Unable to Sync Computers Over Ethernet Cable..

HEEELP ! I have just installed Windows 7 Ultimate on my laptop and now find that I can no longer sync (I'm using Syncback SE) over a patch cable between ethernet ports. I had previously been doing this quite effectively on Windows XP and my procedure was
1. Both computers were in the same workgroup and accessed the same wireless network (secure).
2. Ethernet patch cable - usually showed up in the lower right corner as having 'limited or no access'.
3. Shared my user folder on the laptop (after disabling wireless for security - but this worked whether wireless was disabled or not)
4. Ran Syncback SE ver 4.1.3.0. and synced my files between the laptop and desktop.

Then I bought Win7U for the desktop, and the same procedure as above worked fine between Win7U-desktop and WinXP-laptop.

Then I bought Win7U for the laptop, and what happened next was odd :
1. It worked like a dream - really fast transfers etc, scanning very fast. I think that at this time I had somehow managed to put both in the homegroup but they were communicating over the ethernet.
2. As the sync was taking place I launched ITunes and synced my iPhone. It may be coincidence, but the ethernet cable connection was lost at that point.
3. Now I cannot re-establish the ethernet connection.

What is the correct procedure for achieving what I'm trying to do above ? Why does HomeGroup insist on using my wireless connection instead of using the ethernet cable direct connection ?

<whine on> In my close to 20 years of using Microsoft Windows, why haven't they managed to make two Windows PCs recognise each other and share files quickly and simply, like you can with that other OS.....<whine off>

I'm sure it does...but I'd be surprised if it can make two computers communicate across a non-functioning network connection....

I made it work...as follows :
1. Set your network to be a workplace network, not home.
2. Disable the wi-fi on the computers
3. On the destination computer, set the directory that you want to synchronise to share with guest.
4. Ta-da ! You should shortly see the destination PC as a network connection on the host PC.

Am having a bit of 'fun' with SyncBackSE though...Win 7 seems to insist on moving my files from My Documents>My Pictures to User>Me>My Pictures, and when I try to access My Documents>My Pictures it says access denied. Lame. I guess the next version of Windows will store your documents by event or something, instead of in directories that the user chooses. Anyway, this causes SyncBackSE to get quite confused, wanting to copy and delete the wrong sets of pictures, videos and music on each PC. Maybe I will try the Microsoft Sync.......but you can be damn sure I'm gonna make a full HD backup first !

Oh and before you do the above, remove both PCs from the homegroup.

Blewyn said:

Am having a bit of 'fun' with SyncBackSE though...

Good program once you get your head around how to use it properly...

Yes....but did you try Win 7's synctoy yet ? Wondering if it's better or worse...