Syncing media files (2025 Update)

You could store on the cloud. ISP may give you some free space. Large blocks of cloud storage cost something but music files are not that big.

If you are ripping them as you add them, sort the directory by date modified and it is easy to see where you left off. Otherwise get something like "File Synchronizer". I think it was $15 or something. It will analyze 2 directories and tell you what is different. Then you can click the arrow to copy over the mismatches.

Are your computers networked? That would simplify things.

Is all the music categorized that same way on each? If so, rip all music to the "master" and then copy the directory to the other two drives.

The problem with that is you are going to see "do you want to replace X with Y" popping up for all of the files that are in sync or you will just be wasting a lot of time copying files that are already there if you say yes to all. I have about 14 gig of music and all of that copying over a 100mb network is pretty slow. The file sync program eliminates all of that.

To answer some questions - yes the comps are all networked , I do stream content from the one I use to acquire new files if I haven't yet transferred them . The reason for having it all on 3 different comps is for backup . I nearly lost all my files - music , photos , tax records , everything - a few years ago . Now I store it all on at least 2 and preferably 3 or more computers . All new files are put on one comp for distribution to the rest , makes it a little easier . I'm just trying to simplify it a little more . It would be nice to just push one button and have it done automagically .

That file synchronizer program is about as close to that as you get. I do the same thing. My "alltunes" file is all over the place along with an assortment of M3U playlist files. I am still using my original MP3 player a DOS player called MPXPLAY that has been upgraded to run on XP, W/7 etc. It is the only one I know that lets you select songs by number on a keypad

With Win 10 and probably earlier versions too, if you try to copy one directory to another and there are some files in common, you have three choices:

Seems the simplest would be to only rip music to one computer, then just copy that to the others, choosing to only copy files that are not there. Alternatively, rip them anywhere, and periodically copy files from each PC to all the others, choosing to copy only files not already there.

If you are running a WIN computer, then learn how to use Robocopy, which is included free with all modern versions of WIN including WIN10. It will do exactly what you want, and a lot more. If you have questions, ask Nil, who offered you his assistance.

I'll just add that also included with WIN is a task scheduler, (Taskschd.msc) that will let you run apps, including batch files, Rexx Scripts and so on automatically at days and times of your choosing, so you can write a batch script to run Robocopy, doing whatever you want at whatever intervals you want, and once set up, it's all automatic.

I run Robocopy from a Rexx script daily and it automatically backs up the stuff I want, including 30,000 jpgs and 3000 mp3's automatically to two external usb drives and one networked computer (if it is on) It only copies files not already copied, and, I have it delete any files not on the source folders. (I run a separate incremental backup that keeps the last five deleted files so little risk of losing a file.) It normally takes only seconds to run for all MP#'s and JPG's after the initial backup.

XXCOPY isanother option. Pixielab is gone - but the free installation is still available on their site for personal use. EXTREMELY powerdull package withthe different /B options - /BI, /BA,/BB, /BN, /Bo etc being the "backup" commands. Run XXCOPY /help for the command line refference.

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On 18 Jan 2019, Clare Snyder snipped-for-privacy@snyder.on.ca> wrote in alt.home.repair:

I think I tried that out once, but Robocopy seemed to have about the same features and it was already included with Windows.

On 18 Jan 2019, trader_4 snipped-for-privacy@optonline.net wrote in alt.home.repair:

I assumed he wanted it more automated than that. Suggestions to that effect have been offered.

Out of curiosity, do permissions follow in these magical software's going on HDD's with different file patricians?

And again, the procedure or procedures I just posted will do exactly that.

On 18 Jan 2019, trader_4 snipped-for-privacy@optonline.net wrote in alt.home.repair:

But it won't deal with changed files. Explorer/File Manager, COPY and XCOPY regards an existing file and a changed file as the same.

On 18 Jan 2019, Oren <Oren@127.0.0.1> wrote in alt.home.repair:

Not sure. For the mirroring of music files in this way (copying between my own various machines in a home network) permissions isn't likely to be an issue. Here's an article that appears to discuss that topic, but again, it's not something that I've had to deal with.

With xxcopy in a batch file that is EXACTLY what you can do.