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Want to sync folders that already exist on two computers?

Question
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Hi all,
I am trying to sync folders on two different computers. Both folders have the same name and are filled with most of the same content. I can add one to live mesh and tell the other computer to sync it. However when I do this it creates a brand new folder on my desktop and starts to copy over all the files. This works but isn't exactly what I would like. Is there a way to choose the folder to sync to?
The example i'm specifically thinking of is sync my documents folder. I cannot sync the root documents folder because it will always create a new documents folder on the desktop of the second machine instead of using the current my documents folder that is already present on the computer. Trying to merge the newly create mesh folder on the desktop with the local my documents folder causes it to lose its live mesh properties and revert to a normal folder.
In windows live sync I could do this by choosing the folder to sync to instead of it automatically appearing on the desktop. I can't use windows live sync due to the number of files I have.
Thanks,
-IanFriday, July 31, 2009 8:49 PM
Answers
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WHen you set the first folder to be part of your mesh - then a shortcut style folder will appear on your other computers in your mesh..
Go to that computer and click on the shortcut - it will give you sync options - there you can pick the folder... I would not reccomend syncing two folders that contain the same stuff - I would empty one and think of your main computer and the source then let it populate all the other machines.. it will make your life easier and it will help to eliminate errors and having to reconcile those errors.
- Marked as answer by JimR1Moderator Friday, July 31, 2009 10:13 PM
Friday, July 31, 2009 9:56 PM
All replies
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WHen you set the first folder to be part of your mesh - then a shortcut style folder will appear on your other computers in your mesh..
Go to that computer and click on the shortcut - it will give you sync options - there you can pick the folder... I would not reccomend syncing two folders that contain the same stuff - I would empty one and think of your main computer and the source then let it populate all the other machines.. it will make your life easier and it will help to eliminate errors and having to reconcile those errors.
- Marked as answer by JimR1Moderator Friday, July 31, 2009 10:13 PM
Friday, July 31, 2009 9:56 PM -
It is easier not to merge folders as bburzycki says, because it prevents the chance of conflicts to sort through. However, you can merge two folders that have the exact same content. The way I've done it a number of times is to manually copy files from PC1 to PC2, where PC1 contains all of the most recent versions of the files I wish to sync. It doesn't matter if PC2 has additional files, just as long as the files on PC2 contain no files that are newer or older than the same files on PC1. Then, when you merge them with Live Mesh, any files on PC2 not on PC1 will sync to PC1 and vice versa. However, you avoid a massive amount of conflicts to sort through.
-steve
Microsoft MVP Windows Live / Windows Live OneCare, Live Mesh, & MS Security Essentials Forums ModeratorSaturday, August 1, 2009 1:09 AMModerator -
This doesn't seem to work on the latest Windows Live Mesh 2011 version... I'm running on Windows 7 and it creates folders in the C:\Users\<username> directory. So if I want to sync D:\AllMyFiles\BigFolders\temp to another computer, it always creates it in C:\Users\<username>\temp on the second computer.
I can't figure out any way to right-click properties, inspect registry or files on the system that might store the location, or change the location using either the web UI or the app on the system. Seems I'm relegated to sync'ing everything to C:\Users\<username> on the second machine in the mesh... but my C:\ drive on most machines doesn't have much free space... any ideas?
Thanks!
Sunday, January 23, 2011 12:01 AM -
This doesn't seem to work on the latest Windows Live Mesh 2011 version... I'm running on Windows 7 and it creates folders in the C:\Users\<username> directory. So if I want to sync D:\AllMyFiles\BigFolders\temp to another computer, it always creates it in C:\Users\<username>\temp on the second computer.
I can't figure out any way to right-click properties, inspect registry or files on the system that might store the location, or change the location using either the web UI or the app on the system. Seems I'm relegated to sync'ing everything to C:\Users\<username> on the second machine in the mesh... but my C:\ drive on most machines doesn't have much free space... any ideas?
Thanks!
Since you are referring to Windows Live Mesh, not Live Mesh - www.mesh.com, you are in the wrong forum.
For discussion of the new Windows Live Mesh (formerly Sync), (as well as the released Live Sync version) go here:
http://windowslivehelp.com/forums.aspx?productid=24
-steve
~ Microsoft MVP Windows Live ~ Windows Live OneCare| Live Mesh|MS Security Essentials Forums Moderator ~Monday, January 24, 2011 12:16 PMModerator