Transfer Files from PC to Laptop
When you connect your
desktop to your laptop, you probably want to transfer some
files. Specifically, you want to synchronize the files
between your laptop and desktop systems.
For example, you might want to carry with your laptop some
files to work on while you're away. When you return to the
desktop, you want to ensure that only those files you worked
on are updated on both computers. How do you do it?
You can just let the computer do the work, thanks to the
handy Briefcase. The Windows Briefcase has been around for
quite some time. It's a sadly neglected feature, one that
most users avoid. That's probably because the name is just
really stupid. Despite that, making a Briefcase in Windows
is the starting point for sharing files between two
computers. It's easy - just follow these steps:
1. Open any folder window on your desktop computer.
For example, open the My Documents window. You can also use
the desktop itself.
2. Right-click a blank spot in the window (or on the
desktop) to display a shortcut menu.
3. Choose New --> Briefcase from the menu.
The Briefcase icon appears, named New Briefcase.
4. Optionally, rename the Briefcase icon.
The icon is ready to be renamed in Windows Vista; in Windows
XP, press the F2 key to give the thing a new name. You can
always just stick with the name New Briefcase, if you want.
Yes, you're done. All you need to do is create a single
Briefcase folder on your desktop computer. The laptop
doesn't need a Briefcase folder.
Here are a few pointers about how the Briefcase folder
synchronizes files between the desktop and the laptop:
The Briefcase works kind of like a folder, but it's not
really a folder. It's a storage unit you can use to shuttle
files between two computers.
When you happen to have more than one laptop, you need more
than one Briefcase to help keep files synchronized between
the desktop and those laptops. In that case, create a
Briefcase for each laptop and name each Briefcase
appropriately.
In older versions of Windows, the Briefcase was one of the
standard desktop icons. Starting with Windows XP, it's no
longer standard, and you can place it in any location you
want (not always the desktop).
By Laptops for Dummies
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