Synchronize Important Folders on Two Computers

What's the best way to transport files between my work and home computers? I want a simple way to copy all of the files I've worked on during the day so I can bring them home--and of course, return them to work afterward.

Parvez Sopariwala, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Microsoft windows has a tool for this called Briefcase. Unfortunately, Briefcase has so many flaws, it's really not worth using. Just one example: If you create the file on your work computer, Briefcase doesn't want you to copy it to your home computer's hard drive. Instead, you're supposed to access it exclusively from your removable media--not a particularly fast or efficient way to work.

There are at least two better solutions: one involves shareware, and the other uses an old DOS command that's still available (even in Windows XP). Both work with hard drives as well as with Zip drives, CD-RW (via packet-writing software such as Roxio's DirectCD), and other removable media.

First, the shareware way: GeloSoft's Synchromagic Home ($20 registration fee) or Synchromagic Pro ($30, formerly known as Synchronix). Though the Home version is easier to use than the Pro version, the Pro edition adds the very nice Tsk Wizard, which simplifies setting up a repeatable synchronization task (see FIGURE 1). You can download a trial version of either.

Synchromagic Pro also lets you set up a task to run a particular program before or after the syncing, sync only files within a particular date range, exclude particular folders or extensions, and shut down the computer when it's all over. The program can use FTP to sync files over the Internet, and it even works as a backup utility.

Now the no-cost method: Right-click a blank space on the desktop or in Windows Explorer's right pane and select New, Shortcut. In the text box on the first page of the Create Shortcut wizard, enter xcopy " import folder name\*.*" x:\transfer /d /y /s, where import folder name is the location (including drive) and name of the folder you want synced with the other computer, and x is the drive letter of your removable medium. For instance, if you want to share the contents of "C:\My Documents" via your E: drive, enter xcopy "C:\My Documents\*.*" e:\transfer /d /y /s. Be careful to get the quotation marks, forward and back slashes, and spaces right.

After entering the import file's location, click Next. Name the shortcut Export and then click Next (to be prompted to choose an icon for the shortcut) or Finish. In Windows 98 and Me, right-click the shortcut and select Properties. Click the Program tab, check C lose on exit, and click OK.

Now creating the second shortcut is easy. Select the first one and press Ctrl-C, then Ctrl-V. This will create a new shortcut called Copy of Export. Right-click it and select Properties. Click the Shortcut tab and reverse the two paths so that the one to the transfer folder on your removable medium comes before the one to the hard-drive folder. For instance, change the example above to xcopy e:\transfer "C:\My Documents\*.*" /d /y /s. Click OK, and then rename the new shortcut Import.

Remember to create both of these shortcuts on your home and work computers, set to the different folder locations and drive letters for your removable media.

At the end of the workday, put a disk in the drive and click your Export shortcut. When you get home, boot the other computer, put the disk in the drive, and click your Import shortcut. Reverse the process to move files from your home machine to your work machine.

Send your questions to answer@pcworld.com. Answer Line pays $50 for published items. Click on the link for more Answer Line columns. Lincoln Spector is a contributing editor for PC World.

Schedule Tasks in XP

I bought BackUp MyPC to do unattended backups, but when the scheduled task is supposed to run, Windows XP's task scheduler tells me it has the wrong user and password. I am the only user, and I don't use a password. What gives?

Gene Madsen, Fort Collins, Colorado

Like many programs, BackUp MyPC uses the scheduler built into Windows XP by default, and its own only if the Windows Task Scheduler is disabled or not functioning. This makes sense--why have more than one scheduler running at a time? But the XP task scheduler won't work unless you have a system password, and each task you run must know the password. There's a good reason for this, too: A rogue program can't use the scheduler to do something unpleasant at 2 a.m.

I'll tell you how to set up a system password, then how to free yourself from having to type that password every time you boot. I'll also explain how to tell your existing scheduled tasks about your password so that they run properly.

To set up a password, select Start, Control Panel. Double-click the User Accounts icon (or select it from the Control Panel menu). In the User Accounts applet, double-click your account, and then click Create a password (if you already have a password, this option isn't available). Enter a password, enter it again to confirm it, and then type in a password hint to help jog your memory in case you forget it. (See " Windows Tips: Keep Prying Eyes at Bay With Windows' Passwords" for more info on Windows passwords.) Finally, click Create Password.

Now when your PC boots, Windows will ask for your password. This may be secure, but it's not convenient, and for many users, it's simply not necessary. If you don't worry about the wrong people logging in as you, use Microsoft's free Tweak UI for Windows XP to keep from being asked for a password. If you don't have it, go here to download a copy of PowerToys for Windows XP, which includes Tweak UI.

After you have installed Tweak UI, select Start, All Programs, Powertoys for Windows XP, TweakUI for Windows XP. In the left pane, double-click Logon and click Autologon. In the right pane, choose Log on automatically at system startup. End by clicking OK.

Now tell your scheduled tasks about your password: Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Scheduled Tasks. Double-click a task. On the resulting dialog box's Task tab, click the Set password button. Type the password twice, and then click OK twice. Repeat for each task, and then close the Scheduled Tasks window.

Windows Updates on Disk

How do I save Windows updates? There must be a faster way to update multiple computers than by downloading the same huge files repeatedly.

Vinay Mathew, Houston

Microsoft has Web pages for "corporate" Windows updates where you can download the files to disk rather than install them automatically. The hitch, of course, is that you have to remember what updates each PC has already installed, since you lose the convenience of the standard Windows Update program looking at your system and knowing instantly what needs to be changed.

Microsoft's tack on corporate downloads varies with the version of Windows ( all the updates are free, however).

Windows 2000 and XP: Microsoft provides a good update tool for these two operating systems. Click Windows Update, as if you were just updating that machine. In the left pane, click Personalize Windows Update. Check D isplay the link to the Windows Update Catalog under See Also, and then check Save Settings. The Windows Update Catalog, where you download the files, appears as an option in the left pane (see FIGURE 2).

Windows 98: Go to Microsoft's site for a list of this OS's updates.

Windows Me: You can find a single security update for this Windows version at the Microsoft's Windows Me site.

Bring Back Recorder!

Do you know of any program that is able to replace Recorder, the Windows 3.1 utility that recorded and played back macros?

James Kelley, Hurst, Texas

I would love to recommend a free macro recorder, but I haven't been able to find one. Instead, you might try the $30 EZ Macros software from American Systems, which is a very good second choice. Direct your browser to EZ Macros 5.0a by American Systems to download a trial version.

EZ Macros uses a wizard to walk you through macro creation. The program's options are quite extensive. You can create macros with four types of functions: to launch programs; to play back recorded mouse clicks and keystrokes; to launch a program, then play back mouse clicks and keystrokes; and to display a menu of other macros. You can also launch a program by entering a keystroke combination (also called a hot-key), or by typing certain text. And you can even set a program to launch automatically whenever another program opens.

Better MSCONFIG Cleaner

In the October 2002 Answer Line column, I gave instructions for editing the Registry to clean out programs that are unchecked when you view Msconfig (see " Clean Msconfig"). Several readers suggested various freeware programs that make the job easier. The best was CodeStuff's free Starter utility, recommended by Donald Bregman of Boynton Beach, Florida. Once you've installed and launched Starter, click the Options icon, check MSConfig compatibility, and click OK. Now simply right-click any program you want to remove, select Delete, then OK.