How to use Windows Live Sync to sync all your computers
Windows Live Sync is a blessing to all those who have multiple computers that they want to keep synchronized. Rather than constantly updating files and folders using a USB drive, you can sync over the internet. Every file and folder chosen for syncing remains up to date so that files you are working on at the office can be easily opened and worked on at home, on the road or anywhere.
If you don’t have a Windows Live account it is easy to sign up just go to www.live.com. Once you have signed up for an account, you will want to go to https://sync.live.com/clientdownload.aspx. Download and install Windows Live Sync on all of the computers you want to synchronize. You will find the application in the Windows Live folder in Programs on your computer.
Once you have opened the application, sign in. You will see an icon of blue arrows going in opposite directions in your menu tray. Click on the blue arrows and then click on Sync Website. Once there it will show you the computers on which you have installed the program and that are signed in to your Windows Live account.
From here you can click on “Create a personal folder”. That allows you to pick a computer from which to create the folder. Click on the computer of your choice and that will bring up your major folders including: Documents, Favorites, Music, Pictures, Videos, Desktop and your hard drive. Click on the folder of your choice. Once open, choose either the folder or a subfolder and click on “Sync folder here”. You can sync the entire folder or any subfolder or file.
The application will only sync 20 folders. Each folder can have up to 20,000 files and the files can be up to four gigabytes. Syncing will go faster if you choose only the files and folders you really want to have coordinated between your computers.
In order for your computers to sync you have to have them on and signed into Windows Live at the same time. You can choose any folder from any computer so you don’t have to use a particular computer to set up the items to be synced. Choose whether you want to automatically sync when both computers are on or only on demand.
Another great feature is the ability to access and sync folder’s that weren’t originally set up. Say you are visiting with relatives and you pull up your videos so that you can share little Emily’s first dance recital. Opps, it’s on the desktop at home. If you don’t already have a video folder set one up. Then head to Live Sync, choose your home computer, select the video and sync it. Now you have it on your laptop and can start it up.
You can also share synced folders. Choose the folder you want to share. For example, you want to share your latest pictures of your son playing in the state soccer tournament. Find the folder or create a new folder that contains the chosen pictures. Click on it. Click “Sync folder here”. It will then ask you to list one or more email addresses. Fill in an email address and your son’s big soccer moments are shared.
You can synchronize between XP, Vista, and Windows7. Windows Live Sync is easy to use, easy to set up and best of all it’s free.
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