Sync Libraries between 2 pc's

chessdragon136 · 29 Oct 2009

Hey

Is it possible to sync libraries between 2 pc's across a network?
Both pc's are running Windows 7 Professional, and both are in the same HomeGroup

What i would like to do is sync my music collection between my netbook and my main pc, so the files in my music library on 1 pc are copied to the music library on the other.

I've tried playing around with sync center but the offline files doesn't store them where i want them to and i seem to only be able to access them through the sync center.

Also tried robocopy and such but haven't had much luck with that either

Are there any other alternatives? Or am i missing something?

Thanks

ddeen · 29 Oct 2009

If you have to have the files physically on both pc's, Libraries will not help you, you need Briefcase or Synctoy. Sync using Briefcase

Download Synctoy 2.0 from Microsoft and use it to sync the folders where the music is actually stored, don't try to sync the Librarys, you will have to run Synctoy manually it won't automatically update the other computer when there are changes like Briefcase will.

harpua · 29 Oct 2009

Not an expert on this yet but I think you have to set up a "homegroup" on both PC's running 7 and then move the data you want to share into a public library which should already be set up in the same library "folder" as your regular library. I think that copying from a regular library to a public library doesn't actually move or duplicate the actual files, just makes them available to share. Once this is done, the files that are in the public library should be available on both computers. At least that is the theory.

chessdragon136 · 29 Oct 2009

Ok. Maybe because its midnight here and im not thinking straight, but how do i create a public folder in my music folder? Any chance of some step by step instructions.

Been playing around with SyncToy and that will do the job but was hoping that an inbuilt 7 thing would do it, as i cant schedule SyncToy as i may not be connected to the homegroup network when it tries to run....

Sorry if this makes no sense!

harpua · 29 Oct 2009

Simply navigate to your music library and add whatever music folders you have on your various drives to the music library. This doesn't actually move any files. This simply points to those folders in a convenient single point of access. Then you should have already a public music library folder (empty) within your music library. Just copy stuff from the music library into it.

I'm sure there are detailed tutorials on this and on setting up "homegroups" which are a special, supposedly easier W7 home networking feature that uses these public library folders to share. Again, check the tutorial section of this site which has an extensive collection of detailed tutorials which give step by step instructions on setting up and using these features.