Synchronising folders across network?

[rsv gone!]

I have two PCs. One is my media box, which has more of my music, but I'd like to be able to periodically copy the contents of my MP3 folder to my games PC. Is there anything inbuilt in XP I can use to check and copy just the changes? Or anything you can recommend and is free?

[Skier]

Have a look at the XP Powertoys and look for SyncToy on this page:

www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=E0FC1154-C975-4814-9649-CCE41AF06EB7&displaylang=en

It's free, very easy to use and works well.

I'm wrestling with synchronization Issues in Vista. I've given up with the in-built Sync Center as it's just too cumbersome. It might well do what I want if I read more about it but frankly, you lose teh will to live! I've downloaded a free utility that does the job beautifully.

Regards

Skier

[GreenV8S]

Windows Briefcase does that.

[ThePassenger]

RE: SyncToy.

Must admit, it's fine for simple stuff but seems to get horribly confused with multiple folders. I've had it make a mess of things more than once... didn't loose data but ended up with documents with the pictures and vice versa.

[hut49]

I tried several and ended up at Viceversa pro - seems to be the best solution out there and very easy to use. There's a cheaper 'Plus' version but I don't know how good that is.

Edited by hut49 on Monday 23 April 05:31

[puggit]

Try www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/ - I use it to sync 'my documents' with my share in Canada (which is painfully slow)

[rsv gone!]

Skier said:

Have a look at the XP Powertoys and look for SyncToy

It did exactly what I needed, thanks.

I am looking to have my iTunes library on both PCs, therefore giving me a backup and the facility to play the music upstairs and down.

What I forgot is that iTunes relies on adding files to it's library to know about them. It doesn't automatically search for changes itself. Therefore, if I added some tracks on the media pc and the games one sync'd them, they would be in the correct folder but itunes wouldn't display them.

I guess I have two options

1. Track down the appropriate itunes library files on pc1 and replicate them on pc2 (which might mean ensuring the file paths are the same on both PCs).
2. Use another media player that scans live as the program starts. This is plan B as I quite like itunes.

Any other suggestions?

[k77-widow maker]

What about mapping a drive to the 2nd pc, and just using XP's internal backup.

Once it's been done once, and works, then just set a schedule to back it up when required?

Or even, download a utility made by Acronis which will clone the complete hard drive (or parts of it)
to the 2nd pc???

[lurker]

puggit said:

Try www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/ - I use it to sync 'my documents' with my share in Canada (which is painfully slow)

+ 1 for syncback.

One of the best few pieces of freeware I've ever used.

Completely flexible and a doddle to use and set up multiple synchro/backup profiles.