Trouble Syncing My Desktop

[jcarver1112]

So I tried to add another folder to sync.  I want to sync my user desktop between 2 systems.  But its not working.  I have another 6 folder that i sync on external drives that work just fine.  Any thoughts?

 

Also will it just merge the contents of the 2 desktops together? 

 

Thanks All

[GreatMarko]

I'm assuming you're referring to a Windows desktop? ..and I assume you're trying to sync your entire profile (documents, pictures, music, etc) rather than just the shortcut icons on your desktop?

 

In which case, you need to be careful and understand exactly what you're syncing - if you've simply added your entire C:\Users\username folder structure to Sync, this will likely never completely Sync with your other devices.

 

The reason being is that this folder contains a number of files which Sync may not be able to access (i.e. temporary files currently open/locked/in use). Also, the permissions of user profile folders may be such that they are only accessible when that user is logged in (i.e. if your profile is at C:\Users\Jack, you may not have access to C:\Users\Jill)

 

Additionally, if you're syncing your entire C:\Users\username folder, this folder also contains Sync's database which needs to remain unique to that device (each device you're syncing between needs to maintain its own record of what's been/is being synced with that device).

 

For this reason, if you are trying to sync your entire C:\Users\username folder you would need to setup some exclusion rules in your .SyncIgnore file to ignore things like C:\Users\username\App Data\Roaming\BitTorrent Sync, C:\Users\username\App Data\Local\Temp, and so forth.

 

Now, if you're simply wanting to keep your documents, pictures, music, etc in sync across devices, it would be more advisable to sync each of these folders individually, rather than your entire user profile folder.

[jcarver1112]

Marko thanks for the reply but I really am just trying to sync the desktop. I didn't think about the folder permissions. Would that prevent syncing or just access to read view edit etc? Does the user logged into the receiving side need folder permissions to sync the files?

[jcarver1112]

Yep that was it, added the appropriate ntfs permissions and its on a roll. 

[Ramjet007]

I transferred my documents folder to two devices.  All the contents appeared in a folder of the same name in a Bittorrent Sync folder, but they are dimmed and contain no data.  I can only access these files if the master computer is accessible on my lan.  Is this the same problem you have been discussing?

[Helen]

Ramjet007,

 

You have "Sync all" disabled for this folder? 
I suppose that what you've described - is the  bts placeholder? If yes, then the file will be downloaded only when the other peer is online, that's correct.