Auto up date of files

[thespook]

Windows XP pro
Hi
I have 2 computers networked. On number 1 comp I keep a folder for my DVD covers, and keep a back up of this folder on number 2 comp, at the moment I have to copy the covers from number 1 and paste into number 2, what I would like to know is there a program that would automaticly update the folder on computer 2 as soon as I switch both computers on.
Hope you understand what I mean.
Thanks

[redwudz]

On your start screen, go to 'Help and Support' and search for 'Synchronization Manager'. It can be set up to keep the files automatically updated.

EDIT: 'Briefcase' is probably the program you want. It should show up with the above search.

[jimmalenko]

... or you could do it the old-fashioned way ...


Right-click on your desktop of comp 1 and go to New > Text Document. Rename it to "copycovers.bat" (instead of "New Text Document.txt), making sure that it changes the file type from a txt file to a bat file (it should prompt you with a warning about changing the extension - if it doesn't, and/or it retains the notepad icon, you may need to untick the "Hide extensions of known file types" tickbox in My Computer > Tools > Folder Options > View). Now right-click on the file and go to Edit. In it put the following:

xcopy /D "C:\Covers" "\\COMP2\Covers"

where C:\Covers is the directory that contains your covers and COMP2 is the computer name of Comp 2, and Covers is the share name of the backup directory on comp 2 (if you need to set up a share, use My Computer to navigate to the folder on Comp 2, right-click on it and go to Sharing and Security, select Share this folder, and name it Covers - press OK). Alternatively, just change the line of code above to reflect whatever share name you give it.

This is the summary for the /d option:

/D:m-d-y Copies files changed on or after the specified date. If no date is given, copies only those files whose source time is newer than the destination time.

You could also put a /Y option in, which suppresses the prompt about overwriting existing files, and just copies the latest versions (those on Comp 1) straight over the top of the "old" copies on Comp 2. This is only applicable to files that you have modified since the last backup.

So this means that it will only copy the existing files you have changed since the last backup, or any new files created/downloaded since the last backup.

As is, you could then just leave it on your desktop so that it will run when you double-click on it. To make it run automatically when you turn on Comp 1, you can add it to your startup folder. There's a number of ways to do this:

1. Click on the copycovers.bat file, and drag it into your Start Menu > Programs > Startup folder (if you have the classic start menu) or Start Menu > All Programs > Startup (if you have the WinXP start menu).

2. Click on the copycovers.bat file, hit Ctrl-C to copy it, then go to My Computer > <your windows install drive> > Documents and Settings > <your username> > Start Menu > Programs > Startup, then press Ctrl-V. Alternatively, if you would like it to run irregardless of who logs on to the computer, instead of going into the <your username. folder, go into the All Users folder, then Start Menu > Programs > Startup.


Please note that this is totally off the top of my head and not tested as yet.

Also, it would be advisable to make sure that comp 2 has booted up before running the batch file, either manually or automatically.



EDIT:

Now tested and works good !

I set up a test scenario using the following code:

xcopy /D /Y "C:\Covers" "\\COMP2\Covers"

and it works as expected - it copies any files that are on Comp 1 but not on Comp 2 (so any new files created/downloaded since last backup), and copies over any existing files that have been modified on Comp 1 since last backup, suppressing the prompt about overwriting files and doing it automatically.

If you want to see what files it is copying (and how many), put the word pause on the next line after the xcopy command (so the 2nd line of your bat file). This puts up a "Press any key to continue..." prompt in the command window, and allows you to see the filenames of the files copied over and it also gives you the number of files that were copied over.

For more info about the different switches available, see http://www.ahuka.com/backup/backup3.html . http://www.ahuka.com/backup/backup4.html describes how to add this as a scheduled task (as opposed to putting it into your startup folder). You can then set it to run whenever you log on, or on a weekly time schedule.


Enjoy !

[thespook]

Thanks for the help guys, I must admit I took the easy option and done it with briefcase, but I am determined to have a go at the other way as soon as I get time.
Thanks