In my previous article, Ways and Means to Share Files – Part 1, I dealt with installing Windows Live Mesh and left it at that.
Using Windows Live Mesh
Now it’s time to put Windows Live Mesh through its paces sharing some folders/files with other computers in a network.
Starting Off
1. Open Windows Live Mesh.
2. The computer you are working on is identified.
3. Your next task is to include any other computers on your network. To do this, select “Go to Windows Live Devices”. By the way, Sky Drive (Microsoft’s Cloud feature) is active once you log on and ready to go but more of this in my next article.
Go to Windows Live Devices
Note: To access other computers within your home network you must have installed and added Windows Live Mesh from Windows Live Essentials. This requires you to have either a Hotmail or a Live Mail account and to be signed in on the other computer(s) too. When you have done this Live Mesh will open showing your base computer, the one you are working on, and the target computer(s).
Computers for Live Sync
You are now ready to sync a selected file on your base computer which will appear on the target computer.
Syncing folders between Networked Computers
1. Turn on your second computer. This will be the one you want to share folders with.
2. Next, activate Windows Live Mesh on both computers.
3. On your second computer you’ll be asked to log on, use Windows Live or a Hotmail account.
Note: If you haven’t got either you’ll need to create an account.
4. Now back in the main computer, select Sync a folder.
5. Windows Live Mesh displays all available locations on your computer.
6. Double-click My Documents folder and select the sub-folder you want synced.
8. The Select Devices window opens.
9. In the “Where do you want to sync . . . “window check the locations and click the Ok button.
10. Windows Live Mesh reappears displaying the newly synced folder.
11. Now move to your second computer and check to see that Windows Live Mesh has done as you wish.
Note: When syncing a sub-folder within My Documents folder on your second computer, the newly synced folder will be added to My Documents folder.
You have successfully synced a folder on a computer network.
Un-syncing a folder
If you want to stop synchronizing a folder in any of the networked computers or SkyDrive do the following:
1. Click the folder to be unsynced. This shows its details.
2. In the expanded view, click Select Devices.
3. The Select Devices window opens. Uncheck SkyDrive and click the Ok button.
4. Back in the Windows Live Mesh window when you re-select the synced folder, you’ll see SkyDrive is no longer listed in Sync On.
Now you know about Windows Live Mesh and its features sharing files and folders is a breeze. Happy synching!
In my final article, I’ll show you how use the web storage facility, SkyDrive, another location to sync folders. In addition you’ll learn how to personalize the synced computers in a network.
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