How to keep desktop and laptop files in sync while on the road

tomseeley · 14 Sep 2012

I'm entering a new role that will take me on the road more than before. I'm shopping for a laptop to take with me to check email, etc., while I'm away from home. I've used laptops before but I don't have one now. Now, I have an HP desktop running Windows 7 Home Premium 64, Firefox, etc., and I'm entirely satisfied with it. I use a satellite hard wired internet connection because where I live that's the only game in town.

My question is: once I go on the road with the laptop, what would I need, either software or hardware, either on the road with me or at home or both, so that I could keep files stored on my desktop HD (e.g., Excel files I've built at home and I want to keep up to date) in sync automatically with the same files stored on my HD on my laptop? I.e., if I work on a file on the laptop, and I make changes to it, I DO NOT have to make the same changes to the desktop file once I get back home, cuz it stayed in sync with whatever I did while I was using the version on the laptop on the road.

Is this even remotely possible?

gregrocker · 14 Sep 2012

Yes, I also travel between three homes and overseas regularly and have found a freeware solution that works great for me.

Install MS Skydrive which gives 7gb free storage in the cloud for each Windows Live ID, and will sell you more dirt cheap. Then Sync Any Folder to Your SkyDrive Account | PCWorld.

I sync all of my user folders up to 25gb to the cloud where I can access everything by signing in anywhere to my Hotmail. It keeps all 7 of my PC's and any other devices sync'd so I never have to carry files or even think twice about whether I have the latest within reach.

To do the same with your browser, use Firefox and Sync your devices on the Tools tab. It will keep all of your history, Favorites, passwords, etc. sync'd across all of your devices - making it easy to pull something up in the URL box in one place you just accessed earlier that day in another place. Over time it has become like having the same PC everywhere I go.