How to Synchronize Files From My PC to a Remote Location

PowerFolder

1. Download and install PowerFolder on both computers (see Resources).

2. Launch the PowerFolder program on one of the computers. Type in your email address and a password, then retype the password. Click to place a check in the Sign Up Now box, then click the 'Next' button. Click 'Next' to confirm the basic setup information. Click 'Sync Files.' Click the folder icon.

3. Click to select a folder from your computer. This should be the folder that contains the files that you want to synchronize between the two computers. Click 'OK.' Click 'Next.' Click the 'Exit' button.

4. Click the 'Not in Sync' button next to the folder name. Click the 'Sync This Folder Now' button. Exit the program.

5. Launch PowerFolder on the remote computer. Log in with your email address and password. Click the 'Folders' tab. Double-click the folder name beneath the Available Folders heading. Leave the default settings alone and click 'Next' to synchronize the folder. Click 'Exit' to complete the synchronization.

GoodSync

6. Download and install GoodSync on both computers (see Resources). The GoodSync program requires that you have an FTP hosting server (or other compatible online storage space) available for you to store files and folders that will be synchronized.

7. Launch the GoodSync program on one of the computers. Type a new synchronization job name into the text field. Select 'Synchronize' as the job type. Click 'OK.' Click the 'Browse' button and select a folder from your local hard drive. Click 'OK.'

8. Click the 'Browse' button on the right, then click 'FTP.' Type your FTP address, username and password into the appropriate fields, then click the 'Go' button. Select a folder on the FTP server. Click 'OK.'

9. Click the 'Analyze' button. Click 'Sync' to synchronize the two folders. This will download or upload information from the FTP server folder, synchronizing it with the chosen local folder.

10. Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4 on the remote computer to synchronize the folder between the two computers.

Windows Mesh

11. Download and install Windows Live Essentials, which includes the Windows Mesh program, on both computers (see Resources).

12. Click the 'Start' button and type 'mesh' into the Search field. Click 'Windows Live Mesh.' Sign in by typing in your Windows Live ID, then click the 'Sign In' button. Click the 'Sync a Folder' link.

13. Click the folder that contains the files you wish to sync, then click the 'Sync' button. Click to place a check in the computer name where you wish to sync the files, then click 'OK.' If no computer is listed, go to the remote computer and sign into Windows Live Mesh to add the computer to the list.

14. Repeat steps 2 and 3 on the remote computer to set up the folder synchronization. Windows Mesh will continuously update the files in the synchronized folder automatically whenever the computer goes online.