Then there is the trend to use a desktop computer and laptop or netbook or mobile Internet device and the desire to have the same data available on all computers. Data like contacts, emails, photos and even bookmarks is something that the user who is working with multiple devices wants to have in sync.

Microsoft SyncToy is the second installment of the synchronization software by Microsoft which has the goal of delivering an easy to use data synchronization software for Windows users. SyncToy comes in a version for 32-bit and 64-bit Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Vista operating systems and requires the Microsoft .net Framework 2.0 or above.

Microsoft SyncToy works with so called folder pairs called the left and right folder. After selecting two folders from connected partitions or devices the user has to define the type of synchronization that should take place, he has the option to..

• Synchronize: New Files and Modifications are copied to the other folder. Renaming or deleting files will do so at the other folder as well.
• Echo: All modifications at the left folder are executed on the right folder as well. Changes on the right folder have no impact on the left folder.
• Contribute: All modifications at the left folder except deletions are executed on the right folder

After creating the folder pair and selecting the synchronization option custom options can be changed. Those custom options make it possible to exclude certain files and folders from the synchronization and to make file contents a criteria for checking if files are identical.

To be effective Microsoft SyncToy has to be added to the Windows Scheduler to be run regularly. This is done by creating a new task in the Windows Scheduler that makes use of SyncToyCmd.exe and the -R parameter which has the effect that all synchronizations that are set to Run are executed.

1. Auto-detects changes
2. Cross platformcompatibility
3. Automatically detects nodes on localnet
4. Open Source