Windows Live Mesh has been part of Microsoft’s set of solutions to solve issues relating to accessing personal data and settings across multiple PC’s and devices. Windows Live Mesh even allows you to connect to your PC’s remotely. In this article, we take a look at how to use it to keep our PC’s synced.

To use Windows Live Mesh, you need to download it first. It is also included as part of the free Windows Live Essentials 2011 suite.

After downloading and installing, launch Windows Live Mesh and sign in with your Windows Live Hotmail or Windows Live ID and password. If you don’t have one, you can create one for free.

Connecting to Windows Live Mesh

After signing in, you will be presented with the Status page which displays your machine name (ie. WIN7VL-VM) along with your Folders that you have setup to be synchronized and Program settings for apps such as Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office. Right now, I don’t have anything setup, so we will do that as our next step.

I want to sync a folder on my hard disk, in this case, the Documents folder, to do that, I click the Sync a folder link under Folders.

Select the folder and click Sync

Windows Live Mesh will present a number of options for where you would like to have the data from the folder you selected to be synced. In the above screenshot, I am presented with two options, my other computer which also has Windows Live Mesh installed and Microsoft’s free online storage service service, Windows Live Skydrive. My personal recommendation is to select both, this guarantees you will always have the most up to date information across multiple devices.

You now see that I have successfully synced my data with not just only another PC but my free Skydrive account account.

Syncing data from my other computer

When syncing folders that are the same name on different computers, you will need to choose an alternate location on the system or create a folder to sync those files to.

For instance, I want to sync the folder Lesson folder for Office Testing on the machine WIN7X64-ACER with WIN7VL-VM

To do that, select the folder and click Sync

Select the devices you want to have the folder synced across then click OK.

On the other machine, you will see the folder appear in the Status window, click the link below it Sync this folder

I created a folder called My Sync Files, after doing this, click Sync

Windows Live Mesh now syncing the folder with the other machine.

Our files from the other machine are now synced. Any files saved or placed in that folder on the machine it was originally created will now be automatically synced.

When you log into your personal Skydrive account, you will see your synced folders there too.

Windows Live Mesh might not be an ideal solution for everyone, but it does reduce the complexity of syncing data across multiple machines. Of course, there are minor draw backs such as the Windows Live ID requirement and the need to have online connectivity to accomplish the syncing, but it’s still a great solution to keep your program settings and Office files up to date and most important, it’s free.

How to Sync files between 2 computers with Windows Live Mesh. is a post by Andre from Notebooks.com.

The next best option is Backup and Restore. First introduced in Windows Vista, this enhanced recovery solution replaced Windows XP’s dated NTBackup utility.

The benefits are convenient too, you can individually backup individual user accounts, libraries and folders. In fact, I discovered, Backup and Restore is most preferable over solutions such as Windows Easy Transfer. One of the ill-effects I discovered from using WET for backup is, it messes with your Microsoft Outlook Personal Folders.

WET does not have any idea about other locations you store important information. Neither does Backup and Restore, but you can change that easily. An example, right now I am testing Windows 7 SP1, what I realized, when I did WET Backups, then restoring on an updated build, my Windows XP Mode which I use for compatibility was never backed although its something I regularly use. With Backup, I can ensure that the specific directory where XP Mode stores its .VHD file is included all my backup sets.

Types of Backup

One of the important things to know before beginning a backup is  to know the types of backup there are.

• Normal Backup – A normal/full backup archive all files selected to the medium. These files are marked as having been archived by clearing the archive bit.
• Copy Backup – All selected files are copied, it however does not mark the files as having been archived.
• Differential Backup – Back up is performed on All the files and folders that have been created or modified since either the last normal backup or the last incremental backup. Files are not marked as having been archived. Copies will be made from the same starting point until the next incremental or full backup is performed. Making differential backups is important because only the last full and differential backups are needed to restore all the data.
• Incremental Backup – An incremental backup procedure backs up all the files and folders that have been created or modified since either the last normal or incremental backup. It marks the files as having been archived by clearing the archive bit. This has the effect of advancing the starting point of differential backups without having to re-archive the entire contents of the drive. If you have to perform a system restore, you would have to first restore the last full backup, then restore every incremental backup in order, and then restore any differential backups made since the last incremental backup.
• Daily Backup – Daily backups only back up the files that are modified on the day of the backup. Daily backups do not modify the archive bit.

In the case of Windows 7 Backup and Restore, the initial backup is a full backup, subsequent backups are Incremental - i.e – only changed files are backed up. When certain rules (eg. a long time has passed since the last full backup or the amount of data being backed becomes too large compared to the previous backup sets) Backup and Restore runs a full backup which automatically deletes the older backup sets through ‘Manage space’. You will see a new entry with a newer backup period in the Manage space wizard whenever a new full backup is created.

External Hard disk

To efficiently, effectively, reliably and safely backup your computer, please invest in a External Hard disk. I am imploring on you seriously, please do so.

Why? Well, they are cheap, you can get a good 1 TB external hard disk below $70. Backing up gigabytes of data to DVD’s which store about 4.7 GBs of information is inefficient and is likely to produce a number of coasters in the process. I can tell you this personally from experience when I had to backup a friends computer. I remember successfully backing up a small amount of data to DVD’s, when I tried to restore the data, it just would not happen. External hard disks allow you freedom and wide open space to do more innovative types of backup. For instance, you could do a Standard Backup, create multiple system images, a Windows Easy Transfer file and if you are using Windows 7 Enterprise or Ultimate, create a bootable copy of Windows 7 installation on a partition called a .VHD Boot, so you can use a Windows 7 installation with a Virtual Machine or another computer.

Uninterruptable Power Supply/AC-DC Power

The worst backup is when the power goes or your battery dies during the backup, that’s called an immediate disaster. It is recommended you plug the External hard disk into a UPS to ensure consistent power even if a power outage occurs. A UPS might not guarantee you that you will be able to complete the backup, since most of them provide a max 30 mins of juice. But if you only have a few minutes remaining, it can be very handy or it allows you to safely cancel the backup without causing damage to external hard disk or computer. By default, laptops must be plugged in when running backup.

Starting your backup.

Click Start, type: Backup

Then hit Enter on your keyboard

This will open the Backup and Restore center. From here you will see an overview of information about your backup activities, such as your storage devices used (CD/DVD, External hard disk), time you did your last backup, when backups are scheduled, settings for adjusting backup, and information for restoring backups.

There are multiple backup methods available in Windows 7. You have System Image which creates a replica of your entire Windows 7 installation along with your personal files, installed applications and personal settings. An External hard disk is most certainly recommended for this type of backup. Notebooks.com took a look at how to create a System Image and Restore it here Then there is the Standard backup or what is known as the full backup this only backs up your accounts and libraries, along with important information such as your personalized settings.

Beginning your Backup

Connect the External hard disk (I will be using an external USB hard disk), turn it on.

Note: If you are backing up a laptop, please make sure you are connected to AC/DC power since Backup will not execute on battery power.

If you don’t see your external hard disk show up as a backup location in Backup and Restore, click the Change settings link.

Select the Backup Destination and click Next.

Next, you will be asked to select what you would like to backup.

Let Windows choose

If you let Windows choose what is backed up, the following items are included in your backup:

• Data files that are saved in libraries, on the desktop, and in default Windows folders for all people with a user account on the computer.

  Notes

  • Only local files in libraries are included in the backup. If you have files in a library that are saved on a drive located on a different computer on a network, on the Internet, on the same drive that you are saving the backup on, or on a drive that is not formatted using the NTFS file system, they aren’t included in the backup.
  • Default Windows folders include AppData, Contacts, Desktop, Downloads, Favorites, Links, Saved Games, and Searches.
• If the drive you are saving your backup on is formatted using the NTFS file system and has enough disk space, a system image of your programs, Windows, and all drivers and registry settings are also included in the backup. This image can be used to restore the contents of your computer if your hard drive or computer stops working. For more information, see What is a system image?

Let me choose

You can choose to back up individual folders, libraries, or drives.

Notes

• All files in known system folders (folders that contain files that Windows needs to run), and known program files (files that define themselves as part of a program in the registry when the program is installed) will not be backed up even if they are in a selected folder.

• If a folder or drive is not selected, the contents of that folder or drive are not backed up.

I personally will be going with the Let me choose option because, there are certain directories that are not included in the default Backup option. Click Next

Individual folders I have selected and excluded for backup

Here you can see Backup allows you to select which locations you want to backup, these include user accounts, drives and folders. I personally would like to have my Windows Virtual PC folder backed up since I use it regularly and make changes to it. After I have selected what I want to backup, click Next

Backup now provides a review of the items we have selected and excluded in our backup. Your options will likely be different. Once you are happy with the options (you can always click the Back button and make adjustments if needed), click Save settings and run backup

You will then be taken back to the Backup and Restore window where you can monitor the progress of the Backup. The time it takes to backup will vary depending on the size of the backup. Other factors include processor and memory. For this particular backup I did, which is about 16 GBs of data, it took about 2 hours.

Once the backup is complete, you can click close, eject you’re your external hard disk and turn it off. That’s it! In a future article, we will take a look at restoring the backup.

How to Backup to an External Hard Drive is a post by Andre from Notebooks.com.

My old computer

Windows Easy Transfer guides you through the process of transferring files and settings from one Windows computer to another. Using Windows Easy Transfer, you can choose what to transfer to your new computer and how to transfer it. You can transfer most files and program settings. Specifically:

• • Files and folders. Everything within the Documents, Pictures, and Shared Documents folders. Using advanced options, you can select additional files and folders to transfer.
  • E‑mail settings, contacts, and messages.
  • Program settings. Settings that keep your programs configured as you had them on your old computer. Windows Easy Transfer does not transfer the programs themselves. Some programs might not work on this version of Windows, including security programs, antivirus programs, firewall programs (your new computer should already have a firewall running to help ensure safety during the transfer), and programs with software drivers.
  • User accounts and settings. Desktop backgrounds, network connections, screen savers, fonts, Start menu options, taskbar options, folders, specific files, network printers and drives, and accessibility options.
  • Internet settings and favorites. Internet connection settings, favorites, and cookies.
  • Music. Electronic music files, playlists, and album art.
  • Pictures and video. Pictures—which includes any visual file type (for example, .jpg, .bmp, .gif)—and personal videos.

Windows Easy Transfer sounds like just the solution I am looking for to move my personal data to my new computer.

Launch Windows Easy Transfer

Launching Windows Easy Transfer utility

1. You can find the Windows Easy Transfer utility by clicking Start > type: Transfer. Or click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Windows Easy Transfer.

2. When you start the Windows Easy Transfer, a wizard gives you an overview of what you can transfer and what will happen after the process is completed. Click Next to begin.

3. You have three methods of transferring your data from your old computer using Windows Easy Transfer:

• An Easy Transfer cable is specifically designed to work with Easy Transfer to move your personal data from an old PC to a new computer.
• Network which is the method I will be using for this tutorial, requires that both PC’s have a network port installed and using a CAT5 cable to connect both computers.
• If you have an external hard disk with sufficient space, you can let Easy Transfer backup your data in a single file.

4. After clicking the Network option, you are asked to identify the computer you are using now. In this case, I am on the new computer.

5. Next you will be asked to install Windows Easy Transfer on the old computer, my old computer is already running Windows 7, so I will click that option.

Our next step now as the instruction says is to get an authorization key from the old computer before continuing.

On the old PC, follow the same procedures by selecting the same method you will be using to transfer your files, with the exception of identifying the Old computer when asked.

6. Once the authorization code has been generated, go back to your new Windows 7 PC, click Next and enter it and click Next.

Entering authorization key on new computer.

Easy Transfer analyzing the old Computer

7. A connection will now be established between both computers and Windows Easy Transfer will do a set of scans on the old PC to determine what can be transferred. You will be able to select accounts and shared files that you might want to transfer.

Creating an account on the new computer

8. Choose Advanced Options if there is some specific options you would like to apply such as Creating a specific account for your personal files on the new computer. My old computer has the account ‘Andre Da Costa’, I would also like that account on the new computer, so what I will do is click in the ‘User account on the new computer:’ list box and click Create User, enter appropriate information and click Save.

New Computer left, Old Computer right, Transfer in progress

Recommendations:

• Do not use the old and new Computer’s during the Transfer process.

Errors during Transfer, you can retry transferring, if you continue experience errors, check all files and click skip and transfer the file or files manually.

When the Transfer process is complete, you can view a report of what was transferred along with what you will need to reinstall.

The time it takes will vary depending on the data set (amount of information) you have stored on the old computer in addition to the user accounts that you might be transferring. I must say the transfer was a success except for an error I had with Easy Transfer reporting Windows Live Mail open on the old computer, refusing to transfer my storage folder. But after loading Windows Live Mail on the new computer, everything seemed to be ok, I could access all my messages and newsgroups  just fine.

Windows 7 (new computer), successful transfer..

And there you have it, an easy, convenient, secure and reliable process of transferring personal files and settings from your old computer to your new PC running Windows 7. My default wallpapers, taskbar layout, account picture, even my Firefox Bookmarks, Windows Live Writer settings were all transferred successfully.The only thing I need to do now is reinstall the applications recommended by the Windows Easy Transfer utility.

Lessons to learn

What I have discovered is that although Windows 7 64 bit will allow an Easy Transfer of personal files and settings from 32 bit Windows to 64 bit Windows, it will not do a vice-versa, see the proof below.

Oh really? I didn’t know that!

Interesting huh? I thought so too, but it brings up the question, is this a sign of the final hurrah for 32-bit Windows? Microsoft has not stopped development of 32-bit applications or operating systems, since Windows 7 will be available in both 32 and 64 bit flavors when its released to manufacturing. It does however bring up the issue of supporting 32-bit technology going forward where Windows is concerned. I asked a trusted colleague Bryant Zedegan, editor of popular Windows enthusiast community AeroXP.org why Microsoft would prevent Easy Transfer from 64 bit to 32 bit computers, here is what he had to say:

In strictly logical terms, blocking migration from 64bit to 32bit Windows likely exists in order to discourage rolling back to an old instruction set. Based on what Windows Easy Transfer is able to migrate, I doubt that there would be any significant issues with allowing for migrating data in the 64-to-32bit direction; it’s just one of those things where Microsoft wants to ensure that migration to x64 happens without users rolling back.

BryantZ

In a sense, the industry has been going through a transition from the old architecture for quite some time. Its something that happens every now and then as advances occur, examples include the transition from 16 to 32 bit instruction set during the the 90′s. 64-bit has been much slower because of early lack in available device drivers and programs that can harness the full benefits of what 64 bit has to offer such as a larger memory address space, meaning the ability to utilize 4 GBs or more of RAM, increased performance and stability. The release of Windows XP Professional x64 in April of 2005 and Windows Vista x64 in fall of 2006 help to boost the transition, a vast majority of Windows based desktops and notebooks now come with 64 bit processors built in and large amounts of memory. Windows Vista 64 bit has also seen greater adoption in recent times. But this does not mitigate the fact that there is still a large deployment of existing 32 bit only systems out there such as my Dell Dimension 8300 purchased back in March of 2004 that I have upgraded over the years and runs even Windows 7 32-bit well with full functionality such as advanced Aero window management effects.

Conclusion and Recommendations

My primary aim was to at least maintain some consistency between both desktops where personal files and settings are concerned. Although I learned a hard lesson, I was able to transfer back some of my personal files and settings manually from the User folder and AppData directory in Windows 7 64 bit to Windows 7 32 bit, I still lost some personalized settings along the way though. My recommendations for persons in a situation similar to mine is to use the create an Windows Easy Transfer file method and keep a copy of the file if you plan to continue using 32 bit Windows on that same computer you transferred from. This creates a safety net for restoring your personal files and settings, although a lot of available space will be needed for storing this information during the transition.

Resources

Step-by-Step: Windows 7 Upgrade and Migration

A Look at Improvements to Windows Easy Transfer for Windows 7

Explore the features: Windows Easy Transfer

Using Windows Easy Transfer in Windows 7 is a post by Andre from Notebooks.com.