If you are saving all of your important files to your association’s shared drive in the appropriate program folder – Great! No worries. You are all set.
This tech tip is geared to those who save files to their local Documents and Pictures folders.
#1 – The How and Why of the Backup
The two local folders, Documents and Pictures, along with Internet Explorer Favorites, are automatically backed up to your user (U) drive on the file server when the computer is in the office on the Cornell network.
We utilize Microsoft Sync Center to do this automatic backup to the file server. If you look in the lower right hand corner of your screen, near the date/time: You will see the Microsoft Sync icon (little green circle with yellow arrows).
Changes made to any files in the Documents and Pictures folders when working offline or on a slow internet connection are automatically backed up to your User Drive (U) the next time you are in the office, connected to the Cornell network.
#2 – Working Remotely – Force The Backup!
When staff are working OUTSIDE the office, it gets a little tricky. Microsoft Sync WANTS to automatically back up for you if you are connected to the Cornell VPN. But the problem is slower internet connections. We need to give it a push.
1 – Connect to the Cornell VPN (Cisco AnyConnect).
2 – Double click on the Sync Center icon in your taskbar, next to the date/time.
3 – In the Sync Center window, click on “Sync All”.
Please note: If you see an exclamation mark on top of your Microsoft Sync Center icon, it means there was an error syncing one or more files to your User (U) drive. Go to the WSBN IT Blog page for more information about this:
https://blogs.cornell.edu/wsbnit/microsoft-sync-center-conflicts/