SyncToy

1.0 stars

"Buggy - slows down to nothing, will run for days"

November 27, 2011  |   By stever876

Version: SyncToy 2.1

Pros

Easy to setup. Nice that it stores files as files that you can easily grab (you don't need to use the software to "restore" the file).

Cons

I'm running this on Win 7 64 bit, version 2.1, and I'm having the same problem everyone else has, it slows down to nothing, using all your CPU - and will runs for days, stuck on "adding an action for ...".

Summary

I've tried to use this program for years, as it seems easy to use, free from Microsoft - but they do not come out with updates, even when there's a big bug stopping anyone from using it. Don't waste your time.

I already had to split up the My Documents area into 3 backups, since there was too many files that SyncToy couldn't handle.

I've tried using this for years, it used to work, but no more.

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4.0 stars

"very user friendly"

June 8, 2011  |   By vernrose

Version: SyncToy 2.1

Pros

simple to use and doesn't appear to cause any network-softword issues.

Cons

It would be nice if it had a schedule to repeat the operation on a periodic basis, but that's usually only found on products for sale.

Summary

Very good product and you can't beat the price ($0)

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5.0 stars

"A must have program"

April 15, 2011  |   By philshoe

Version: SyncToy 2.1

Pros

I use it to back up to my passport drive I run it once a week to keep a copy of all my files. It take a little time to set it up but once you do all it takes is a fee clicks and your done.

Cons

It took a little time to get it set right when it over writes a file if you have the wrong setting it put a copy of the fir in your recycle bin.

Summary

If you want a copy of your file you need this program. A copy is better then a backup you can copy a file any were.

Updated on Apr 15, 2011

I have not used 2.1 but 2.0 works great for me.

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4.0 stars

"Simple & Effective, but not perfect"

February 20, 2011  |   By Bengi010

Version: SyncToy 2.1

Pros

Easy to use, set up takes literally seconds. I use it to back up my music to an external hard drive and it is almost perfect (see cons) for that, allowing me to make changes, add and delete files on my computer and mirror those changes on my back up

Cons

There is an unaccounted for 45 files in my backup that are not in my main folder. I think they are duplicate songs I have deleted. Synctoy is supposed to find and delete them but it doesn't.

Summary

Excellent software, powerful yet simple to use.

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1.0 stars

"Keeping giving errors and won't sync"

January 30, 2011  |   By stick joe

Version: SyncToy 2.1

Pros

Meh, I don't really know of one. It's free I guess.

Cons

I've used this version for over a year. 1st it worked ok, but now that I have lots to sync it keeps producing errors and says the files/folders it errored on didn't sync.

What good is it to me then?

Summary

I agree with this user review I found, which is:

Click Here
SyncToy 2.1

* Quick specs
* Price: Free
* Operating system: Windows XP/Vista
* Date added: February 24, 2010
* Total Downloads: 63,599
* Downloads last week: 473
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* CNET editors' rating: 4.0 stars
* Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 54 votes
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CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: CNET Staff on December 05, 2008

If you're looking for a convenient, uncomplicated, and stable synchronization tool, you could do much, much worse than Microsoft's SyncToy. Part of the Windows XP PowerToys add-ons, this tool makes it easy to keep folder contents identical on one machine or across a network.

The first time you run it, SyncToy will guide you through creating a pair of linked folders. Labeled as Left and Right, it will then ask you to choose from one of five synchronization methods. Echo works like a standard one-way sync, copying all files from Left to Right. Synchronize is bidirectional; Contribute works like Echo but it won't delete files removed from the Left folder; Subscribe only updates files in common that have been updated; and Combine merges Synchronize and Contribute so that files are updated in both directions, but none are deleted. SyncToy does support encrypted files.

SyncToy also offers up a preview, preventing accidental loss of data. However, the two feature omissions are hard to ignore: you can't synchronize across the Internet, and there's no scheduler. For the former, Microsoft does offer a different tool, FolderShare, but by requiring users to manually sync all folders leaves SyncToy behind other free backup apps.

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Publisher's description
From Microsoft:

The easy to use, customizable application helps you copy, move, rename, and delete files between folders and computers. There are files from all kinds of sources that we want to store and manage. Files are created by our digital cameras, e-mail, cell phones, portable media players, camcorders, PDAs, and laptops. Increasingly, computer users are using different folders, drives, and even different computers (such as a laptop and a desktop) to store, manage, retrieve and view files. Yet managing hundreds or thousands of files is still largely a manual operation. In some cases it is necessary to regularly get copies of files from another location to add to primary location; in other cases there is a need to keep two storage locations exactly in sync.

What's new in this version:
Version 2.1 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.
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1 stars

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

Version: SyncToy 2.1

"Stay with Version 2.0 if you have many files"

by meinioz on June 27, 2010

Pros: Seems to work with small folder pairs, otherwise I spent all day downgrading to 2.0, could not find anything good about that.

Cons: So slow, it is not funny! Not usable for serious work.

Summary: I don't know what the guys at MS did, but this is shocking. Folder pairs with a lot of files and folders cannot be synchronized, because, already on preview, SyncToy 2.1 progressively slows down and comes to a grinding halt half way through. Don't touch this program if you want to backup your entire My Documents folder like I do. Do your research. This has been discussed online for over 6 months yet MS still push this failure. Version 2.0 was good though. I am glad I could still download it again from somewhere else.

---------------
I agree so much, I'm getting version 2.0 if I can, otherwise I guess I'll keep it because 'better than nothing'.

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5.0 stars

"Ultra simple, fast, fits the need perfectly"

January 30, 2011  |   By WaltRochesterNY

Version: SyncToy 2.1

Pros

ULTRA simple to use once set up
Very intuitive
Perfect "backup" solution for My Documents and/or My Pictures when coupled with a USB flash drive or external HDD enclosure

Cons

The *only* thing I can nitpick is that there are 5 different kinds of "synchronizations" that can be done, and the words that they chose to describe them don't really make sense. However, there is a "short explanation" box that helps to clarify.

Summary

Two different friends wanted a way to backup their pictures. I considered backup software, but it was too complicated and WAY overkill for them. When I discovered this app, I ordered a couple of 16GB Patriot Xporter USB flash drives, and VOILA. I set up the first one this past week, it took about 1 minute to set up. It copied nearly 3,000 pictures, about 2.8 GB, in about 15 minutes I would guess (I wasn't specifically timing it, wish I had), and this was on a computer that is several years old and as such isn't exactly a rocketship. Another huge benefit to this approach is that the pictures are in their "native" format, so you can plug the drive into any computer and view them... many backup packages create some kind of archive that is not so. Also, it can do an "incremental" synchronization, so future sync ups will be much faster. Microsoft, this thing ROCKS!!!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

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5.0 stars

"Simple but OK"

January 30, 2011  |   By TeoJhso

Version: SyncToy 2.1

Pros

Simple but OK

Cons

None to report

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4.0 stars

"Horribly Slow on First Use. Much Faster Thereafter."

December 18, 2010  |   By samgamgoof

Version: SyncToy 2.1

Pros

Simple to use, particularly for incremental backup.

Cons

Slow. Took more than 6 hours to back up a 40Gb internal drive to external HDD.

Summary

After a few hours of aggravation, it does a quick job of incremental backup--just a few minutes. I use for twice-daily incremental backups since I do lots of critical work where I need redundancy and protection against loss.

If it weren't for the incremental backup feature I wouldn't use it. It's faster just to drag and drop. Unfortunately, drag and drop won't accommodate incremental backup.

For incremental backup, this fits the bill.

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3.0 stars

"slow but effective"

November 1, 2010  |   By mvictory5

Version: SyncToy 2.1

Pros

Can sync up lots of files with no problems.
3 different ways to sync: Synchronize, Echo, Contribute
Can be used instead of backup software - If so, you can browse the backups with no additional software needed, since it writes regular file folders.

Cons

pretty slow. It took 5 hours to backup 40 GB across SATA-II drives.

Summary

slow but gets the job done. it's worth it to not have to hassle with backup software, especially for files. you would still need backup software if you want to backup programs or image a drive perfectly. also works awesome for its intended purpose - synchronizing 2 folders.

Updated on Mar 21, 2011

*Extremely* slow for large files. It takes literally 4 days to back up my 300GB media file drive. I just tested Synctoy 2.1 with a single 525MB file, and it took 17.5 minutes. The software works fairly quickly on my C drive which has a bunch of small program files, but it seems to hate large files. I have plenty of RAM (3.4GB) so I know that's not the problem. I am going to try out some other file sync software and will let you know which one works well on large files.

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