Windows 7 Briefcase is not viable

Anonymous
2009-12-19T15:29:58+00:00

I use briefcase extensively to sync my travel laptop with my office desktop. I carry virtually my entire working life in two large synced files. Windows 7 seems to render briefcase unusable. 1) a.sync source file and b. status are missing from the default Windows Explorer display. I finally figured out how to restore them, but it is hardly user friendly. 2) Syncing analysis is so slow it needs to speed up to stop (usually Task Manager says it is non-responsive) but it does (I think) usually come back if you wait long enough. I've given up on wireless as I believe that is worse. 3) If there is a way to "split from original" so that files or directories may be removed from the briefcase, I haven't figured out how. 4)Other strange things happen. My "Critical" briefcase just changed from a briefcase into a normal folder for reasons I haven't figured. Had a file marked read only, which wouldn't sync, and after removing the read only attribute, resyncing and exiting, the briefcase icon was replaced by the folder icon and no longer had briefcase characteristics. (That may not bee the reason, I did other things, but that was the strangest.). - If anybody at MS is interested in making Briefcase viable, I'd love to help. - SY Wink

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2010-01-28T21:37:54+00:00

SYWink,

I stumbled across your post in looking for answers to the Windows 7 Briefcase. What I was able to find as an answer (at least for my situation) was that the necessary menu bar for the briefcase was hidden by default in Win7. The standard Windows 7 folder view doesn't have the familiar File, Edit, View, etc. You can re-enable the normal menu bar by clicking on Organize-Layout-Menu Bar. Once this is enabled you will also see the familiar "Briefcase" option in that menu bar when you're in your Briefcase. Under Briefcase you should see the "Split From Original" option.

I have not yet looked into the sync speed, so I have no insight as to that. However, as for the briefcase magically turning into a regular folder, I have actually seen that on just about every Microsoft OS, I've never found a reason for it.

I hope this helps you, at least a little.

Toledohitman

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Anonymous
2012-01-03T06:12:16+00:00

If one requires synchronization so urgently and in a professional capacity perhaps one should purchase synchronization software such as Allway Sync or BellSync or GoodSync or others. Also, if data management is part of ones profession, than one may have buddies that can try out the different software and collaborate on the best of what's out there. Again, if you make more money by being on your A-game with file synchronization than it pays to purchase specialized software instead of kicking yourself and crying about it for all to hear, no?. Good software is only about 20 bucks. I make less than 30k a year and can afford that :)

To all, this thread raises an important problem of compounding a problem with frustrated ranting. If one is frustrated than take a moment to focus on the goal before one speaks out. Otherwise you don't solve anything and you reinforce and popularize adolescent behavior. Readers should also consider ranting to possibly be trolling or competitor negative advertising. Compulsive insincerity and cowardly rude behavior are going to cause big problems if we don't all recognize them as bringing society into very dark times.

Dear S Wink, you could do your listening audience a great service and post reviews of software like the aforementioned. Maybe even get into a Linux club and work with GNU projects perhaps? If your job involves these things than you stand to really contribute to making things better. If your job is to talk down Microsoft than you're doing great, lol.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-08-28T05:16:04+00:00

    Gentlemen and Ladies (if I said "Friends" or "My Fellow Downtrodden" you would think I was running in two months and a week):  This may be related but I have not personally tested it as a solution to slow syncing problems.  I originally found it as a slow operation in VMs, where read and write are stacked and sensitive to changes.

    Windows 7 appears to have made changes in the way it treats HD caching.  It may even disable write-back caching on drives that were enabled, a theory I haven't the time to test.  Normally, write-back caching is bad for integrity but goooood for performance, and Windows has been trying to improve security.

    Bottom line, connect the Briefcase drive to the source machine, set it up, then look at Manage my Computer/Disk Manager, right click on the header (the left gray area) and look at properties.  Under the Policy tab, look to see if write cache is disabled.  Enable it (if you're willing to accept the usually slight risks), restart the computer and see how the sync to the removable goes.

    Do the same on the destination.  Frequently, old USB hardware, FireWire will not allow Write caching at all.  If you can, do it.  Now run a sync cycle test and see how much the speed has improved.

    The caveats, disclaimers and DON'T SUE ME BECAUSE YOU SHOULD HAVE TESTED IT are that 1. A power failure could corrupt data.  If you can/do, try enabling shadow copies for the drive.  2.  Because of 1, it is VERY VERY VERY VERY important that you properly prepare the drive for disconnect by unmounnting.  If your concept of disconnecting a drive does not include clicking in the notification area, selecting a device and seeing a "It is safe to remove message" then stop here until somebody can set you right.

    OK.  So bottom line is to enable write cache on drives and sing the praises of the Great God Zamanawinkereliski.  Make a backup first, sacrifice a virgin (if you can find one) and POST BACK TO LET US KNOW OF THE SUCCESS!!

    P.S.  If you are doing this on VMWare, another speed issue may be the new option to allow dynamic return of virtual memory.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-08-02T15:09:49+00:00

    I was not using briefcases at all before when I initially tried to set one up. I had created a new briefcase and was able to open it, unfortunately the speeds were not with opening but with the syncing between the removable device and my computer. I'll try one in my work environment to see if it functions differently. In my home environment it just failed to transfer data in any timely manor.

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-08-02T15:07:25+00:00

    SyncToy was already suggested near the top of this thread and is not a viable replacement for the briefcase due to the differences in how the applications function.

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