How to Sync Files between PC and USB Thumb Drive?

Feb. 2nd, 2008 | by Shankar Ganesh |

Got a USB Pen Drive? They’re great for backups. Do you carry files across in USB drives? It might sometimes be exhausting to copy files and folders to and from your hard drive and USB Stick. There’s an easy way to sync files between your hard disk and USB Flash Drive. Here’s how:

    1. Download SyncToy and install it.

    2. Run SyncToy from the Start Menu

    3. You’ll now have to create a Folder Pair

    4. Choose a Left Folder (this is a folder on your PC’s hard disk) and a Right Folder (this points to your removable USB Pen Drive)

    Sync files and folders from PC to USB Drive

    5. Choose a Synchronization Method. This could be anything from:

  • Synchronize: Two Way Synchronization (left to right as well as right to left).
  • Echo: Transfer happens Left to Right. Renames and Deletes are also synced from left to right.
  • Contribute: Left to Right Syncing. Renames are done on right with left as the source. No Deletions occur.
    Sync and Copy files from PC Hard Drive to USB Pen Drive

    6. In the window that appears, click on Run to start the Syncing Process. In case you want to be able to preview the changes that’ll be done, use the ‘Preview’ option to have a look at the upcoming actions that’ll be taken.

    synctoyfinal.jpg

So that’s how you sync files between your PC’s hard drive and USB Pen Drive. Should come really handy, I hope.

By Shankar Ganesh, a 16 year old Student and Freelance Writer from India. Killer Tech Tips is his blog.

Filed Under: Cool Software Apps ¦ How-To ¦ Windows

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    17 Comments » Leave One...

    Comment by Dave
    2008-02-02 23:53:57

    I use SyncBack SE to synchronize and backup my USB Drive. It has triggers to automatically run when your drive is inserted, which I find to be very useful!

    Reply to this comment
    Comment by Aibek
    2008-02-03 17:13:05

    “It has triggers to automatically run when your drive is inserted”.

    Hmmm… I don’t recall that feature. Do I need to change anything in settings for that?

    Reply to this comment
    Comment by Dave
    2008-02-04 14:55:58

    Open Profile, go to “When” tab, then “Insert”. It lets you specify by drive letter, label, or serial number.

    Aibek - did you receive my email?

    Thanks, - Dave

    (Comments wont nest below this level)
    Comment by Aibek
    2008-02-04 19:03:28

    Thanks for clarifying it.

    P.S. I have just replied to you email so if you’re reading this it’s already in your mailbox.

     
    Comment by shane
    2008-02-11 15:53:19

    I also couldn’t figure out how to do the sync automatically. I didn’t ever see a “when” tab or anything as described above. Any suggestions?

     
    Reply here
     
     
     
    Comment by andrea
    2008-02-03 05:31:35

    great software, great blogger

    Reply to this comment
     
    Pingback by » Come sincronizzare i file tra il Pc ed una Pen Drive USB Geekissimo
    2008-02-04 04:00:45

    [...] Via | MakeUseOf [...]

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    Pingback by Lunch Time Links for 2-7-08 | Smart Pastor
    2008-02-07 07:38:10

    [...] Make Use Of has a good looking application to keep your thumb drive in sync with a folder on your desktop computer. [...]

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    Pingback by Synchrožaislas : nežinau.lt
    2008-02-11 00:35:33

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    Pingback by Sync files between harddisk & usb drive « Troubleshooting PC Problems
    2008-02-29 20:04:47

    [...] MakeUseOf have all the details on how to use SyncToy. Very handy tool. [...]

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    Pingback by Round up of Make Use Of for February 2008 | MakeUseOf.com
    2008-03-01 19:09:57

    [...] How to Sync Files between PC and USB Thumb Drive The Best, Free Alternatives to Nero CD/DVD Burner Best Alternatives to the Windows Start Menu 30+ Online Resources to Expand your English Vocabulary Tweak Ubuntu the Easy Way [...]

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    Pingback by 10 Sync Tools every Office Worker Should Know About | MakeUseOf.com
    2008-03-02 23:03:25

    [...] way to sync files between the hardrive and USB Flash Drive. Check out our step by step guide to sync files between PC and USB thumb drive [...]

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    Pingback by copia file backup - Forum di Tom's Hardware Italia
    2008-06-09 06:25:18

    [...] programmi, utility, gratis, free, program: Come sincronizzare i file tra il Pc ed una Pen Drive USB How to Sync Files between PC and USB Thumb Drive? | MakeUseOf.com Download details: SyncToy v2.0 Beta Guarda se ti pu andare bene.. Sono come Woody Allen: [...]

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    [...] for the backup operation to take place. For an in depth guide, check out our previous guide on syncing your USB Drive. I bet this software will probably save you from a lot of [...]

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    Pingback by کار حرفه‌ای با USB فلش درایوها
    2008-06-13 04:27:32

    [...] - پشتیبان‌گیری خودکار از فایل‌های ضروی: شاید این ترفند برای برخی بسیار سودمند باشد. کسی را در نظر بگیرید که اطلاعات بسیار مهم و ضروری‌ای روی سیستمش دارد و چون نمی‌خواهد یک حادثه باعث از دست رفتن اطلاعات شود، همواره مجبور است با وسواس فایل‌ها و فولدرهایی را روی فلش درایو خود ذخیره کند، پیداست که چنین کاری خسته‌کننده است و ممکن است گاهی هم فراموش شود. با دانلود Synctoy application می‌توانید، این کار را بسیار آسان کنید. توضیحات بیشتر در اینجا. [...]

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    Comment by Mr.Reason
    2008-06-13 15:56:28

    Nice post was just what i was looking for.

    I us it to sync my main copy of firefox (I run the portable version from my computer) with a copy on my flash drive it works great.

    Reply to this comment
     
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