Published: August 2, 2005

SyncToy v1.0 is a free PowerToy for Microsoft Windows XP that is an easy to use, highly customizable program designed to help users do the heavy lifting involved with the copying, moving, and synchronization of different directories.

Increasingly, computer users are using different folders, drives, and even different computers (such as a laptop and a desktop) to store and retrieve files. There are new sources of files coming from every direction: digital cameras, e-mail, cell phones, portable media players, camcorders, PDAs, and laptops. Yet managing hundreds or thousands of files is still largely a manual operation. In some cases it is necessary to move files from one place to another; in other cases there is a need to keep two storage locations exactly in sync. Some users manage files manually, dragging and dropping from one place to another and keeping a mental card catalog in their heads. Others use one or more applications of one sort or another to provide this functionality for them.

Now there is an easier way. SyncToy is a free PowerToy for Microsoft Windows XP that provides is an easy to use, highly customizable program that helps users to do the heavy lifting involved with the copying, moving, and synchronization of different directories. Most common operations can be performed with just a few clicks of the mouse, and additional customization is available without added complexity. SyncToy can manage multiple sets of folders at the same time; it can combine files from two folders in one case, and mimic renames and deletes in another. Unlike other applications, SyncToy actually keeps track of renames to files and will make sure those changes get carried over to the synchronized folder.

Fast, easy, and flexible!

The Director of the SyncToy Software Team says, "Many people at the company have asked for access to our photos from Africa for review, software testing, and amusement. I haven't had time to process all of the photos, or even double-check that all of the file names are correct and that no personal pictures made it into the "best of" list.

"I used SyncToy to create multiple folder pairs that each Echo the pictures from my computer to one of several network shares in the company. That way, when I delete, rename, or change files in my "best of" folder on my computer, I can use the SyncToy Run All option to Echo those deletions, renames, and changes to all of the shares that contain copies of my photos."

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