Using Windows Offline Files and Folders

Offline files and folders enables you to keep 2 copies of each file, one stored locally on your computer and the other stored on a network or external storage device.

It’s a very good and easy to implement backup solution.

If you travel around and use a laptop, XP offline folders provides you with an easy way to do this, once you setup offline folders if you make any changes to files stored on the laptop once you connect to your network or external storage device the files are automatically synchronized either at system start-up or shutdown, meaning no chance of you forgetting to do this.

Setting up Offline File and Folders – Windows XP



Make sure Fast User Switching is Disabled
Control Panel – User Accounts – Change the way users log on or off – Un-tick Use Fast User Switching

Now you can enable offline files and folders
Go to My Computer – Tools Menu – Folder Options – Offline Files tab

choose your options

After ticking the Enable Offline Files check box decide on what else you need, I normally check both Synchronize boxes so the files are sync’d as soon as I login, plus any changes I make during the day are also sync’d when before logging off.

It’s also handy to have a desktop shortcut so enable this as well for ease of use, but remember this shows files without the directory structure.

If you check on the folder you choose to sync you will see it now has two blue arrows

once you disconnect from your network or external drive data storage device you will find you can still access the offline files and folders.

Notes
If you try and view the network location where your files are stored and you can only see the files you have setup to view offline this means you are not connected to the network source of external drive.

Usually if you go to my computer and click on the network connection after a few seconds it will open up as an online resource, but if not check your network or external data storage for connectivity.

To access any offline folders simply go to the external data source or network when you are not connected to it and you will see a local copy of it.

Computer backup, what would you do if you lost your hard drive? - Don't want to use offline files and folders ? Checkout our other computer backup solutions , Find out how to backup your computer quickly & easily with our free guides , which software & hardware to use , what to backup.

computer files backup - protect your valuable files now, it’s easy - Computer files backup these days is a critical part of computing, how to back files quickly and easily, be prepared if the worst happens to your pc.

Image hard drive / backup hard disk. Having a complete hard drive backup - Having a complete hard drive backup of your computer, this includes the operating system, applications, settings, files , pretty much the whole ball game find out about imaging your hard drive.

Which file backup solution is right for you? Get your files backed up - Which file backup solution is right for you? You have just got a new computer, it’s going to be faster, sleeker, has more disk space, it will soon have more files than your old computer, more to lose if the worst happens.

Backup IP address, When you perform a backup of you - Don't forget to backup any IP addresses , backup printer When you perform a backup of your computer do you also make a note of any IP addresses , names of other ...

Backup applications list applications in case the worst happens - Backup applications - list applications that you need in case the worst happens, after all could you name all your applications off the top of your head?

Backup third party drivers. How annoying would it be to have to hunt around the web for those difficult to find drivers - Backup third party drivers its really annoying to have to re-build a computer only to find Windows does not auto detect your Network card or Modem and you

Backup data storage for your needs - what types are available - What is the best backup data storage for your needs - what types are available - the easiest to use and the most cost effective, read more here..

Create Backup fonts, learn how to back them up and re-install them It's always worth creating a backup of your fonts , learn how to install them Its always worth making backup fonts for a couple of reasons, if your computer breaks or files become corrupt they could be lost, bottom line custom fonts are not cheap.

Backup settings looking to backup files and settings all at once? Backup settings, backup files and settings in case the worst happens to your computer - rebuilding will be much quicker in terms of getting your pc back to the way you want it.

Cant Delete Files? find out about locked files and how to get around this

For more on offline files and folders

computer adviser offline files and folders article