WLM Contacts and Syncing

[blarner777]

I am new to the forum and new to Windows 7. I have a new Dell desktop with W7 Home (64 Bit). I also have a laptop that had Vista Home (64 Bit). I migrated the emails and contacts (Windows Mail) on to the Dell. I then loaded WLM onto the Dell. My problem is two-fold:

1. The Contacts file loaded in WLM without the Contact Groups. All of the contacts are there... but in a single file. I thought that was the way it would be... however, when I upgraded the Vista laptop to W7 Home (64 Bit), the contacts all loaded into WLM including the Groups. I have not been able to get the groups onto the Dell. I have deleted the Contacts file and re-imported them from the laptop to no avail. This leads to part 2 of my question...

2. Is there something that I have been missing... and (2b), is there a way to sync the two computers for WLM as I use the laptop for 5 months away from my Dell, and want to use the Dell as primary for 7 months out of the year?

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Sorry about the length of this thread, but need the help.

Thanks,
Bruce

 

[roncerr]

My guess is that "migrating" is different from "export/import". The latter process doesn't save the groups. If you were previously using WLM on the Vista machine the migration process probably moved your appdata file structure for WLM on Vista over to WLM on 7. That is one way to preserve it. An easier way, which will work at any time in the future is to simply "sign-in" to WLM with your Live ID. Now your contacts will be maintained at the website "contacts.live.com", including the groups (now called "categories") and will repopulate any future install of WLM as soon as you "sign-in".

Generally when one wants to use email on two (or more) computers they set up an IMAP account on all or just the computers other than the one used for permanent storage. The permanent storage computer, which downloads the messagses and deletes them from the server would be using a POP3 account instead of IMAP. I believe the http account type, used by Hotmail, also behaves like IMAP, showing you whatever is still on the http server.

 

[blarner777]

WLM Contacts and Sync---ing

Ronccer, thanks for the help, but problems continue...

When I was finally able to sign into the system (contacts.live.com), I set up my categories. Three things occured: 1. Most os the contacts were duplicated on my computer and internet account, 2. Some of my email addresses were deleted along with some of my contacts, and 3. The categories were zeroed out on my laptop! I am hoping that I can get the category lists from the contact folder on my laptop. If not, I will have to re-build the categories from scratch. So far, I am not that impressed with the Live ID backup system on the internet.

I am afraid that when I get it all up to spec, and when I bring my Dell into the system, it will somehow blow the whole thing apart again.

BTW, migrating is done via a program that is linked directly between the computers via a special cable link which allows yoru programs and data to transfer from the old computer to the new computer.

Bruce

 

[roncerr]

I'm not saying you did anything wrong, but once you install WLM on your pc you can "sign-in" automatically whenever you open WLM, and then manage your contacts from WLM on whatever pc you sign-in with. They should be saved at the website so if you sign-in from another pc, or do a clean install, the contacts and categories will show up on the new pc just as you last left them on the previous pc. Merely signing in from another pc shouldn't change the website or what you see on the two pcs. Before assuming something is wrong try closing and reopening WLM as that would insure the last changes you made from the last pc you used will be transferred to the website.