SyncToy

From Automation

Backing up your data with “SyncToy”

Sync tool will do a few things, but its main task is to copy data from one location to a different one. You will set these up as you progress though this walk though. Hopefully you will have an understanding from the images and the descriptions that will help you create new “Folder Pairs” in the future to suit your backup/sync needs. The default setup of SyncToy is to create a Synchronize folder pair. At the end of this guide will be an explanation of what some of these terms mean. First lets start you off with a creating a new folder pair.

1. Open “SyncToy”
   1. The first screen you will see is the “Welcome” screen. If this is the first time you have run this program you will need to create a “New Folder Pair” by clicking on the button at the bottom of the screen.
      1. This is the only thing you really can do at this point.
2. Create New Folder Pair
   

   

   Slash Screen
   1. This is a 3 step process as noted at the title bar of the window that opens.
   2. Step one requires creating the pairing of 2 folders.
      1. The Left folder should be the one on your computer. To find it either type in the path if you happen to know it or click on the browse button and find the folder.
      2. The Right folder should be on the remote location or USB drive depending on your setup. Complete the same steps for the left folder. Remember everything in the left will be in the right folder, Do not select the “root” or top level (C:\) be sure you are selecting the folder which you want to have Backed up & Synchronized. The example image shows a typical “My Documents” synchronize.
   3. Step two requires you to select between 3 different synchronize types: Synchronize, Echo, and Contribute.
      1. If you are just using SyncToy as a backup tool you should choose “Echo” as this will copy data from the Left Folder to the right with out any care for what is going on in the right folder. If you intend to use it for a different use then at the end of this document is included Microsoft's explanation of what each of the different types are. These are directly copied out of the help screen so this information can also be obtained there.
   4. Choose a name for the Folder Pair.
      

      

      Slash Screen
      1. Type in a name for the folder pairing. This is also the name that you will reference the backup in the future. The example image is following the “My Documents” backup idea.
      2. Click the “Finish” button. You are done. You can now run the folder pairing and watch your folders be Synchronized.
   5. Running a Backup
      1. Along the left side of the welcome screen there will be a list of all the Synchronize jobs you have created along with a “All Folder Pairs” button. You can either click on each of them individually or click the “All Folder Pairs” button and run all of them at once. Doing them all at once is useful if you are backing up multiple folders to a single removable drive. If you know you have only modified files in one location then it might be faster to just Synchronize that one job instead of running all of them every time.
   6. If you need to create a new backup location or to recreate an older one simply start from the first part of this guide and follow it though once again.

I hope this guide will help you use “SyncToy” and synchronize your folders. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask them.

The synchronize action will make two folders mirror each other, keeping the latest changes made to the files in either folder. New and updated files are copied both ways. Renames and deletes on either side are repeated on the other. Folder Creates, folder deletes and folder updates are also propagated both ways.

For example, you have two computers. You keep a copy of pictures, documents, and/or tunes on both. Changes often occur on both computers. You want SyncToy to notice additions, deletions, changes, and renames on both computers, and then do the right thing to bring the folders back in sync. Synchronize is the SyncToy action to use.

• Every file in the left folder that is new or changed is copied to the right folder.
• Every file in the left folder that has been renamed is renamed in the right folder.
• Every file that was deleted from the left folder is deleted in the right folder.
• Note: SyncToy does not actually delete any files by default. It merely moves the files to the Recycle Bin. To change this behavior, uncheck the "Save overwritten files in the Recycle Bin" option in the folder pair option window.
• The process is repeated for files in the right folder.

The echo action will make copies of files that are new and changed on the left to the right.  New and updated files are copied left to right. Renames and deletes on the left are repeated on the right. Folder creates, folder deletes and folder updates on the left are repeated on the right.

For example, when you travel, you take a copy of your pictures, tunes, and documents to work on. When you return, you want SyncToy to notice the files you added, changed, deleted, and renamed in the left folder, and you want SyncToy to recreate those additions, changes, deletions, and renames in the right folder. Echo is very similar to Synchronize, except Echo works only left to right.

Echo is the SyncToy action to use.

• Every file in the left folder that is new or changed is copied to the right folder.
• Every file in the left folder that has been renamed is renamed in the right folder.
• Every file that was deleted from the left folder is deleted in the right folder.
• Note: SyncToy does not actually delete any files by default. It merely moves the files to the Recycle Bin. To change this behavior, uncheck the "Save overwritten files in the Recycle Bin" option in the folder pair option window.
• No left folder files are deleted, or renamed.
• No files are copied from right to left.
• Right folder files are deleted.

Contribute will add changes from the left folder to the right folder. New and updated files are copied left to right. Renames on the left are repeated on the right. No deletions. Folder creates and folder updates on the left are repeated on the right

For example, you have a compact flash, SD, USB thumb drive, or other removable media that you take with you when you travel. You probably delete some files on the removable drive while you are away so that you can add or change other files. When you get back, you only want SyncToy to recognize new, renamed, and changed files, and you want the new stuff copied to the right folder. Contribute is the same as Echo but without the deletes.

Contribute is the SyncToy action to use.

• New and updated files from the left folder are copied to the right folder.
• Files renamed in the left folder are renamed in the right folder.
• No files are deleted.
• No files are copied from right to left.