Folder syncing in Windows 8.1 pro

welshdragon · 27 Jun 2014 at 08:16

Recently upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro and really like it.

Can anyone recommend the best way/software to keep my library (pics/docs etc) folders sync'd to their equivalent folders on my nas?

I have the usual four folders as mentioned and I have created four shares on the nas for them to be backed up to. I used to use Microsoft Sync toy but I'm wondering if there is a better piece of software for syncing/backing up the folders and keeping them up to date.

I also use Onedrive. As I understand the desktop app mirrors the stuff in the cloud. I'd like to have the pictures folder in Onedrive mirror my pictures folder on the pc and them backup to the cloud?

Any thoughts much appreciated as I can't see the wood form the trees at the minute on this.

bledd · 27 Jun 2014 at 08:19

How big is your pictures folder?

You could move it into One drive.

As for backing up to your NAS. Use robocopy.

welshdragon · 27 Jun 2014 at 13:53

My pictures are about 50gb. They are all on the one drive also. Need something to keep the two insync.

I'll take a look at Robocopy though, is it easy to use?

Grrrrr · 27 Jun 2014 at 14:33

You could use bittorrent sync http://www.bittorrent.com/sync

EDIT\ and i think Robocopy is just command line only (no GUI)

welshdragon · 28 Jun 2014 at 10:10

Yeah I was hoping for something easy to use with an easy GUI

mick4545 · 28 Jun 2014 at 15:29

Still using SyncToy. I wish MS would update it.

dubcat · 4 Jul 2014 at 02:30

I need to do the exact same thing and plan to use robocopy by following these instructions to automate it to run every day:

http://www.groovypost.com/howto/automatically-mirror-files-network-drive-robocopy/

welshdragon · 4 Jul 2014 at 21:06

mick4545 said:
Still using SyncToy. I wish MS would update it.

Me too it was spot on. You using it in W8.1? Any issues?

dubcat said:
I need to do the exact same thing and plan to use robocopy by following these instructions to automate it to run every day:

http://www.groovypost.com/howto/automatically-mirror-files-network-drive-robocopy/

That's great, I'll definitely have a read of this. Thanks for the link

Nikumba · 4 Jul 2014 at 21:18

I would use Robocopy as above, though I would be wary about using the /MIR command though.

/MIR makes it semi-two way sync in that if you delete a folder on your NAS Robocopy AFAIK will also helpfully remove it from your local drive.

So while it can be handy it can also be very dangerous just something to bare in mind.

Kimbie

mick4545 · 5 Jul 2014 at 14:20

welshdragon said:
Me too it was spot on. You using it in W8.1? Any issues?

W8.1 yes. No issues as such, but you have to enable .Net 2.5

mick4545 · 5 Jul 2014 at 15:04

I've been investigating robocopy and it is very good. I have found 'robomirror'

http://sourceforge.net/projects/robomirror/

It gives robocopy a similar GUI to SyncToy. I will use this from now on.

Thanks Dubcat

welshdragon · 5 Jul 2014 at 21:41

Great cheers mate. Will it allow me to sync my library folder with a nas folder?

mick4545 · 6 Jul 2014 at 15:09

welshdragon said:
Great cheers mate. Will it allow me to sync my library folder with a nas folder?

I don't kmow. I only sync from C: to D:

welshdragon · 6 Jul 2014 at 16:34

I see. Ok I'll have a play

dubcat · 8 Jul 2014 at 09:51

Ropbocopy worked for me without having to touch anything on a fresh install of windows 8.1. It copys to my NAS shared drive with no issues. Works great!

welshdragon · 8 Jul 2014 at 10:00

Folder to folder or the whole drive?

welshdragon · 10 Jul 2014 at 09:58

If anyone is interested I've stumbled across FreeFileSync which works much like synctoy. Just been using it and find it very good. LINKY

meandu229 · 10 Jul 2014 at 10:16

Its built into windows 8.1 just hit windows and type file history.
You can backup to any drive with file history, the only down side is it only backs up the library data(which is what you want anyway)

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/how-use-file-history

Edit:Just re-read your request, this wont sync them to the same folders on NAS just make a new folder structure and keep the files and historys backed up.

mick4545 · 10 Jul 2014 at 19:45

meandu229 said:
Its built into windows 8.1 just hit windows and type file history.
You can backup to any drive with file history, the only down side is it only backs up the library data(which is what you want anyway)

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/how-use-file-history

Edit:Just re-read your request, this wont sync them to the same folders on NAS just make a new folder structure and keep the files and historys backed up.

Wow, never knew about that. File History Seems perfect.

Re FreeFileSync: Beware malware.

welshdragon · 11 Jul 2014 at 01:35

Everything I have found suggests ffs is legit. Is it not?