[MichiganDriver]

Here's the code I use to keep my email in sync... (Quickbooks is only slightly more involved. It stores it's files in read-only form so you have to use the attrib command.)

xcopy "\\desktop\email\sent items.dbx" "\\laptop\email\" /D /K /Y
xcopy "\\laptop\email\sent items.dbx" "\\desktop\email\" /D /K /Y

You just put those commands in a file that you can create with notepad. You might call it "sync.bat". It must end in .bat - that tells Windows to execute it as a batch file. Close all programs on both computers and run sync.bat when you leave your house to go play trucker and again when you return. Viola - your 2 computers have the same "sent items" Outlook Express file. Tons of explanations online for this stuff. In particular look up xcopy and the /D switch.

AS ALWAYS - MAKE A BACKUP BEFORE YOU PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1980s technology rocks.



Btw, I tried Synctoys by Microsoft and another program. Too complicated and too limited for my taste. I've been doing it this way for a couple of months and I consider this little problem solved.

[barf]

When laptops used to be crappy underpowered versions of desktops, this would have been great advice. I used to hate when files I needed on the road were sitting on my desktop at home. Today, I only use my laptop, home and on the road, so no need to sync computers. But keeping a backup is great advice. Does anyone still use Outlook?

[Copperhead]

Thank you Steve Jobs for Mac!

[Windwalker]

Originally Posted by MichiganDriver

Here's the code I use to keep my email in sync... (Quickbooks is only slightly more involved. It stores it's files in read-only form so you have to use the attrib command.)

xcopy "\\desktop\email\sent items.dbx" "\\laptop\email\" /D /K /Y
xcopy "\\laptop\email\sent items.dbx" "\\desktop\email\" /D /K /Y

You just put those commands in a file that you can create with notepad. You might call it "sync.bat". It must end in .bat - that tells Windows to execute it as a batch file. Close all programs on both computers and run sync.bat when you leave your house to go play trucker and again when you return. Viola - your 2 computers have the same "sent items" Outlook Express file. Tons of explanations online for this stuff. In particular look up xcopy and the /D switch.

AS ALWAYS - MAKE A BACKUP BEFORE YOU PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1980s technology rocks.



Btw, I tried Synctoys by Microsoft and another program. Too complicated and too limited for my taste. I've been doing it this way for a couple of months and I consider this little problem solved.

I had 3 computers in sync, but not with Windows. (won't use windows again) Downloaded free software so that when something was changed on one, all three had the same changes. Worked great. Unfortunately, they all 3 died in sync as well. 3 in 3 days... BING, BING, BING...

RIP.

But, then again... I may have been overloading the old Pentium 4 in each of them as well. Need to go with a 4 HT or Pentium D.

[MichiganDriver]

The nice thing about Windows (maybe Mac too I don't know - I prefer to use a real computer!!! ) is that you can use Windows Explorer when it suits your needs and drop down to the command line level when you need to show proper respect for data. What I mean is I use Explorer 99.999999% of the time for moving files around. It doesn't even occur to me to open up a dos box. Point and click baby!

But for something like syncing 2 computers (or backing up a computer for that matter), it's vital to cut the human being out of the operation if at all possible. I'd consider it hell to try and point and click my way to having the latest version of even just 5 files on the 2 computers every week when I leave the house and then again when I return. What the batch file does is front-load the hell (lol it's really just a little bit of a hassle). You might have to think a little. You'll definitely have to tweak a lot. But when you're done, you're done. From then on, you just point and click to start the batch file and walk away - the computer will do the work, and it won't ever be too tired and do dumb sh*t.