The features of WLM allow the ability to sync as many as 200 different folders with up to 100,000 files in each folder. The maximum file size allowed currently is 40 GB. Using SkyDrive in the Cloud, there is a limit of only 5 GB of files. Remote Desktop use through WLM and Windows Live services is much more practical for PC to PC synchronization rather than using SkyDrive.
WLM can pose certain limitations when synchronizing encrypted file requiring passwords and this can present time-consuming problems for many users. Never fear, there is a solution!

There is a simple way to prevent Windows Live Mesh (WLM) from starting at Windows 7 login and still be able to do an automatic sign-in with a manual start. This is helpful when synchronizing encrypted volumes that require passwords post- logon. Otherwise, WLM will fail at the login and will not be able to find the specified file that is to be synchronized.

The first step is to uncheck the “sing-in-automatically” option in Windows Live Mesh in order to disable start at login. The automatic sing-in option results in WLM writing the startup run registry key when executed. This is Windows Live Mesh with automatic sign-in checked:

The key is written by WLM when executed with the sign-in option checked:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

“WLSync”=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Windows Live\\Mesh\\WLSync.exe\” /background”

To fix, use the steps as follows:

• By creating a batch file (simply create a blank text file and rename it to name.bat), execute the command: Reg Delete “HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run” /v WLSync /f
• Run the script at Windows 7 logoff by typing “Gpedeit.msc” in the start menu run box.

Press Enter and this opens the Group Policy Editor. The next step is to navigate to the appropriate file location on the left pane. Navigate to “User Configuration\Windows Settings\Scripts (Logon/Logoff)” in the left pane:

Go to Logon/ Logoff in the right pane and then open properties by double-clicking “Logoff.” Load the “Add a Script dialog” by clicking Add and then click Browse to select the script you designed in the first step. This will place it in the “Script Name” field Click “OK” in the Add a Script dialog and this will confirm and take you back to the properties window. After clicking “Apply,” and closing the policy editor.

This is an extremely advantageous and easy fix if problems are being encountered with Windows Live Mesh when trying to synchronize encrypted files.

The main goals of the project were to offer Windows Live Sync users with options to synchronize files to PCs and the Cloud, to offer easy access to PCs and document collaboration using SkyDrive.

Less than two months later Microsoft made the decision to change the Windows Live Sync Beta name once again. The product has been renamed to Windows Live Mesh, apparently because of the feature additions remote access and cloud storage, which extend the program beyond synchronization.

Microsoft fortunately did more than just rebrand the product. Two feature enhancements have been added to the syncing capabilities. First, hidden files and folders can now be synced with Windows Live Mesh, something that the previous version was not capable of doing.

Second, Windows Live Mesh now displays the missing files in a folder, displaying the file names, last modification devices and dates they have been modified.

windows live mesh

Additional cloud storage has been added. Beta participants of Windows Live Sync received 2 Gigabytes of cloud storage. Only 2% of those users have been using more than 1.5 Gigabytes of space, which usually is a good indicator that the space limits are sufficient for the majority of users.

Microsoft still increased the storage limit from 2 to 5 Gigabytes for all users of Windows Live Mesh. And that is on top of the 25 Gigabytes offered by Live SkyDrive, as the two online storage systems are independent of each other – for now.

Finally, performance has been improved in Windows Live Mesh according to Microsoft. “We worked on cutting the application load time in half ” says Allison O’Mahony, Principal Program Manager Lead, Devices & Roaming. She continues by stating that Microsoft have “optimized both memory and CPU usage during sync activity as well as decreased CPU consumption by as much as 30% when Windows Live Mesh is idle”.

Windows Live Mesh is part of Windows Live Essentials beta, which can be downloaded from the official website. Windows Live Essentials Beta is not available for Windows XP, only for 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2. (via Caschy)

The other requirements are a Windows Live ID and Microsoft Internet Explorer to access the contents on the Internet. Users who might find those restrictions to strict are better off with Dropbox who is less restrictive in this regard.

Live Mesh works by adding computer devices to the Mesh. The Mesh are all devices that synchronize data. It basically works by adding devices to the Mesh in first place, e.g. a local computer running Windows XP. That computer is then added to the Mesh that the user has access to. The process finishes with the installation of the Live Mesh software on the local computer.

Live Mesh will create a system folder on the computer system containing all folders that have been selected for synchronization by the user. That’s different from Dropbox which makes use of one static folder with the requirement that all synchronized folders are created in that folder. Some users have posted workarounds by using symbolic links but that’s pretty advanced and not recommended for beginners or inexperienced computer users.

Folders can be added by right-clicking them and selecting “Add folder to Live Mesh” from the context menu. It takes a few seconds before the newly selected folder appears in the global system folder. Synchronization with the Live Mesh online service usually starts immediately afterwards.

Live Mesh is currently providing 5 Gigabytes of storage space to its users, 3 Gigabytes more than what Dropbox is currently offering.

Another interesting option is the ability to invite members. Inviting members will give them access to selected folders – and their files. That’s interesting if documents need to be shared with several computer users regularly.

Live Mesh does have its shortcomings. The main being the concentration on the Windows platform and the Internet Explorer requirement for browsing the data online. While Internet Explorer will surely remain a requirement the prospect of being able to add mobile devices and Macs looks interesting. It remains to be seen though if mobile devices are limited to the Windows Mobile platform.

As of now Live Mesh provides a fast way of synchronizing data online for Windows users. It works intuitive, the performance is fine and the storage space is enough for a lots of data.