Anyone understand Sync Center?

I'm trying to synchronise my flash drive with a folder on my P.C. - Sync
Center recognises the flash drive but for some reason insists it is
synchronised using Media player (media files only i assume)

How can i get it to synchronise as data?

P.S. Can sync center behave as 'backup' - this is where one folder is
treated as master and other folder as slave

Hello Jethro--

I'd backup any data that you want backed up the conventional ways. I don't
believe sync center serves this function, although on more than one computer
you could have a backup of a sort if something happened to the other
computer. As I think you realize "if both copies of the same file were
changed while the two machines were apart. When the two machines attempt to
synchronize, Windows would realize that both copies of the file have been
updated. As such, the Sync Center would ask you to choose which file should
be considered to be the master."

This might help:

Centralizing Data Synchronization With The New Sync Center (Presentation)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

The Synch Center
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/art...nc-Center.html


http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...769971033.mspx

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/EN-US/library/aa369140.aspx

Join Dr. Neil Roodyn as he takes a closer look at the development framework
as well as the end user experience that Sync Center helps create.


http://drneil.blogspot.com/2006/03/w...zing-data.html

Good luck,

CH

"JethroUK©" <> wrote in message
news:T6nvi.14407$...
> I'm trying to synchronise my flash drive with a folder on my P.C. - Sync
> Center recognises the flash drive but for some reason insists it is
> synchronised using Media player (media files only i assume)
>
> How can i get it to synchronise as data?
>
> P.S. Can sync center behave as 'backup' - this is where one folder is
> treated as master and other folder as slave

Also from

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...769971033.mspx

How does sync work?
Every time you sync files between two locations (such as between a computer
and a mobile device), Sync Center compares the files in both locations to
see if they still match or if any have changed. It determines if any files
need to be updated in order to stay in sync.

.. If the files differ, Sync Center determines which version of each file to
keep and copies that version to the other location, overwriting the other
version there. It selects the most recent version to keep, unless you have
set up the sync partnership to sync differently.

.. If a file has changed in both locations since the last sync, Sync Center
flags this as a sync conflict and asks you to choose which version to keep.

.. If the files are identical in both locations, Sync Center does nothing
because the files are already in sync.

.. If you have added a new file in one location but not the other, Sync
Center will copy the file to the other location.

.. If you have deleted a file from one location but not the other, Sync
Center will delete the file from the other location.

How to keep your information in sync
Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.
Which edition of Windows Vista am I using?
In this articleWhat is sync?
Where do I go to sync?
How difficult is it to set up sync?
How does sync work?
What are some of the different ways I can sync?
Keeping track of all your information can become a chore if you keep your
files in different locations. Perhaps you store some files on a computer,
others in folders on a network server, and still others on mobile devices
such as portable music players, personal digital assistants (PDAs), or
mobile phones.

How can you be certain you're working with the most recent versions of your
files when you have copies scattered everywhere? And how can you make sure
you have all the files you want on the computer, server, or mobile devices
you use without spending a lot of time copying files manually? The easiest
and most efficient way is to sync your files automatically using Sync
Center.


Using Sync Center, you can keep your information in sync between your
computer and a variety of network folders and mobile devices


What is sync?
In Windows, sync (short for synchronization) is the process of keeping files
in two or more locations matched with each other.

Sync can be one way or two way. In one-way sync, every time you add, change,
or delete a file or other information in one location, the same information
is added, changed, or deleted in the other location. But no changes are ever
made to the first location because the sync is only one way.

In two-way sync, files are copied in both directions, keeping files in sync
in two locations. Every time you add, change, or delete a file in either
location, the same change is made in the other sync location. It doesn't
matter whether you made the changes on a computer, a mobile device, or a
folder on a network server; the same changes will be made in both locations.
Two-way sync is commonly used in work environments, where files are often
updated in more than one location and then synced with other locations.

Top of page
Where do I go to sync?
Sync Center is the place to go to sync your computer with network folders,
mobile devices, and compatible programs. Sync Center can automatically keep
your files and folders in sync in different locations.

Open Sync Center by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs,
clicking Accessories, and then clicking Sync Center.

Top of page
How difficult is it to set up sync?
In the past, the sync process was so complex that many people relied on a
system administrator to set up sync for them. With Sync Center, you can do
it yourself. There are no server settings to worry about, even if you sync
with a folder on a network server. All you have to do is tell Sync Center
what files and folders you want to sync, where to sync them, and when. This
set of rules-which represents a partnership between two or more sync
locations-is called a sync partnership.

Top of page
How often can I sync?
You can schedule Sync Center to sync your partnerships as often as you want.
You can schedule an automatic sync on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, or
when a specific event occurs, such as every time you log on to your
computer. You can also perform a manual sync at any time, such as when you
are getting ready to disconnect a mobile PC from the network and want to
make sure you have the latest copies of files on a network server.
How does sync work?
Every time you sync files between two locations (such as between a computer
and a mobile device), Sync Center compares the files in both locations to
see if they still match or if any have changed. It determines if any files
need to be updated in order to stay in sync.

.. If the files differ, Sync Center determines which version of each file to
keep and copies that version to the other location, overwriting the other
version there. It selects the most recent version to keep, unless you have
set up the sync partnership to sync differently.

.. If a file has changed in both locations since the last sync, Sync Center
flags this as a sync conflict and asks you to choose which version to keep.

.. If the files are identical in both locations, Sync Center does nothing
because the files are already in sync.

.. If you have added a new file in one location but not the other, Sync
Center will copy the file to the other location.

.. If you have deleted a file from one location but not the other, Sync
Center will delete the file from the other location.


Top of page
What are some of the different ways I can sync?
The following scenarios illustrate several of the most common and useful
ways to keep your information in sync. Using Sync Center, you can sync:

.. Music stored on a portable music player and music stored on a computer.
You store your main collection of music on your computer, and you want to
make sure that any music you add to or delete from your computer is also
added to or deleted from your portable player. But you don't want any songs
you delete from your portable player to be deleted from your computer, so
you create a one-way sync partnership between your computer and music
player. If you add or delete any music on your computer, Sync Center will
add or delete the same songs on your music player.

.. Files stored on a computer and in a network folder. You work
collaboratively with your colleagues on a set of documents stored on a
network server. You set up an Offline Files sync partnership with this
network folder. Now any time you disconnect your computer from the network
or the server loses its network connection, you can continue working on
those files without interruption. The next time you reconnect to the network
folder, any changes you have made are also made to the files

Synch Center Recommended Links:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...3ce971033.mspx

hth,

CH

"JethroUK©" <> wrote in message
news:T6nvi.14407$...
> I'm trying to synchronise my flash drive with a folder on my P.C. - Sync
> Center recognises the flash drive but for some reason insists it is
> synchronised using Media player (media files only i assume)
>
> How can i get it to synchronise as data?
>
> P.S. Can sync center behave as 'backup' - this is where one folder is
> treated as master and other folder as slave

"JethroUK©" <> wrote ...
> I'm trying to synchronise my flash drive with a folder on my P.C. - Sync
> Center recognises the flash drive but for some reason insists it is
> synchronised using Media player (media files only i assume)
> How can i get it to synchronise as data?
> P.S. Can sync center behave as 'backup' - this is where one folder is
> treated as master and other folder as slave

Hi Jethro

(any relation to Tull? :-)

Synch Centre as it currently exits in Vista is only for synchronising mobile
devices - PDAs, Smart Phones, etc. It does not have a feature to synchronise
between hard disks, or between 2 PCs.

(PC-to-PC synch was planned for Sync Centre, but the feature was dropped in
Beta 2 when it became apparent they would never finish it in time. Hence the
cut-down functionality we see today).

The best solution for synchronising data between drives or PCs is the free
SyncToy:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...o/synctoy.mspx

This is quite a cool little utility.

Hope it helps,
--
Andrew McLaren
amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au

"Andrew McLaren" <> wrote in message
news:367AA02F-D905-4488-9553-...
> "JethroUK©" <> wrote ...
>> I'm trying to synchronise my flash drive with a folder on my P.C. - Sync
>> Center recognises the flash drive but for some reason insists it is
>> synchronised using Media player (media files only i assume)
>> How can i get it to synchronise as data?
>> P.S. Can sync center behave as 'backup' - this is where one folder is
>> treated as master and other folder as slave
>
> Hi Jethro
>
> (any relation to Tull? :-)
>
> Synch Centre as it currently exits in Vista is only for synchronising
> mobile devices - PDAs, Smart Phones, etc. It does not have a feature to
> synchronise between hard disks, or between 2 PCs.
>
> (PC-to-PC synch was planned for Sync Centre, but the feature was dropped
> in Beta 2 when it became apparent they would never finish it in time.
> Hence the cut-down functionality we see today).
>
> The best solution for synchronising data between drives or PCs is the free
> SyncToy:
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...o/synctoy.mspx
>
> This is quite a cool little utility.
>
> Hope it helps,
> --

I've been using a util for couple years called 'syncback' which is very
good - just wondered whether vista could replace it

I'd sort of got an idea how it was suppose to work - but i couldn't figure
why it would only offer to treat my flashdrive as 'media' storage


"Chad Harris" <vistaneedsmuchowork.net> wrote in message
news:O5$...
> Also from
>
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...769971033.mspx
>
> How does sync work?
> Every time you sync files between two locations (such as between a
> computer and a mobile device), Sync Center compares the files in both
> locations to see if they still match or if any have changed. It determines
> if any files need to be updated in order to stay in sync.
>
> . If the files differ, Sync Center determines which version of each file
> to keep and copies that version to the other location, overwriting the
> other version there. It selects the most recent version to keep, unless
> you have set up the sync partnership to sync differently.
>
> . If a file has changed in both locations since the last sync, Sync Center
> flags this as a sync conflict and asks you to choose which version to
> keep.
>
> . If the files are identical in both locations, Sync Center does nothing
> because the files are already in sync.
>
> . If you have added a new file in one location but not the other, Sync
> Center will copy the file to the other location.
>
> . If you have deleted a file from one location but not the other, Sync
> Center will delete the file from the other location.
>
> How to keep your information in sync
> Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.
> Which edition of Windows Vista am I using?
> In this articleWhat is sync?
> Where do I go to sync?
> How difficult is it to set up sync?
> How does sync work?
> What are some of the different ways I can sync?
> Keeping track of all your information can become a chore if you keep your
> files in different locations. Perhaps you store some files on a computer,
> others in folders on a network server, and still others on mobile devices
> such as portable music players, personal digital assistants (PDAs), or
> mobile phones.
>
> How can you be certain you're working with the most recent versions of
> your files when you have copies scattered everywhere? And how can you make
> sure you have all the files you want on the computer, server, or mobile
> devices you use without spending a lot of time copying files manually? The
> easiest and most efficient way is to sync your files automatically using
> Sync Center.
>
>
> Using Sync Center, you can keep your information in sync between your
> computer and a variety of network folders and mobile devices
>
>
> What is sync?
> In Windows, sync (short for synchronization) is the process of keeping
> files in two or more locations matched with each other.
>
> Sync can be one way or two way. In one-way sync, every time you add,
> change, or delete a file or other information in one location, the same
> information is added, changed, or deleted in the other location. But no
> changes are ever made to the first location because the sync is only one
> way.
>
> In two-way sync, files are copied in both directions, keeping files in
> sync in two locations. Every time you add, change, or delete a file in
> either location, the same change is made in the other sync location. It
> doesn't matter whether you made the changes on a computer, a mobile
> device, or a folder on a network server; the same changes will be made in
> both locations. Two-way sync is commonly used in work environments, where
> files are often updated in more than one location and then synced with
> other locations.
>
> Top of page
> Where do I go to sync?
> Sync Center is the place to go to sync your computer with network folders,
> mobile devices, and compatible programs. Sync Center can automatically
> keep your files and folders in sync in different locations.
>
> Open Sync Center by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs,
> clicking Accessories, and then clicking Sync Center.
>
> Top of page
> How difficult is it to set up sync?
> In the past, the sync process was so complex that many people relied on a
> system administrator to set up sync for them. With Sync Center, you can do
> it yourself. There are no server settings to worry about, even if you sync
> with a folder on a network server. All you have to do is tell Sync Center
> what files and folders you want to sync, where to sync them, and when.
> This set of rules-which represents a partnership between two or more sync
> locations-is called a sync partnership.
>
> Top of page
> How often can I sync?
> You can schedule Sync Center to sync your partnerships as often as you
> want. You can schedule an automatic sync on a daily, weekly, or monthly
> basis, or when a specific event occurs, such as every time you log on to
> your computer. You can also perform a manual sync at any time, such as
> when you are getting ready to disconnect a mobile PC from the network and
> want to make sure you have the latest copies of files on a network server.
> How does sync work?
> Every time you sync files between two locations (such as between a
> computer and a mobile device), Sync Center compares the files in both
> locations to see if they still match or if any have changed. It determines
> if any files need to be updated in order to stay in sync.
>
> . If the files differ, Sync Center determines which version of each file
> to keep and copies that version to the other location, overwriting the
> other version there. It selects the most recent version to keep, unless
> you have set up the sync partnership to sync differently.
>
> . If a file has changed in both locations since the last sync, Sync Center
> flags this as a sync conflict and asks you to choose which version to
> keep.
>
> . If the files are identical in both locations, Sync Center does nothing
> because the files are already in sync.
>
> . If you have added a new file in one location but not the other, Sync
> Center will copy the file to the other location.
>
> . If you have deleted a file from one location but not the other, Sync
> Center will delete the file from the other location.
>
>
> Top of page
> What are some of the different ways I can sync?
> The following scenarios illustrate several of the most common and useful
> ways to keep your information in sync. Using Sync Center, you can sync:
>
> . Music stored on a portable music player and music stored on a computer.
> You store your main collection of music on your computer, and you want to
> make sure that any music you add to or delete from your computer is also
> added to or deleted from your portable player. But you don't want any
> songs you delete from your portable player to be deleted from your
> computer, so you create a one-way sync partnership between your computer
> and music player. If you add or delete any music on your computer, Sync
> Center will add or delete the same songs on your music player.
>
> . Files stored on a computer and in a network folder. You work
> collaboratively with your colleagues on a set of documents stored on a
> network server. You set up an Offline Files sync partnership with this
> network folder. Now any time you disconnect your computer from the network
> or the server loses its network connection, you can continue working on
> those files without interruption. The next time you reconnect to the
> network folder, any changes you have made are also made to the files
>
> Synch Center Recommended Links:
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...3ce971033.mspx
>
> hth,
>
> CH
>
> "JethroUK©" <> wrote in message
> news:T6nvi.14407$...
>> I'm trying to synchronise my flash drive with a folder on my P.C. - Sync
>> Center recognises the flash drive but for some reason insists it is
>> synchronised using Media player (media files only i assume)
>>
>> How can i get it to synchronise as data?
>>
>> P.S. Can sync center behave as 'backup' - this is where one folder is
>> treated as master and other folder as slave
>

Andrew what you stated is just not factual. Read the synch center links I
provided. You can certainly synch documents between or among boxes.

Try reading the material MSFT provides and I linked.

CH

"Andrew McLaren" <> wrote in message
news:367AA02F-D905-4488-9553-...
> "JethroUK©" <> wrote ...
>> I'm trying to synchronise my flash drive with a folder on my P.C. - Sync
>> Center recognises the flash drive but for some reason insists it is
>> synchronised using Media player (media files only i assume)
>> How can i get it to synchronise as data?
>> P.S. Can sync center behave as 'backup' - this is where one folder is
>> treated as master and other folder as slave
>
> Hi Jethro
>
> (any relation to Tull? :-)
>
> Synch Centre as it currently exits in Vista is only for synchronising
> mobile devices - PDAs, Smart Phones, etc. It does not have a feature to
> synchronise between hard disks, or between 2 PCs.
>
> (PC-to-PC synch was planned for Sync Centre, but the feature was dropped
> in Beta 2 when it became apparent they would never finish it in time.
> Hence the cut-down functionality we see today).
>
> The best solution for synchronising data between drives or PCs is the free
> SyncToy:
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...o/synctoy.mspx
>
> This is quite a cool little utility.
>
> Hope it helps,
> --
> Andrew McLaren
> amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au
>

"Chad Harris" <vistaneedsmuchowork.net> wrote...
> Andrew what you stated is just not factual. Read the synch center links I
> provided. You can certainly synch documents between or among boxes.
> Try reading the material MSFT provides and I linked.


Hi Chad,

Oh, I'm pretty familiar with the Microsoft documentation :-) I believe the
information I gave is correct. If you try to set up a Sync Partnership, you
will find only a limited set of scenarios are supported:

- mobile devices (PDAs, cameras, phones, etc) which are compatible with Sync
Centre

- Offline files from network shares.

Most of the enquiries I see in this newsgroup are from users (such as OP,
Jethro) who want to sync arbitrary directories and drives; not to use an
offline folder, where the local data will be stored in the CSC cache.
Sync'ing files from one PC drive to another (either on a single machine, or
across machine boundaries) is not possible using Sync Centre, except via the
"offline files" scenario. If you know steps to configure PC drive-to-drive
or directory to directory synchronisation in Sync Centre (apart from using
offline files) then please let me know. But I'm sure you'll find no such
facility exists.

The original plan for Sync Centre was to provide a general PC-to-PC and/or
directory-to-directory synchronisation feature, a la SyncToy. The
documentation you referred to may have been written based on this original
plan. Some articles on the web are also mistaken on this point; and assume
that PC-to-PC sync is possible. I remember the feature being dropped, when
Beta 2 came out - there was some discussion in the beta newsgroups at the
time. I believe the Sync Centre dev team plan to eventually add this
feature in some future release.

"In theory" applications can also be written to use the Sync Centre API. I
say "in theory", because no major applications use this facility yet.

--
Andrew McLaren
amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au

"Andrew McLaren" <> wrote in message
news:367AA02F-D905-4488-9553-...
> "JethroUK©" <> wrote ...
>> I'm trying to synchronise my flash drive with a folder on my P.C. - Sync
>> Center recognises the flash drive but for some reason insists it is
>> synchronised using Media player (media files only i assume)
>> How can i get it to synchronise as data?
>> P.S. Can sync center behave as 'backup' - this is where one folder is
>> treated as master and other folder as slave
>
> Hi Jethro
>
> (any relation to Tull? :-)
>
> Synch Centre as it currently exits in Vista is only for synchronising
> mobile devices - PDAs, Smart Phones, etc. It does not have a feature to
> synchronise between hard disks, or between 2 PCs.
>
> (PC-to-PC synch was planned for Sync Centre, but the feature was dropped
> in Beta 2 when it became apparent they would never finish it in time.
> Hence the cut-down functionality we see today).
>
> The best solution for synchronising data between drives or PCs is the free
> SyncToy:
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...o/synctoy.mspx
>
> This is quite a cool little utility.
>
> Hope it helps,
> --
> Andrew McLaren
> amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au
>
>
I use SyncBack, a free application from

www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/sbse.html

It will sync to and from anywhere.

--
Ian

With patience there is always a way.

Please Reply to Newsgroup so all can read.
Requests for assistance by email can not and will be deleted.

"Ian Betts" <> wrote in message
news:4119C4D7-C995-44DC-A288-...
>
>
> "Andrew McLaren" <> wrote in message
> news:367AA02F-D905-4488-9553-...
>> "JethroUK©" <> wrote ...
>>> I'm trying to synchronise my flash drive with a folder on my P.C. - Sync
>>> Center recognises the flash drive but for some reason insists it is
>>> synchronised using Media player (media files only i assume)
>>> How can i get it to synchronise as data?
>>> P.S. Can sync center behave as 'backup' - this is where one folder is
>>> treated as master and other folder as slave
>>
>> Hi Jethro
>>
>> (any relation to Tull? :-)
>>
>> Synch Centre as it currently exits in Vista is only for synchronising
>> mobile devices - PDAs, Smart Phones, etc. It does not have a feature to
>> synchronise between hard disks, or between 2 PCs.
>>
>> (PC-to-PC synch was planned for Sync Centre, but the feature was dropped
>> in Beta 2 when it became apparent they would never finish it in time.
>> Hence the cut-down functionality we see today).
>>
>> The best solution for synchronising data between drives or PCs is the
>> free SyncToy:
>>
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...o/synctoy.mspx
>>
>> This is quite a cool little utility.
>>
>> Hope it helps,
>> --
>> Andrew McLaren
>> amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au
>>
>>
> I use SyncBack, a free application from
>
> www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/sbse.html
>
> It will sync to and from anywhere.
>

That's what i been using for some time - just wondered when installed Vista
whether i still need it - seems i do )

Did you notice just how fast SyncBack is at actually copying files?
(unchecked windows protocol) - First time i used it, it copied megabytes in
an instant - i didn't beleive it had copied until i checked the destination
folder