PDA

View Full Version : Syncing files between Desktop and Laptop



BroncoJoe
03-24-2016, 01:54 PM
So - we have some pretty good technology experts here, so I thought I'd reach out.

My wife is a teacher, and I recently got her a laptop so she can work on files while at work. She also does a lot of work at her desktop here at home.

Here's my question:

Is there a program out there that automatically updates a FOLDER when documents are changed? I've looked at OneDrive, Dropbox and the like, but I don't know if the files within the folder itself is updated when changes are made. She doesn't want to save every document to the cloud because sometimes she doesn't have a good internet connection, but if there's an easy solution to that, we'd entertain it.

This might require additional description - just let me know what questions I can answer.

PS - she uses Office 365.

Northman
03-24-2016, 01:59 PM
Dropbox.

Northman
03-24-2016, 02:00 PM
And yes, the files can be updated regularly.

weazel
03-24-2016, 02:18 PM
Windows 7 has "Sync" buillt in... no need to buy anything.

Office365 is a cloud based software though, she doesnt have to save the files on either system, just an online file storage area will work.

BroncoJoe
03-24-2016, 02:24 PM
Windows 7 has "Sync" buillt in... no need to buy anything.

Office365 is a cloud based software though, she doesnt have to save the files on either system, just an online file storage area will work.

Both are Windows 10. She doesn't like working in the cloud - Office is downloaded on both computers.

I guess I could "teach" her to utilize Dropbox or Onedrive when on the laptop to open files. If she does that, do the updated files automatically sync with the same file on her desktop?

weazel
03-24-2016, 02:29 PM
Both are Windows 10. She doesn't like working in the cloud - Office is downloaded on both computers.

I guess I could "teach" her to utilize Dropbox or Onedrive when on the laptop to open files. If she does that, do the updated files automatically sync with the same file on her desktop?

windows 10 will have sync as well...
just save the stuff on a folder on the PC.
share the folder out and connect to the folder with the laptop and sync it.

It will treat that shared folder as a file serve and the laptop will always sync itself to it and update the files to the newest ones either way. It's simple and no need to pay for anything else. I have at least 500 people set up like that here.

BroncoJoe
03-24-2016, 02:37 PM
windows 10 will have sync as well...
just save the stuff on a folder on the PC.
share the folder out and connect to the folder with the laptop and sync it.

It will treat that shared folder as a file serve and the laptop will always sync itself to it and update the files to the newest ones either way. It's simple and no need to pay for anything else. I have at least 500 people set up like that here.

That "kind of" makes sense, but can you provide a more detailed description on how to "connect the folder with the laptop and sync it"?

I'm pretty computer literate, but certainly not an expert. I appreciate your help. One thing I do know, is if the wifey works on a file, and the updates are lost, I don't want to be in the middle of that mess. No amount of pleasuring would assist me in that circumstance.

weazel
03-24-2016, 03:17 PM
She would have to share the file out on the PC.

http://www.geeksquad.co.uk/articles/how-to-set-up-file-sharing-on-windows-10

she would then open the folder share on her laptop. example: \\Computername\FolderShareName
It will then ask for a username and password, she would use what she uses to logon to the PC. To map the drive is easy as well, just follow below.

http://www.howtogeek.com/school/windows-network-sharing/lesson10/all/

BroncoJoe
03-24-2016, 03:19 PM
She would have to share the file out on the PC.

http://www.geeksquad.co.uk/articles/how-to-set-up-file-sharing-on-windows-10

she would then open the folder share on her laptop. example: \\Computername\FolderShareName
It will then ask for a username and password, she would use what she uses to logon to the PC. To map the drive is easy as well, just follow below.

http://www.howtogeek.com/school/windows-network-sharing/lesson10/all/

Thanks. I'll take a look at those links later.

weazel
03-24-2016, 03:21 PM
Here's a good FAQ on Microsoft's site about syncing

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows-10/syncing-saving

elsid13
03-25-2016, 04:40 AM
Can't wait to find Joe shared his midget porn with the world.

Al Wilson 4 Mayor
03-25-2016, 08:23 AM
We use Google drive at work. It's pretty helpful for for modifying and sharing documents. I'm not sure if it can do excel, but we modify a lot of word documents and anyone on our management team has access to it.

BroncoJoe
03-25-2016, 08:40 AM
We're trying out Dropbox, but will probably switch to Onedrive, since we pay the subscription cost for Office365.

Thanks for the input, everyone! Appreciate it.

Dapper Dan
03-25-2016, 12:41 PM
I use Google drive for some things but I use Dropbox for my classes. As soon as you change something the folder will have a little blue-ish dot where it's syncing. Then it will be green when it's done. I like Dropbox because I can do homework on my laptop, phone, tablet, etc.

Al Wilson 4 Mayor
03-25-2016, 01:53 PM
I use Google drive for some things but I use Dropbox for my classes. As soon as you change something the folder will have a little blue-ish dot where it's syncing. Then it will be green when it's done. I like Dropbox because I can do homework on my laptop, phone, tablet, etc.

I've never tried to use Google Drive from my phone actually. I take my laptop with me to job sites, so I don't really have to use my phone for anything much other than pictures and emails