Allway Sync - Sync Folders to USB Drive (Windows)

The Indispensable USB Drive and the Need for Synchronization

As a student, my USB flash drive is an essential item I carry constantly. It houses a collection of useful .bat files, portable applications, desktop backgrounds, and, crucially, a dedicated folder for each of my college courses. Although I only adopted regular USB drive usage about a year ago, I now consider it one of my most vital daily tools.

I also frequently utilize my Windows PC for academic work. Desktop computing offers advantages like reduced typing errors and faster web navigation with a mouse. Consequently, I divide my schoolwork between both my laptop and desktop computer.

The challenge arises when work is split between a laptop and a desktop, and remembering to manually synchronize folders with a USB drive becomes a recurring issue. The solution? Downloading and implementing Allway Sync, a software designed to automate this entire process.

Allway Sync: Versatile Synchronization Options

The strength of Allway Sync lies in its adaptability. It seamlessly synchronizes with a wide range of sources, including:

Windows folders (USB drives, CD/DVDs, any drive with a letter designation).
Removable drives (USB, external HDDs, media players, digital cameras).
Network folders (shared folders on a network).
FTP servers.
Amazon S3 (Amazon Simple Storage Service).
OffsiteBox.com (a secure online data storage service).
MS Activesync folders (folders on portable devices like PDAs).

Essentially, Allway Sync can synchronize almost any data source imaginable. Even scenarios not explicitly listed can often be accommodated with a bit of creative problem-solving. Whether you need automatic photo backups from a camera, a mirrored USB drive, or automated FTP server backups, Allway Sync presents a robust and free solution.

True synchronization should be fully automatic, requiring minimal user intervention after initial configuration. We will now test Allway Sync with a USB drive to evaluate its performance and demonstrate how to effectively utilize this tool.

Step 1: Obtaining Allway Media Sync

Begin by downloading Allway Media Sync and completing the installation procedure. Launch the application; the main screen should appear upon first startup.

Step 2: Defining the Folders for Synchronization

Remember that this tool is designed for synchronizing, not simply copying, files. While the folders being synchronized can differ, maintaining a similar structure is beneficial for clarity.

Select the two folder types you wish to synchronize by clicking the respective drop-down menus. In this instance, I chose "Removable drive" and "Windows folder" to synchronize a Windows folder with my USB drive. Use the "browse" function to locate the Windows folder.

The folder I intend to synchronize is named "School" and resides in the C: drive. Currently, my USB drive lacks a folder with this name. Upon completion, both "C:\School" and "E:\School" should exist and be identical. The image below shows the folders' initial state.

Step 3: Configuring the USB Device

Connect your USB (or other) device to your computer. Then, click "configure" to the right of your removable device within the Allway Sync window. This will allow you to specify the location of your USB drive.

Select your USB device from the drop-down menu. Mine is the e:\ drive, as illustrated below. Consider checking "bind to device characteristics" to prevent synchronization with unintended USB devices, especially if the folder contains sensitive information.

Ensure you enter the complete path to your folder. I want to synchronize "School" on my PC with a folder named "School" on my USB drive. Therefore, the "Path" for the USB configuration should be E:\School. The folder configuration at this stage is shown below.

Step 4: Adjusting Settings

Navigate to "View>Options>New Job 1" (or the name of your sync project) to access the settings. Here, you can fine-tune the behavior of the automatic synchronization. I personally enabled the following settings under "automatic synchronization".

This configuration ensures that changes are automatically reflected whenever I plug in my device or modify a synced file. The entire process operates seamlessly from start to finish with minimal user interaction.

Step 5: Analyzing the Folders

Click the Analyze button to allow Allway Sync to determine the changes that will be made and identify any potential discrepancies. Don't be concerned by significant differences between the folders, but verify that no unintended data is being synchronized. During my initial setup, I nearly synchronized my entire C: drive instead of a specific folder within it. The analyze feature prevented a massive data transfer.

Note that the sync arrow points to the LEFT in my case, as my USB "School" folder is empty; all files are initially transferred from my PC to the USB drive.

Step 6: Synchronization

Click Synchronize and allow the process to complete. Then, verify that the contents of both folders are identical.

As you can see, the folders are now identical. Any future changes made to one folder will be mirrored in the other. Deleted or overwritten files are configured to be sent to the recycle bin, providing a safety net for accidental modifications. Allway Sync starts automatically with your computer, ensuring seamless synchronization whenever your USB (or other) drive is connected.

Do you utilize a U3 or portable drive? Allway Sync offers specialized options, particularly for U3 owners. I recommend exploring the portable U3 and USB versions of Allway Sync to discover additional features.

What is your preferred method for mirroring folders?