Sign in
Microsoft.com
 
Microsoft
 
 
 

locked
One major disappointment after Vista Home Premium upgrade - No Offline Files RRS feed

 > 

  • Question

  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote
    So I finally decided to toss in that Express Upgrade CD Dell sent me a while back to upgrade from XP Pro to Home Premium on my Laptop - primarily because I saw there were more WHS features available with Vista.

    After getting everything loaded, I of course moved my Documents, Pictures and Music locations to where theyre all stored on WHS - just as I did with my XP setup previously.  I then spent the next hour trying to find where Vista decided to hide the Offline Files settings only to finally realize this feature isnt available in the "Home" editions.

    Now I know its my own fault that I didnt put the research in and should have known about this sooner and all that, but this feature just seemed like no brainer.  I also realize this is a Windows Home Server forum, not Vista, but I just can't believe there wasnt a forethought when designing Vista and WHS.

    Not having Offline Files available for laptops defeats the main purpose WHS is marketed for - one central place for all your media.  Now Im forced to either keep some files on my Laptop and some of my Server or a copy on each and use some third party program to ensure theyre kept in sync.

    Dont get me wrong, I still love WHS and Im even starting to come around with Vista as well, but this discovery was certainly a major disappointment.


    Thursday, June 14, 2007 3:32 PM

All replies

  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote

    I HAVE offline files and I did not like the headache I was running into trying to keep everything in Sync (I wanted a centered mydoc's for laptop/desktop) What i have been using is MS Foldershare (https://www.foldershare.com/) It keeps my documents in sync between my desktop and my laptop and than my WHS keeps both those computers (with documents) backed up. It's a better system in my opinion since they they are allways the same as long as you have a internet connection and you can go back to previous versions via browseing the backup files on the WHS. Thats just my 2 cents. Good luck!

     

    ps... looks like https://www.foldershare.com/ is down right now

    Thursday, June 14, 2007 4:36 PM
  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote

    timeofcourse,

     

    Unfortunately you are a victim of what I call a Microsoft  marketing "downgrade."  If you originally had Windows XP Pro, the Express Upgrade should have offered an upgrade to Windows Vista Business as this is truly a comparable upgrade.  Vista Home versions are similar in features and security granularity as XP Home; and, Vista Business versions are similar in features and security granularity as XP Pro.  Check these links out below for additional information...

     

    http://www.blackviper.com/WinVista/Services/Offline_Files.htm

     

    http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx?wt_svl=10033VHa1&mg_id=10033VHb1

     

    If you have the option, go back to XP Pro, otherwise, try to get Vista Business.

     

    Good luck,

     

    John

    Friday, June 15, 2007 4:53 PM
  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote

    Yust right-click on the folder on WHS to select 'Make available Offline'

    This should do the trick.

     

    Or better, redirect the location of your Documents folder to a subfolder onder your personal WHS folder.

     

    hans.hinnekint@bekaert.com

     

    Friday, June 15, 2007 7:30 PM
  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote
    Hans-
    Offline Files isnt available in either of the Home editions for Vista - so this isnt possible.

    Mark-
    Thanks for the reply.   I wish I had done a little more research on what exactly is missing from Home Premium.  Another big one Im really going to miss is Remote Desktop.  I just cant believe Microsoft decided to remove these features out of their primary OS - of course I guess they needed a little more than "Ultimate Extras" to make Ultimate a more enticing choice.  Im going to see if Dell will let me swap for Business as it has everything I want and really could care about the things its missing.  Although I doubt theyll honor this after Ive already loaded it.

    Thanks again.
    Friday, June 15, 2007 9:39 PM
  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote

    Hello,

     

    I'm a little bit embarassed on my remark on Offline FIles. I have only experience with Vista Business and Ulltimate.

     

    You can use Microsoft's free SyncToy to do the job.

    http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/prophoto/synctoy.mspx

     

    Kind regards,

     

    Hans

    Monday, June 18, 2007 5:21 PM