built-in synchronization in Windows XP, or SyncToy, or perhaps some other
third
party application?

I might also want to synchronize some folders with an external hard drive
(as an on-the-fly backup). So it would be nice if the same utility could do
this also.

Thanks for any advice.

An oft asked question...

This seemingly easy task is in fact very difficult, and fraught w/
mishaps. It is a BAD idea to simply dup the entire MyDocuments, it often
contains stuff that is machine specific [MS is careful not to do this,
but 3rd party software, esp. games, are not so]. Better to just sync up
specific "work" folders that are inside MyDocs.

Using Offline Files Sync is NOT intuitive - I have had MANY customers that
just can't deal w/ the minute details and "mind set" that using it entails
- I no longer recommend it at all. [Users familiar w/ working within a
domain and doing enterprise-wide file sharing are better at it, but they
still often get out on the road and discover that their laptop does not
have the file they need - VERY FRUSTRATING for them, and for me!]

SyncToy does things in a far more user-intuative way - it's easier to get
your mind around how it works and when, thus there are far fewer
surprises. W/ SyncToy it is clear that you are making COPIES of the
files, something users seem to grasp better than "OFFLINE CACHED COPIES"
that they just can't fathom [Yes, deleteing the laptop "copy" deletes the
server original too, didn't you know that?!! Yes, I can restore it, how
many donuts is it worth to you? arggggggg].

So, I'd try SyncToy, tho it's not perfect. But MS is still working on it,
so if you have an issue w/ it be sure to email them and let them know what
you'd like to see included. And practice w/ it first, so you understand
all the nuances. And RTFM, of course.

Good Luck.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In

I would like to keep an identical copy of MyDocuments, Outlook email
folders, and web browser favorites on my desktop and laptop PCs. Both are
running XP Pro SP2 and connected through a network (p2p).

Which would be better (more robust and reliable) to use for this, the
built-in synchronization in Windows XP, or SyncToy, or perhaps some
other third
party application?

I might also want to synchronize some folders with an external hard
drive (as an on-the-fly backup). So it would be nice if the same
utility could do this also.

Thanks for any advice.

My favorite is SecondCopy at www.centered.com. Very easy to set up and use.
There's an eval available for download, also. I use this for all laptops I
manage, instead of offline files...I've found it to be much more reliable.

 

[Plato]

I would like to keep an identical copy of MyDocuments, Outlook email
folders, and web browser favorites on my desktop and laptop PCs. Both are
running XP Pro SP2 and connected through a network (p2p).

1. Best to create a folder, a non-ms folder, for mydocs.
2. Secondly: http://www.centered.com/download/sc2000.exe

 

[Ian Merrithew]

I would like to keep an identical copy of MyDocuments, Outlook email
folders, and web browser favorites on my desktop and laptop PCs. Both are
running XP Pro SP2 and connected through a network (p2p).

Unison (http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~bcpierce/unison/) or rsync (Windows
version at http://tinyurl.com/2gae3) are two cross-platform tools that
will do what you want. I use Unison at work all the time to sync up my
laptop's project folders to our network file server. Note that rsync
doesn't have a GUI.

 

[jonah]

I would like to keep an identical copy of MyDocuments, Outlook email
folders, and web browser favorites on my desktop and laptop PCs. Both are
running XP Pro SP2 and connected through a network (p2p).

Which would be better (more robust and reliable) to use for this, the
built-in synchronization in Windows XP, or SyncToy, or perhaps some other
third
party application?

I might also want to synchronize some folders with an external hard drive
(as an on-the-fly backup). So it would be nice if the same utility could do
this also.

Thanks for any advice.

My solution is Synchromagic.

http://www.gelosoft.com/adescr.htm

Not free but it has a lot of advantages over most other so called
synchronisation software.

The most important being its use of the words "SOURCE" and "TARGET"
and very easy to understand settings. It will do a full 2 way
synchronisation or a Target only synchronisation which is very useful
and it does FTP over a net connection as well. It is so foolproof I
taught my pc illiterate boss to use it to update his home PC in under
5 minutes, try doing that with M$ synchronisation utilities.

Speaking of which -

The very mention of the words "offline files" brings me out in a cold
sweat, I have seen so many disasters caused by the incredibly stupid
use of language and obscure interface in the M$ synchronisation
utilities, I would not advise anybody to touch them with a ten foot
pole. Even the most experienced sys admin can get confused by the
"offline files" vagueness.

Jonah

 

[Pat]

Sorry for the delayed response. I was out of town all last week.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Sounds like Second Copy is the
favorite. Interesting that no one seemed to think much of either SyncToy or
Windows' Synchronization. I guess you get what you pay for.

Thanks again. -Pat