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Live Mesh Sync Problems and Live Mesh deleting files RRS feed

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    I recently discovered the 'goodness' of Live Mesh (guess I'm a little late to the party) but I am having some issues syncing. 

    I added a machine to my Live Mesh, and added 2 folders for P2P syncing (1 folder is small, the other is large > 1Gig).  This is a Windows XP machine on a corporate network running Symantec Endpoint Protection.  I keep this computer updated regularly.

    I added a second machine to the Live Mesh (my laptop) and added the two folders to be synced to a folder on one of it's drives.  No sync occurred.  After a few gyrations I was able to get a buch of WLX files and a folder structure, so I assume the sync had started.  This is my personal laptop running Windows 7 with all current updates.

    I realized the sync was going to take 'a long, long time' for my large folder, so I got the brilliant idea to remove the folder, copy the folder manually via removeable media for a baseline, and then reattach that folder to sync.

    The outcome was that several files were deleted from my first machine (the one I added first to Live Mesh/P2P sync).  Luckily, I had a backup.

    I have tried to do some research on this forum, but I haven't had much luck.

    1)  Why are the files being deleted?

    2)  Moe.exe spins up and chews on my hard drive and CPU at random (seemingly) intervals and considerably slows down my work (a developer using several memory intensive pgms at a time).  What causes this and how can I improve the performance?

    PS:  Removing features is not a satisfactory answer for me (please read this politely, I am not bashing).  I would like to use all of the features of Live Mesh effectively without worrying about inadvertently deleting files.

    Thanks for any insight...

    Brice
    Friday, December 4, 2009 3:35 PM

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    I can't explain why the files were deleted, but suspect that it had to do with the way you started the sync and then made some changes to the environment before letting it sync again.
    The idea of having a good base point is exactly what I recommend. However, in the current version, you're still going to see loads of churning as Live Mesh creates a hash for each and every file on both sides of the sync pair so that it will know about changes in the future. So, even though the files are identical on both sides, it won't be in snc and done for a while with 1 gig of data.
    Since Live Mesh is a beta, you really do need to rely on that backup you are keeping outside of the Mesh just in case something goes wrong.
    In reviewing your post, you mentioned removing the folder and adding it back. I'm not sure how you exactly did that, but the way I would recommend doing it is by going to the Live Desktop and changing the Sync properties of the folder to not sync with any PC. That would effectively revert the folder on the local PC to not be in the Mesh. At that point, I'd use xcopy or SyncToy to clone the folder to both sides of your sync pair before adding the folder back into the Mesh on one PC and merging it on the second when it was offered after changing the sync settings to do the sync strictly P2P.
    -steve
    ~ Microsoft MVP Windows Live ~ Windows Live OneCare| Live Mesh|MS Security Essentials Forums Moderator ~
    Friday, December 4, 2009 4:24 PM
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    Luckily, I see a bunch of the files in my Recycle Bin and I had a backup from a few days ago.  It appears I can recover all, but I would still like to use Live Mesh effectively.  There are no other sync programs running on these folders.
    Brice
    Friday, December 4, 2009 3:52 PM
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    I can't explain why the files were deleted, but suspect that it had to do with the way you started the sync and then made some changes to the environment before letting it sync again.
    The idea of having a good base point is exactly what I recommend. However, in the current version, you're still going to see loads of churning as Live Mesh creates a hash for each and every file on both sides of the sync pair so that it will know about changes in the future. So, even though the files are identical on both sides, it won't be in snc and done for a while with 1 gig of data.
    Since Live Mesh is a beta, you really do need to rely on that backup you are keeping outside of the Mesh just in case something goes wrong.
    In reviewing your post, you mentioned removing the folder and adding it back. I'm not sure how you exactly did that, but the way I would recommend doing it is by going to the Live Desktop and changing the Sync properties of the folder to not sync with any PC. That would effectively revert the folder on the local PC to not be in the Mesh. At that point, I'd use xcopy or SyncToy to clone the folder to both sides of your sync pair before adding the folder back into the Mesh on one PC and merging it on the second when it was offered after changing the sync settings to do the sync strictly P2P.
    -steve
    ~ Microsoft MVP Windows Live ~ Windows Live OneCare| Live Mesh|MS Security Essentials Forums Moderator ~
    Friday, December 4, 2009 4:24 PM
    Moderator
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    Steve,

    Thanks for your quick reply.

    I did not remove the sync through my Live Mesh Desktop the first time.   The icon overlay 'reappeared' on the folder after I restarted, and this could have begun a 'sync' of the directories with Live Mesh thinking that I meant to remove all the files in the directory.  Shortly after this, I removed  the sync through the mhod you mentioned.

    I am going to try and rejoin the second computer all over again.  This should clear up the problem.  I keep 'relearning' reasons to have a solid physical backup strategy outside of relying on any automated tools.  They are only as smart as we design and configure them to be.

    I REALLY like SyncToy. 

    1)  Any chance in getting that type of functionality in the product (possibly a config setting to 'review changes before commit' that brings up a SyncToy-like UI)?  A config option for that feature to 'only review upon deletion' would be clever.

    2)  The HD and CPU churn happens even if changes have not been made to the directories.  It happens a few times a day and interrupts my work.  Is there any way to only check for changes once a day, or decrease the number of times it checks?

    Thanks.
    Brice
    Friday, December 4, 2009 4:42 PM
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    You are very welcome , Brice, and the above explains exactly why some files were deleted. Thanks for confirming!

    For both of your other points -

    You can submit suggestions on Connect (or vote if someone already submitted it)
     Live Mesh Beta: Suggestions - Go cast your vote!

    I can tell you, regarding number 2, that there is no way to configure this.

    -steve
    ~ Microsoft MVP Windows Live ~ Windows Live OneCare| Live Mesh|MS Security Essentials Forums Moderator ~
    Friday, December 4, 2009 6:06 PM
    Moderator