Synchronize Folders Between Your Computers and Drives with SyncToy 2.1

There are files from all kinds of sources that we want to store and manage. Files are created by our digital cameras, e-mail, cell phones, portable media players, camcorders, PDAs, and laptops.  To manage this hundreds or thousands of files is still largely a manual operation. In some cases it is necessary to regularly get copies of files from another location to add to primary location; in other cases there is a need to keep two storage locations exactly in sync (same).

 

This is a free tool from Microsoft that was once part of the XP Power Toys but has continued to grow and improve.

 

If you are using Windows then SyncToy from Microsoft is freely available.

 

You might have a external drive that you use to carry files and documents from the workplace to your home office and vice versa.  SyncToy will guide you through creating a pair of linked folders. Labeled as Left and Right, it will then ask you to choose from one of five synchronization methods.

• Echo works like a standard one-way sync, copying all files from Left to Right.
• Synchronize is bidirectional;
• Contribute works like Echo but it won't delete files removed from the Left folder;
• Subscribe only updates files in common that have been updated; and
• Combine merges Synchronize and Contribute so that files are updated in both directions, but none are deleted.

SyncToy does support encrypted files.

 

SyncToy also offers up a preview, preventing accidental loss of data.