I have what is hopefully a simple question with a simple solution which I’m just too dense to find. So I come to you wise people.
How does one go about synchronizing two folders (including sub-folders and files) in Windows? Its built into basically every FTP client, but I’ll be damned if I can find how to do it in Windows.
The gist of the problem is that I have 2 folders on 2 different drives that contain lots and lots of MP3s. about 90% of the content between these folders is identical, but due to some sloppy organization the content diverged some. I don’t want to lose any of the files in either folder, and add to both.
Suggestions? Am I missing some windows tool or menu item, or is it just a matter of some cut and paste magic? Could I need a third party software to lick it?
I did something like this with a .bat file and some careful application of the archive bit (attrib command) and the xcopy function. Bascially I backed up the first directory to the second, then backed up the second directory to the first. Once you do it the first time, the archive bit will keep you from moving it all again and again - it should just catch the changes.
I also keep a backup of my work laptop on the company network drive with the xcopy function (but not the reverse).
If I understand the question correctly, I’ve done that very thing- with Briefcase.
I’ve got a folder (with subfolders) in my camera, and a copy of it as a briefcase on my computer. I just connect the camera, right-click on the folder on my harddrive and select “synchronize”, and it does it all for me.
Belrix, I’m sorry but I consider myself relatively familiar with the typical Window’s operating sysytem, but nothing that you descibed makes any sense to me. Could you dumb it down, or could someone translate that into english for the common user?
Lightnin’, what you’re saying makes sense and is the type of tool that I’d expect there to be in windows, but I’ll be damned if I can find it. First off, I don’t know if that synchronize option is specific only to the breifcase or not, but its not on any folder. Also it could be specific to the software bundled with your camera. Second, Windows 2000 doesn’t have a briefcase anyways.
Still hoping for help on this, thanks in advance.
To clarify what Belrix was talking about, you can do the following:
At the Start menu, choose Run and type “cmd”. This should open a DOS window.
Go to the first directory using cd *path name*. I believe cmd handles spaces in directory names fairly well.
Type xcopy .folder 2 /D
The “/D” switch pretty much says “If file X exists in both the source and destination folders, then compare the dates. Don’t overwrite the file if you would overwrite the newest file.”
After this command is over, the files in the destination folder should be the most recent ones. To get help on xcopy, at the DOS command prompt, type “xcopy /?”
Word of warning, make copies of both the source and destination directory if it’s practical. You know, just in case.
Back in my day, we didn’t have all these fancy GUI interfaces, we had to type everything. And no fancy keyboards, either.