Home Forums SyncToy by Microsoft

OK, one more pitch for SyncToy. Then I will stop promise. I don't work for Microsoft and I make no money from them. I must disclose I am a Microsoft Partner but that has nothing to do with this. I have no idea why Microsoft would make anything for free, but they continue to churn out new versions and now have a Beta version out: 2.0.

Before I sound off a bit, I would like to give credit to SmartSync Pro, a program recommended on here around six to nine months ago by another user. Quite a few tried it and liked it. It does have more features and is easier to schedule. I don't think it is free unless you don't use the Pro version. Could be wrong.

One of the reasons I have talked about SyncToy, is in answer to the few on here who ask for a one-button backup. That is the beauty of ST, it is so simple. And, once set up, you click to open it, click to run, and it's done. And, it takes maybe all of 30 seconds so you know you are backed up. You can set up just one folder pair or 300.

Although, I use it frequently, I decided to try it from this computer. Made a new folder on the desktop, although you can make a new folder while setting up the folder pair, went to the site, downloaded and installed, set up the folder pair and ran it; all in less than three minutes.

I will list some sites that talk about SyncToy 1.4 and 2.0 Beta.

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,64549/description.html

http://www.pchell.com/support/synctoy.shtml

The Wiki site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SyncToy

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/prophoto/synctoy.mspx

Microsoft suggests feedback here: (cool site)

http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto.

White paper:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/1...itePaper1_1.doc

SyncToy Beta 2.0

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/10/25/synctoy-2-0/

http://lifehacker.com/software/featured-...y-20-326199.php

There are many sync programs out there that are good. What I really like about SyncToy is 1) It is made by Microsoft (ok, no snickering), 2) It is free, and 3) It is so simple -- I like the way you browse first to each folder and set that up and then the other and, after naming it, you have that sync to choose from in a list. Very simple. Very accurate.

i use sync-toy, it seems to work just fine to back up AC, but it has difficulties backing up my flat patient database. i'm not sure if i am using the beta 2.0 version. defragging the external hard drive helped, but then after a couple of echoes, it gets stuck in the preview mode.

Larry,

I don't like the beta version. Microsoft tends to run their betas out too quickly. Besides, this is a very simple product that could probably work for years without any version changes.

What do you mean by "flat patient database." Also I think defrag is overrated. IMHO.

Happy holidays!

I am bringing this post to the top of the forum because there has been discussion about this at Branson.

Ironically, since I have always been the one bringing it up, when the s... hit the fan, I used it to recover some data, and I didn't feel so good about it. It's very good for backups but for syncing too different databases, I am not so sure.

I still like Jon's when not used in an offsite situation where you can delete things and then those things are put back. Bottom line if you need to sync two separate databases that are completely different, backup both before doing anything and make sure you know what you are doing.

Lazy Newbie question-
What is synctoy and why?

Vicki,

SyncToy is what, one of hundreds of synchronization backup tools available free on the Internet. This is nice because it is made by Microsoft so it usually works with most Microsoft OSs. I generally stay with 1.4, the original version, 2.0 Beta was a bit more complicated. One of the benefits and the drawbacks depending on your point of view is that it has five methodologies which the program will tell you about. Synchronize, Echo, Subscribe, Contribute, and Combine.

You have to be careful which one you are using. Synchronize is just what it says. But, it isn't always best. Say you are synchronizing your "real" AC folder to another location and synchronizing them. OK, great. Then somehow someone comes along and deletes a file from the backup folder. The next time you sync, you will lose that file. You will have to read the others as I don't have them memorized. I usually use Contribute, which means everything in the "real" folder on the "left" is copied to the backup folder on the "right." So, if you had

Real: A, B, and C contribute on day 1 Backup: A, B and C
Real: A, B, C, and D contribute on day 2 Backup: A, B, C and D
Real: loses file C, so A, B,D cont: day 3 Backup: A, B, C, D

so, that Backup Copy will ALWAYS have all the data and more

Synchronize, Echo, Subscribe, Contribute, and Combine.

http://tinyurl.com/7pdrq

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SyncToy

http://tinyurl.com/3yz5es

Thanks Bert-helpful intro.

Geez, you are quick!

And, though, it can be a bit tricky with the five different methods especially when they show the results in graphic form, I am sure as a doctor, you will figure it out -- that's if you use it. I certainly wouldn't use it as my only form of backup.