#26, GeorgeP, thank you for the detailed response--if I test this, I'll try it on something with discardable data, or try one of the suggested alternative products.

#32, Funkster, Windows Vista Sync Center:

"You can use Sync Center to keep your files and other information in sync between your computer and mobile devices, network folders, and compatible programs."

"The ability to sync with network folders is not included in Windows Vista Starter, Windows Vista Home Basic, and Windows Vista Home Premium."

"You can sync many different types of mobile devices with Sync Center, including: portable music players; portable video players; mobile phones; mobile computing devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs); and many other types of handheld devices. The manufacturer must support Sync Center for sync to work."

So, 99% of Vista users can't sync with network folders (only those who were foolish enough to pay Microsoft for Vista Ultimate can do that). What does "sync between your computer and mobile devices" mean? To Microsoft, this means that Windows Media Player will sync playlists on external devices. Why the heck would I want to sync playlists with my USB flash drive, which doesn't play anything? Can I do something useful, like sync important data? No. So, like I said, what good is it?

This will be useful for syncing backups thanks giveaway of the day and Fevosoft. Ever since finding out about giveaway of the day I now look at software differently. I don't care who makes it, Just as long as it works! I like trying software from unknown companies. As long as it's malware free.

I've found Allway Sync works very well and is free. Also syncs between PC/USB/CDs, etc. Very nice for syncing folders with a variety of files and, because it keeps track of things in its database instead of just looking at date stamps, is VERY good at catching files where you have made changes in BOTH and alerts you to check the files. That way you don't accidentally copy over something important.

# 12:

Hi Jonathan:

As always, I enjoy reading your comments & reviews, especially those at JonathansToolBar&Grill.

I just noticed a review of PathSync at one of your favourite sites, FreewareGenius. It is very, very compact at 124 kB in size. It has a rather basic interface but supports a number of synchronization options [bidirectional, unidirectional (left to right or right to left)], permits retention or deletion of missing files & folders, permits file masks/filters, and has an "analyze" function that highlights which file(s) will be synchronized [& in which direction]. Synchronization seems to be based solely on file size &/or date, depending upon the options selected. Internal file changes would need to be analyzed by a dedicated file comparator. PathSync does not seem to have any automatization functions such as synchronizing when a USB drive is plugged-in but it does remember the last local & remote directories which in many cases will suffice for me.

Allway Sync rules. I loved the free version and then bought 2 licenses for regular heavy duty syncing.

So does this work with Photos and Zip files?

On a public computer so can't dl and try at the moment.

Visit a number of places that offer a photo entitled "Blog Freebie 1". So have like 16 matches on Freebie 1 with no idea if they are really duplicated in several folders or were by different people.

I also tried to set the destination to an ftp directory on the internet, which is set up to be accessible via My Computer. Beyond Sync ignored that destination when I selected it using the browse feature, giving no error but not copying the address into the box. Apparently ftp destinations are not supported, and I will have to keep looking since that is my need.

Find a copy of Novell's NETDRIVE.EXE which lets you mount an FTP site as a drive letter. It's free, but hard to find as its rather old. Then you can use any sync program with it as if it were a local drive.

I use Karen's Replicator for whole-disk backups, and SyncToy for incremental daily backups of My Documents. I like Karen's tool because it's robust against things like locked files which some programs actually generate the old 'Abort, Retry, Ignore?' prompt for!

worked fine as I set it to update my Photos backup, although it was a resource hog. If you have a lot to sync I suggest setting this loose as you go out and get some sun.

As #10 discovered you have to create a destination folder before you run this.

#52: I've used Second Copy for years. I tried this out and it's really a good program and has a little better usability than second copy for what I do. I've shut down 2nd copy in favor of this.
The one draw back I've experienced so far is that you can not schedule a task if you're backing up to a .zip file. I don't know why that is, but you have to do that manually.
One other difference I noted is you can't save any deleted backups. I know that sounds strange, but it's good for at least one generation of changes of certain files. I had an "oldbkp" folder for these versions of specific files.

And has anyone compared this with the windows breifcase?

I agree with number 20 "I find programs like this to be not only dangerous but darn near useless as well. How about some good photo programs, music recording programs, voice alteration programs, defragmenting programs, desktop enhancement programs ETC."
This program kept giving me errors when I tried to copy a word document!
XP Pro SP3 1G ram.

Not for every body, but I don't complain. I will not download this but tthanks anyway GAOTD.
And all you spoiled little babies...stop crying everyday.
GAOTD is doing a great job here.

GOTD - great software today. Unfortunately, I'm super comfortable with my SyncToy software for all my backup needs. :D

I need something like this so I installed it on my laptop.

Installation went fine. The pop-up with the registration information appeared at the usual time following setup; it remains available until closed so it's easy to cut-and-paste into the program itself.

The program led me through the operation of creating a sync task, previewing the task, and running it. As is prudent for testing this type of software, I created a test directory for the destination. The files were transferred correctly.

I also tried to set the destination to an ftp directory on the internet, which is set up to be accessible via My Computer. Beyond Sync ignored that destination when I selected it using the browse feature, giving no error but not copying the address into the box. Apparently ftp destinations are not supported, and I will have to keep looking since that is my need.

I may keep the program as an improved backup solution. I haven't decided.

Thanks, GAOTD

#23 - a collection of 3600 wallpapers? May I assume that you have attained a high level in D&D also?

I posted at #46 above and have now had a chance to test this against what I currently use. I am about to remove it from my system as it does not work. I created one new file and watched it continuously create and then remove that file in the backup area of the external drive where I was creating the backup. Imagine what would happen If I was doing a lot of work - a nightmare!

if you need a powerful backup program, try "Second Copy". you have to cough up some dough for it but its really good. if you cant come up with the money to pay for the program after the evaluation period, it WILL continue working. you just cant add/edit the tasks you've set it to do. so you can just set it to copy one drive to another and never worry about what would happen if one of them fails. of course its best to buy it to give some credit to those who woked hard on it.

Installed it, it's the Pro version for those that wonder. For my purpose it works very well. I have a 4GB usb stick on my laptop dockingstation (I never remove it), and now I have a way to realtime backup my most important folders to it, without having to worry. Tried the manual backup first, and that worked fine, and now I set it to realtime monitoring. It picks up both new files and changes to existing ones without any issues. Since I'm limited to using the option where I always get a updated duplicate folder(structure), I can't comment on bisync etc - but for piece of mind, I recommend you get a portable harddrive and/or usbstick and use this tool in the fashion that I do.

Like #12 mentioned, I also use FolderShare. It does a great job!

Microsoft FolderShare

AWSOME. Two winners in a row. Thanks, GAOTD.

Installs and registers fine on Vista Ultimate x64.

I think we will stick with Micorsoft's SyncToy.

I can't find any way to register this program. I get a "setup has encountered a problem" error after installing and no message box with info as mentioned in post #8. Can someone please explain?

It seems that a number of postings indicate that people are backing up to their C: drive in a different directory. What good is the backup then in the case if a computer failure. Strongly recommend that a backup be made to an external drive and then you are properly protected. This would overcome many of the concerns raised as well. I always have 2 such backups going on in real time - one using goodsync (free and excellent) and the other using Fling (free and good, FTP based but with no reverse deletion when a file has been removed). These each go to different external drives. I will download this and if it appears to be solid, I will replace Fling.

re: post # 12 by JonathansToolBar&Grill

"...Someone willing to pay for a really good, unlimited sync tool should consider Allway Sync or what appears to be its cousin, GoodSync..."

Thanks for the good and useful comparison review.

To the GAOTD team: any chance of possibly getting one of those titles he suggested (Allway Sync or GoodSync) so the rest of us can "review" them?

Why would anyone need a sync program? It's easy to sync.

It needs the ability to sync via ftp or ssh/ssl to be useful for me.

After GeorgeP's comments, it also sounds a little buggy.
This program just needs some time to mature.

Now, if they were offering their other program... Coding-Ftp, I would be in on that in a second. Just thinking about the chron jobs I would set up.

I have used PT Replicator (part of Karen's Power Tools) for several months and been very pleased with it. It is free as are the rest of the Power Tools. It is very flexible on versioning and duplicating deletes. Visit www.karenware.com for details.

I have just tested (on XP Home SP3) today's Beyond Sync against SwiftCompare, and I like Beyond Sync a lot better. It is easier to understand how to use without risking to delete the wrong files, and in general it gives much better info. Fine program!

What about Microsoft's SyncToy v2.0? Looks like the same set of features. File renaming, not syncing duplicate files, automated, byte by byte verification. Throw in combining folders, available command line interface and Microsoft has something that that works pretty well.

http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/downloads/synctoybeta.aspx

I've been using GoodSync for a couple of years and love it. http://www.goodsync.com/ Basic version is free and pro version is very reasonable at about 30 bucks.

Forgot to mention that in cases when there is no activate.exe, setup.exe will add the data to the registry instead.

@caulbox (#8): Actually, it's not that unusal that the registration data is not provided in the readme. In fact, it's quite often the oposite in my experience. Usually, the serial is added directly to the registry by the activate.exe file when runned. Anyways, it's good that you point it out as I have seen many people just clicking next continuisly when installing without actually reading the information :)

Why not just use Robocopy instead? It's a freebie, downloadable from MS, and comes along with the W2K resource kit. Does mirroring, copies, etc, you schedule it with AT, and works from batch files. You can watch it work in a cmd window. I tried Beyond Sync and didn't like the lack of control I have with a script. Maybe I'm spoiled by using Veritas at work (protecting 14 TB data), but this just isn't for me.

a good software is ghost2k3 which work in ms-dos and from 6 gb it does an 1,56 gb image

Oops, bad typo, i meant SwiftCompare does no scheduled synchronisation

@ #12: thank you very much for pointing this out; its the reason I'll stay away from this s/w: "In bidirectional syncing, there is no option to prevent deleting files that are absent on one side (this can be dangerous, as commenter #10 seems to have discovered);"

@softcraz #6: SwiftCompare (former GAotD) can only compare and does no synchronisation

A freeware alternative to compare is BestSync:
http://www.risefly.com/fsefeat.htm Take the freeware version.

@Mike Rowe #22:
Do discriminate between:
1] merging (between files)
2] Sync-ing (between folders)
3] comparing (just reporting differences and commons between either folders of files)

@Fubar #19:
Why is that; just your opinion? Can you elaborate (I can't I don't have vista)

Compare http://www.beyondsync.com/ with http://www.liuxz.com/index.htm

when you go to the website http://www.beyondsync.com/index.php the version says.FREE for personal usage. No adware, No spyware)

FREE VS PRO http://www.beyondsync.com/comparison.php

I see that this is the pro version and would cost 25.00

Tried it and would give it an A

Allway Sync http://allwaysync.com/ and Beyond Compare http://www.scootersoftware.com/ are other ones

I use Corbin Backup 9. It's completely free and does a good job.

http://www.cobian.se/

DOES THIS HAVE ANY ADVANTAGES OVER SWIFTCOMPARE (which I have been using thanks to GAOTD)?

Janet

I was going to give this a try as I use my external drive on my three PC's and laptop...Until I saw comment #10.

I don't fancy having to find all the files again if it deletes them from my external back-up drive!

I would prefer to have duplicates than no copies of the file at all!

Installed o-k, Read the comments and un-installed even easier.

#17, I read the docs before setting up that profile. It was copying (not keeping in sync) c:\downloads to d:\, so it shouldn't have deleted anything on the d:\ drive. It looks like the realtime sync option overrides the initial profile settings, without letting the user know about it - that's a serious failure in my opinion, and something that will keep me away from this product forever. One more thing: you can't edit a profile; you have to delete it and start again. Syncback freeware rules!

What functionality does this have that Synchtoy doesn't?

A good syncronizer is a very useful application, but it needs a bit of understanding as we can see from GeorgeP experience. He most likely mirrored from one side to the other partion.
Not freeware, but one, if not the best syncronizer out there would be Super Flexible (http://www.superflexible.com/) But again, the many options might just overtake the non experienced user.
It does have kind of a wizard setup which should guide through the basics.
Greetings, AlexSJ

Well, I'm not going to try todays offer. I'm not feeling savvy enough to chance loosing what I've worked so hard on lately. Namely my 2700 song music collection. Half of which, wasn't tagged properly & some are duplicates, placed in the artists folder as well as a play list folder. That & my 3600+ photo & wallpaper collection. Again. several are duplicates, similar and or modified with a paint program or Image Mender that I got here a couple months ago.
I guess, I'm not smart enough or dumb enough for a program like this. I already have a file backup & a drive imaging program. Plus, both versions of Windows I'm using have built in backup modules that work well. Number 5 said it, "If you know how to use them" and I don't but thanks for a nice, different offer all the same.

#5 So what you're saying is, this program will CONVERT two same name files into one?

So - they sneaked another converter in disguised as a syncing utility

Syncback is the best alternative there is out there. They have one version that you have to pay for, but also a free version that offers all the alternatives you'd want to have. Schedule syncs or backups, or do it manually.

http://www.2brightsparks.com/downloads.html
Donwload the "Syncback Freeware"

I find programs like this to be not only dangerous but darn near useless as well. How about some good photo programs, music recording programs, voice alteration programs, defragmenting programs, desktop enhancement programs ETC.

#1, Erik Eka Putra, Vista Sync Center is useless.