Comparing two folders in Windows?

Factual Questions
1

I want to copy the My Documents folder to another physical drive on my WinXP system and then periodically run a utility that will identify differences between the two folders (changed or new files) and synchronize them. Can you recommend a good, preferably free, utility to do this? I know that I can Google to find something like this, but I’m hoping someone can recommend something that works well. I also want to use this sort of thing on a folder containing tens of gigabytes, so something really fast would be nice.

If I’m not mistaken, there is nothing built into Windows to do this, but there should be.

2

I believe the Briefcase in Windows is supposed to do this. It might just be between two computers but you can still try. I never learned how to use it though.

3

The Windows Briefcase is the built-in utility for doing this type of thing [right-click, New, Briefcase]. It’s not all that fast, though. Especially when you’re talking multi-GB syncs.

4

PowerDesk, at least in its Pro version, can compare and synchronize between two folders (Tools > Synchronize). You can download a free (non-pro) copy, and if it has that feature as well, then you’re set.