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Synchronize Laptop and Desktop

What is the best way to sync two computers? I'd like to be able to have a desktop and a laptop, and at any given time log onto either of them and essentially have the same user folder with all of my files available. I'm guessing Live Mesh might be the best solution, but I'm not sure if that's the case for what I'm talking about (rather than just a few folders). Ideally this would sync over a local wireless and/or wired network, as well as over the internet when the two machines are in different locations. Assume Windows 7 on both machines.

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there are far too many ways to skin this cat, please make this a community wiki. – Molly7244 Nov 3 '09 at 14:49
Possible duplicate of a question asked yesterday: superuser.com/questions/64526/synchronize-laptop-and-desktop – eleven81 Nov 3 '09 at 14:50
Do you want an automatic synchronization (like dropbox, each change in the folder is updated on their server and on other clients), or can it be a "on demand" synchronization (like a SyncToy style, you click to have the folders synched) ? – Gnoupi Nov 3 '09 at 15:02
I'd rather an automatic sync, although the ideal solution would let me turn that off (if I didn't want to devote system resources to it, for instance), and have on demand sync as well. – tnorthcutt Nov 4 '09 at 0:14
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closed as exact duplicate by random♦, fretje, alex, Troggy♦ Mar 17 '10 at 8:25

This question covers exactly the same ground as earlier questions on this topic; its answers may be merged with another identical question. See the FAQ for guidance on how to improve it.

5 Answers

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I'm not sure if it works exactly as you'd like, but the latest experimental build of Dropbox provides a LAN sync feature (as well as syncing to the central server). I think you need to set up a Dropbox account to download the latest build in the forum.

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Does Dropbox let you designate folders to sync, or do you have to create special 'dropbox folders' that are then synced (i.e. put what you want synced in a certain folder)? – tnorthcutt Nov 4 '09 at 0:13
You set up one folder on your computer that gets sync'd. Allegedly the ability to sync multiple folders is a planned feature. I find the existing system (with 2GB for free) to be great for certain backups and for storing relatively small documents. – sblair Nov 4 '09 at 0:41
Can you designate one (existing) folder to be that synced folder? I.e. could I designate that it sync my entire user folder? – tnorthcutt Nov 5 '09 at 13:55
Yes you can, if you install an older version first (see forums.getdropbox.com/…). Then you can select any folder as the sync folder, including existing folders. And you can then safely upgrade to the newest version with the sync folder staying the same. This is what I do whenever I install a fresh OS, to avoid having a folder annoyingly called "My Dropbox"... – sblair Nov 5 '09 at 22:19
You can designed any folders or files to be synced by Dropbox - answers-tips.blogspot.com/2010/06/… – Nicu Zecheru Apr 5 '11 at 12:19
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up vote 1 down vote

Try GoodSync

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+1. Very useful program. And very responsive developers too, contrary to some other sync programs I tried and asked questions about :-) – Joey Nov 3 '09 at 22:53
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up vote 1 down vote

Windows Live Sync - is the answer you are looking for. Give this a shot for File/folder sync on multiple sync. I have around 40 GB of data synced across 5 machines.

Windows Live Mesh - is the ideal solution for Remote desktop into these machines (windows only in your case)

Hope this helps.

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up vote 0 down vote

How about the linux command rsync?

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It could conflict with the "Windows 7 on both machines", unless you mean cwRsync, a packaging using cygwin. – Gnoupi Nov 3 '09 at 16:08
Should of read the tags. cwRsync is an awesome product. +1 to Gnoupi for pointing that one out. – Mark Tomlin Nov 3 '09 at 17:53
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up vote 0 down vote

What about a web OS like g.ho.st

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