Windows 7 - Does Offline Files sync between network computers?

gregrocker · 10-17-2010

It reads as though it does:

Quote:

The Windows 7 Offline Files feature allows you to keep on your computer, copies of files normally stored on the network. When you select a network file or folder to make available offline, Windows automatically creates a copy of that file or folder on your computer.

Anytime you reconnect to that network folder, Windows syncs the files with those in the network folder. You can also sync them manually at any time.

So my question is: If you put the exact same files on two network computers with Offline Files turned on, will they sync when you open a file? Or does one have to be a file server for it to work?

Brink · 10-17-2010

Hello Greg,

In this case with 3 networked computers, the two separate network computers (ex: A & B) would only sync with the source network computer (ex: C) of the offline files, and not each other directly. They (A & B) would evently be synced though since the are both syncing with C.

Sync Offline Files

Hope this helps some.

gregrocker · 10-17-2010

Thanks Shawn -

I couldn't get Offline Files to sync when I had the same files already pre-loaded into two p.c.'s with Ultimate. Is this not what it's intended for?

So I used Windows Live Mesh which is working well, except there is a glitch where even if I enable IE syncing on both, it still throws up an error that it can't sync Favorites folder without enabling IE syncing.

However Mesh has come a long way from when it was Sync and make duplicate folders for sync's. It appears to works seamlessly with no performance hit, likely because it is doing most of the work in MS servers?

Brink · 10-17-2010

Strange. Did you say have the offline files from C saved on A & B with both A & B syncing with C?

gregrocker · 10-17-2010

After clean reinstalling on A computer, I copied the files from the B computer into A's User folders over the network. There are only two computers on the same wireless network with all folders shared.

I turned on Offline Files on both, set them both to sync and could't see any syncing going on.

Brink · 10-17-2010

If I understand you right and B is the source, then you would only want to have A with the offline files syncing with B instead of both.

Double check the tutorial below along with it's related tutorials to see if they may be of any help as well.

Offline Files - Make Files or Folders Available Offline

inspiron12 · 10-20-2010

To use CSC as a tool for syncing folders between two computers you need to set one machine as file server and on the other machine you need to make the share available offline.

Check the below link for more details.

Synchronizing files between computers

Windows 7 - Does Offline Files sync between network computers?

Does Offline Files sync between network computers? problems?