How To: Synchronize Your Folders with SyncToy 2.0! (Part 2)
In my previous guide – How To: Synchronize Your Folders with SyncToy 2.0! (Part 1), I have detailed on how to use Microsoft SyncToy 2.0 to set up folder pairs that you want to backup/copy/synchronize. In this second part, I will guide you on how to schedule this task to be run automatically.
Note: This guide is written in Windows Vista. If you are using Windows XP, the guide will be similar in certain ways, but there might be a slight difference in configuring the scheduler
A Quick Recap
From the previous guide, we have set up a folder pair that we’d like to synchronize. Our last setup is as follows:
Basically, we have set up one folder pair and set it to be copied over to a network location for backup purpose.
The Next Steps
Now in Vista, click Start -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Task Scheduler (or you can just type ‘Task’ at the search bar at the bottom and it’ll appear anyway):
Vista’s Task Scheduler will then start. In the task pane (on the right), pick “Create Basic Task…“:
Enter the name and description you would like for this task. You can put anything you want, but I recommend something descriptive, unless if you have any other reason to make it appear ambiguous.
Click “Next” and the wizard will ask you the intervals that you want the task to be run. For our example, I would like to synchronize my files weekly:
On the next screen, the wizard will ask more details on how do I wish to have it run weekly. I wish to run this task every Sunday at 12:00AM:
Press Next, and it will then ask you what you want to do every Sunday at 12:00AM? Since we’re going to ask SyncToy 2.0 to run a synchronization process, we’ll pick “Start A Program“:
On the next page, it will ask you on the details of the program that you wanted to run. Click the “Browse…” button, and navigate to C:\Program Files\SyncToy 2.0 Beta\ and choose a file named “synctoycmd“:
Now, make sure to fill in the fields as follows:
- Add arguments (optional): -R
- Start in (optional): “C:\Program Files\SyncToy 2.0 Beta\”
Press Next, and then finally click Finish.
You’re done! The task will then be scheduled every week/day of your choice.
Hi. Thanks for the review/how to.
I’ve just started using SyncToy (in echo) and I’m thinking of migrating to SyncBack (freeware version from 2BrightSparks) as i could really do with an automated daily and weekly backup.
The daily backup would be of “mydocs” only, it has the most file changes and the weekly the rest of the drive – thus, hopefully keeping backup times relatively short.
Am i right in thinking synctoy cannot do this? (ie two folder pairs at different scheduled times)
Cheers
04-07-09 Be aware. SyncToy 2.0 corrupts .jpg and some music files when it copies to a network storage device. I’d stay away from the program for copying to/over networks until the next release. SyncToy writers claim to have a fix, but no date on when next release will be forthcoming.