Turn OFF file synchronization

Help,
I upgraded to SBS2003 and redirected my users "My Documents" to the server
(they had originally been on local machines). A week after doing this, with
many complaints of lost files and disconnect/resync problems I am SOOO SORRY
that I tried using this "feature". I would like to keep the "My Documents"
folders on the computer, but I want the stupid synch/offline use stuff
turned OFF. How do I keep the My Docs folders on the server and turn the
file sync stuff OFF?

Thanks
David Taylor

See http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;230738 which
might fix the offline synch problem. Once I did this, it works flawlessly.

Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

rms




Dave Taylor wrote:
> Help,
> I upgraded to SBS2003 and redirected my users "My Documents" to the server
> (they had originally been on local machines). A week after doing this, with
> many complaints of lost files and disconnect/resync problems I am SOOO SORRY
> that I tried using this "feature". I would like to keep the "My Documents"
> folders on the computer, but I want the stupid synch/offline use stuff
> turned OFF. How do I keep the My Docs folders on the server and turn the
> file sync stuff OFF?
>
> Thanks
> David Taylor
>
>

In news:,
Dave Taylor <> wrote:

> I upgraded to SBS2003 and redirected my users "My Documents" to the
> server (they had originally been on local machines). A week after
> doing this, with many complaints of lost files and disconnect/resync
> problems I am SOOO SORRY that I tried using this "feature". I would
> like to keep the "My Documents" folders on the computer, but I want
> the stupid synch/offline use stuff turned OFF. How do I keep the My
> Docs folders on the server and turn the file sync stuff OFF?

Hi David,

Thare are two ways of doing this:

1. On each workstation double click My Computer -> Folder Options -> Offline
Files and uncheck 'Enable offline folders'.

2. The second way is a little bit more complicated but it enables you to
control this setting for all your workstations assuming they are all part of
the default Smallbusiness Server Client Computer Policy. On the server you
open administrative tools -> Group Policy Management. Right click the
Smallbusiness Client Computer Client policy and choose Edit. Drill down in
the policy Computer Configuration -> Network -> Offline Files -> and Choose
Diabled for 'Allow or Disaalow use of the Offline Files feature'.

One thing...offline file should work just fine under normal circumstances.
Do you have any GPO processing errors in the event log?

Bye
Mariette

Mariette,

>> One thing...offline file should work just fine under normal
circumstances.

What are normal circumstances? If a user has Microsoft Access installed, a
file called system.mdw is created everytime Access is opened. It can't be
used as an offline file, and the synchronization crashes every time. Is
that normal?

If you make the mistake of redirecting the "application data" folder (as I
did), you also get the synchronization errors caused by archive.pst - a
standard Outlook file. Is that normal?

Like poor David, I thought I was doing my clients a big favor by enabling
folder redirection. The hell it puts users through is remarkable. After
four months of use, I still get complaints EVERY SINGLE DAY and I only have
14 users.

This "feature" should be removed from the server management console and
relagated exclusively to the group policy console where idiots like me won't
be tempted to deploy it.

Sorry about the rant.

-Trevor


"Mariette Knap [SBS MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:...
> In news:,
> Dave Taylor <> wrote:
>
> > I upgraded to SBS2003 and redirected my users "My Documents" to the
> > server (they had originally been on local machines). A week after
> > doing this, with many complaints of lost files and disconnect/resync
> > problems I am SOOO SORRY that I tried using this "feature". I would
> > like to keep the "My Documents" folders on the computer, but I want
> > the stupid synch/offline use stuff turned OFF. How do I keep the My
> > Docs folders on the server and turn the file sync stuff OFF?
>
> Hi David,
>
> Thare are two ways of doing this:
>
> 1. On each workstation double click My Computer -> Folder Options ->
Offline
> Files and uncheck 'Enable offline folders'.
>
> 2. The second way is a little bit more complicated but it enables you to
> control this setting for all your workstations assuming they are all part
of
> the default Smallbusiness Server Client Computer Policy. On the server you
> open administrative tools -> Group Policy Management. Right click the
> Smallbusiness Client Computer Client policy and choose Edit. Drill down in
> the policy Computer Configuration -> Network -> Offline Files -> and
Choose
> Diabled for 'Allow or Disaalow use of the Offline Files feature'.
>
> One thing...offline file should work just fine under normal circumstances.
> Do you have any GPO processing errors in the event log?
>
> Bye
> Mariette
>
>

You've got me scared now.

I wanted to use this for a few desktop clients, as much for backup as
anything.
If I disable synch/offline are there still 'issues'?

Terry


"Dave Taylor" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Help,
> I upgraded to SBS2003 and redirected my users "My Documents" to the server
> (they had originally been on local machines). A week after doing this,
with
> many complaints of lost files and disconnect/resync problems I am SOOO
SORRY
> that I tried using this "feature". I would like to keep the "My
Documents"
> folders on the computer, but I want the stupid synch/offline use stuff
> turned OFF. How do I keep the My Docs folders on the server and turn the
> file sync stuff OFF?
>
> Thanks
> David Taylor
>
>

Sync works fine here.

Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

rms




Terry M wrote:
> You've got me scared now.
>
> I wanted to use this for a few desktop clients, as much for backup as
> anything.
> If I disable synch/offline are there still 'issues'?
>
> Terry
>
>
> "Dave Taylor" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>
>>Help,
>>I upgraded to SBS2003 and redirected my users "My Documents" to the server
>>(they had originally been on local machines). A week after doing this,
>
> with
>
>>many complaints of lost files and disconnect/resync problems I am SOOO
>
> SORRY
>
>>that I tried using this "feature". I would like to keep the "My
>
> Documents"
>
>>folders on the computer, but I want the stupid synch/offline use stuff
>>turned OFF. How do I keep the My Docs folders on the server and turn the
>>file sync stuff OFF?
>>
>>Thanks
>>David Taylor
>>
>>
>
>
>