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Instructions for transitioning to the new Sync beta

Note: Before transitioning to the new Windows Live Sync beta, please read the FAQ and Inside Windows Live blog.

 

For users of Live Mesh beta

For users of the previous version of Sync

Transitioning from Live Mesh beta

 

Note: Live Mesh beta can’t be run on the same computer as the new Sync beta. When you install Windows Live Sync beta, Live Mesh beta will be uninstalled and must not be installed again.

Overview

To upgrade to Windows Live Sync, you’ll need to make sure you sync or download the latest files from your Mesh online storage to your PC, uninstall Live Mesh and restart your computer (if requested). Then you can install the new Sync beta and setup your synced folders again.

 

Please note that Live Mesh beta was installed per user on a computer, whereas Windows Live Essentials beta is installed for all users on a computer. If your computer is shared by multiple people, make sure that all users have uninstalled Live Mesh beta.

Step 1: Sync or download all folders from Live Mesh online storage with your computer 

1.       On your desktop, right-click any Live Mesh folders not yet synced with your computer - and click Sync with this computer. You should also check your Live Desktop to see if there are other folders online that do not have desktop shortcuts.

2.       Select where you want the files to sync to and click OK. Once you start downloading files to your computer, the folder icon will change to sky blue. If the folder has a lot of files, this might take a while. Open the folder and make sure all files are downloaded.

Step 2: Make note of sync or sharing settings so you can re-establish them later (optional)

1.       Click Live Mesh Options and select “Change sync settings”  You can write down all devices the sync folders syncs to.

2.       Click “Manage members”
A dialog will show you the members the folder shared with. You can write down these members for use later.

Step 3: Install Sync beta on your computer (this will auto uninstall Live Mesh beta)

  1. If you’re on a PC, install Windows Live Essentials beta. Make sure you select to install Sync. If you’re on a Mac, install Windows Live Sync beta for Mac.
  2. Exit the previous version of Sync if it’s running. To do this, click the Sync icon in the notification area, click Exit, and then click OK.
  3. Start the new Sync beta and sign in with your Windows Live ID.

Step 4: Sync a folder

When you sync a folder between devices, any changes you make to the folder on one device will be reflected on the other devices syncing that folder. Add, edit, or delete files in the folder on one device, and they get added, edited, or deleted on all the other devices.

4a: To Sync a folder on a PC

  1. Install Windows Live Essentials beta (including Sync) if you haven’t already.
  2. Start Sync.
  3. Click Sync a folder.
  4. Select the folder you want to sync, and then click Sync.
  5. Select the other devices where you want to sync the folder and click OK.
    Sync will begin copying the folder to the other devices and saving it to the same place it was on the first computer. If a computer doesn’t appear in the list, you can install Sync on it later and then start syncing it on that computer as well. You can also select “SkyDrive synced storage” to sync folders online so that you can access them anywhere.

4b: To sync a folder on a Mac

  1. Install Windows Live Sync beta for Mac if you haven’t already.
  2. Start Sync.
  3. Browse to the folder you want to sync and drag it to Sync or click the Add button to select the folder you want to sync.
  4. Click Sync.
  5. Select the other devices you want to sync the folder on and click OK.
    Sync will begin copying the folder to the other devices and saving it to the same place it was on the first computer. If a computer doesn’t appear in the list, you can install Sync on it later and then start syncing it on that computer a well.

Transitioning from the previous version of Windows Live Sync

 

Note: You can install Windows Live Sync beta on a computer that has the previous version of Sync, but you can’t run both versions at the same time. If you keep the previous version of Sync installed, you need to stop syncing any folders using that version if you want to sync them using Sync beta. You also can't sync a folder between computers if one computer has the previous version of Sync installed and the other has Sync beta.

Step 1: Stop the previous version of Sync from starting automatically

  1. Click the Sync icon in the notification area, at the far right of the taskbar.
  2. Click More, and then click Settings. 
  3. Clear the Automatically run Windows Live Sync when I log on to Windows box.
  4. Click OK.

Step 2: Install Sync beta on your computer

  1. If you’re on a PC, install Windows Live Essentials beta. Make sure you select to install Sync. If you’re on a Mac, install Windows Live Sync beta for Mac.
  2. Exit the previous version of Sync if it’s running. To do this, click the Sync icon in the notification area, click Exit, and then click OK.
  3. Start the new Sync beta and sign in with your Windows Live ID.

Step 3: Sync a folder

When you sync a folder between devices, any changes you make to the folder on one device will be reflected on the other devices syncing that folder. Add, edit, or delete files in the folder on one device, and they get added, edited, or deleted on all the other devices.

3a: To Sync a folder on a PC

  1. Install Windows Live Essentials beta (including Sync) if you haven’t already.
  2. Start Sync.
  3. Click Sync a folder.
  4. Select the folder you want to sync, and then click Sync.
  5. Select the other devices where you want to sync the folder and click OK.
    Sync will begin copying the folder to the other devices and saving it to the same place it was on the first computer. If a computer doesn’t appear in the list, you can install Sync on it later and then start syncing it on that computer as well. You can also select “SkyDrive synced storage” to sync folders online so that you can access them anywhere.

3b: To sync a folder on a Mac

  1. Install Windows Live Sync beta for Mac if you haven’t already.
  2. Start Sync.
  3. Browse to the folder you want to sync and drag it to Sync or click the Add button to select the folder you want to sync.
  4. Click Sync.
  5. Select the other devices you want to sync the folder on and click OK.
    Sync will begin copying the folder to the other devices and saving it to the same place it was on the first computer. If a computer doesn’t appear in the list, you can install Sync on it later and then start syncing it on that computer a well.