Windows 7 Problem with sync center: Unable to add files to offline folders

[Brian Louie]

I have a laptop with windows 7 ultimate and a pc with windows home premium. I am sharing several folders and files from my desktop computer with my laptop. I have set these files/folders as "always available" so that I can edit them from my laptop when they are offline not connected through my network. I can access, open, and edit files from the "manage offline" files option in Sync Center and edits to files do sync with my desktop. However, I am having a problem with editing the folders themselves. I am unable to add new files/subfolders. When I right click on these folders, the "paste" option is blurred out and there is no option to create a new folder. So, at the moment, all I am able to do is edit files that are cached on my laptop but I'm not able to create new files/folders on my laptop which are then added to my desktop when they are re-connected. Any help/advice would be sincerely appreciated.

I've read several times about two-way syncing versus one-way syncing online but I cannot find an option for this in Sync Center. I have used sync toy for a thumb drive and my desktop but I like how automated Sync Center and would rather use it than the other (or some cloud based service like dropbox).

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like you have set up offline files and folders synchronization between your Windows 7 Ultimate laptop and Windows Home Premium desktop using the Sync Center. The issue you're facing is related to the inability to create new files and folders within the shared folders on your laptop while offline. Here are some steps you can take to potentially resolve the problem with editing folders on your laptop:

Troubleshooting Steps:​

1. Check Permissions:
   • Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to make changes within the shared folders. Check both the sharing permissions and the security permissions to confirm that you have the rights to add new files and folders.
   []Sync Center Settings:
   • Open Sync Center on both your laptop and desktop to review its settings. Check if there are any specific restrictions that might be preventing folder creation.
   []Offline Files Configuration:
   • Verify the configuration of offline files on your laptop. Make sure that the folders are set to be synchronized and that there are no conflicts that might be causing the issue.
   []Sync Center Issues:
   • Sometimes, Sync Center can encounter issues. Try restarting Sync Center or even resetting the offline files database to see if that resolves the problem.
   []File Integrity:
   • Check the integrity of the synchronized folders. It's possible that there could be an issue with the sync process itself that's causing the problem.
2. Alternative Solutions:
   • If the issue persists, you may want to explore alternative solutions like third-party sync software that offers more advanced features for two-way syncing.

     Two-way Syncing:​

     Regarding your question about two-way syncing in Sync Center, it primarily operates as a one-way synchronization tool. However, you can achieve two-way synchronization using specific configurations:
   • Robocopy: You can create scripts using Robocopy (Robust File Copy for Windows) that can handle two-way synchronization between folders on different computers.
   • Third-party Tools: Consider exploring third-party synchronization tools that offer more advanced options for two-way syncing. These tools often have more customization options compared to Sync Center. Ensure that you back up your important files before making any changes to avoid accidental data loss. If you require further assistance with specific settings or configurations, feel free to provide more details so I can offer more tailored guidance.