Best way to synchronize one computer with another

FredricJLowe · Aug 26, 2025

I would like to attempt to take my 10 year old HP Envy laptop running Windows 11 Pro and try to set it up so it is on my new HP Spectre allinone laptop also running Windows 11 PRO so that when I travel, I can simply take the new HP Spectre with me. I want to be able to synchronize both using my home network and not the Cloud.

I have read that this is a difficult task.

Most of my important folders and files from the old HP Envy are on my Desktop folder. I have 2 solid state hard drives in this old HP.
I am also using Thunderbird for my email program. I have emails going back to before 2012 on Local Folders that I set up. Since around April 2025, my emails are setup using IMAP for my 3 Comcast email addresses as well as Gmails.
I definitely would like to synch these emails so if I ever need them on the new HP Spectre laptop, I have them. Not likely will need them when traveling, but one never knows.
If anyone is familiar with Thunderbird and can offer suggestions as to how to properly setup the sync using either syncing software suggested above, please do.
Maybe, I am asking for too much or setting myself up for a major disappointment or frustration. So I am asking for help in advance of even trying this!!
I need to get this accomplished before next week when I will be traveling. The new HP Spectre is a good 4 pounds lighter than my 17 inch HP Envy laptop.

Thank you for any assistance you might be able to offer on this task!!

From AI these are 2 suggested free synchronization software programs:

There is no simple, one-click way to create a real-time, complete mirror of one Windows 11 computer to another over a local network. Windows and third-party tools are generally designed to sync only specific files and folders, not the entire operating system, applications, and settings.
For a complete system copy, you would first need to create a system image and clone it to the second machine. Then, to keep them in sync, you would use file-level synchronization software. This is a complex, two-part process that does not run automatically in real-time.
Step 1: Initial system clone
Since there is no built-in tool for cloning a drive to a different computer, you will need a third-party application. This process can be risky, as the clone may fail to boot on the new hardware due to incompatible drivers.
Create a system image (advanced)
This method transfers a full copy of your operating system, programs, and files.

Use cloning software. Applications like EaseUS Todo Backup or AOMEI Partition Assistant can create a full image of your source laptop's hard drive.
Restore the image. You would then restore this image onto the second computer.
Address driver conflicts. If the two computers have different hardware (which is very likely), you will need to troubleshoot and install the correct drivers to get the destination computer to boot properly.

Step 2: Continuous file and folder synchronization
After the initial system copy, you must use file synchronization software to keep the files and folders on the two computers consistent. This method cannot keep the entire system, including your settings and installed applications, in real-time sync.
Option 1: Use Syncthing (easiest non-cloud sync)
Syncthing is a free, open-source tool that synchronizes folders in real-time over a local network, without storing your data in the cloud.

Best for: Keeping selected folders (like Documents, Photos, and Desktop) in sync across your two computers.
How it works:
1. Install Syncthing on both your laptop and the other computer.
2. Add a folder to sync on your laptop, and then add the second computer's device ID.
3. Accept the sync on the second computer. Any changes in the designated folders will now be replicated on both devices.

Option 2: Use FreeFileSync (simple manual sync)
FreeFileSync is a free, open-source application that compares and synchronizes folders. It is reliable for keeping specific folders in sync but requires you to run the sync manually or set up a scheduled batch job.

Best for: One-way or two-way syncing specific, non-system folders when you choose.
How it works:
1. Install FreeFileSync on both computers.
2. Use the application to compare a source folder (e.g., Documents on your laptop) with a destination folder (e.g., Documents on your other computer).
3. Run the synchronization process to copy the new or changed files.

neemobeer · Aug 26, 2025

It's not 100% on what you want to sync, it seems like email and data files?

Email: As long as you're using IMAP on all devices there are no extra steps. With IMAP your data lives on the email service providers servers
Data files: That's doable provided you are fairly technical, if you're not then using a service such as Onedrive or GoogleDrive, NextCloud etc take much of the technical expertise out.

Bree · Aug 26, 2025

FredricJLowe said:
I would like to attempt to take my 10 year old HP Envy laptop running Windows 11 Pro and try to set it up so it is on my new HP Spectre allinone laptop also running Windows 11 PRO so that when I travel, I can simply take the new HP Spectre with me. I want to be able to synchronize both using my home network and not the Cloud.

Welcome to Eleven Forum.

neemobeer said:
Data files: That's doable provided you are fairly technical, if you're not then using a service such as Onedrive or GoogleDrive, NextCloud etc take much of the technical expertise out.

One way would be to set up Offline Files, a feature available in Windows 10/11 Pro.

Transferring all files from desktop computer to new laptop Windows 11 - post #22

How do I bring back the Briefcase feature on Windows 10? - Windows 10 Help Forums - post #5

FredricJLowe · Aug 26, 2025

Originally I was thinking of making a carbon copy of my old HP Envy laptop.
When I wrote on Acronis forum, one expert said that there are a lot of files you do not need to copy to the new HP Spectre laptop.

A lot of my files and folders are on my desktop.

I ran into an issue when I was on the phone with Comcast. I ended up "losing" all of my emails when he had me change from POP to INAP. It took me about 10 days working with a Thunderbird forum to resurrect them by finding the profiles that had all of the emails I thought were gone. They are all now on Local Folders. The current ones are INAP so they should automatically populate once the folders for Thunderbird are created or would that be by locating the email addresses wherever they are stored. That's the part I am not sure about or how to get the Local folders with their profiles containing all 20,000 plus emails. I really have not needed to get to them, but one never knows!! That's why I would like to get the Thundebird emails onto the new HP Spectre and synchronize.

Most of what is on my HP Envy laptop on my Desktop are files and folders.

But there are many folders on the C drive and F drives too.

I thought I would just select the entire C and F drives.

I just am not sure if what I would like to do is feasible or just an exercise into frustration and disappointment.
It would be nice to be able to travel with the lighter HP Spectre laptop.

TraderGary · Aug 26, 2025

I've used OneDrive for the past 18 years. All my data and photos are always in real-time sync between all my computers. I can move transparently from one computer to the other and keep right on working.

Dru2 · Aug 26, 2025

If you aren't afraid of the cloud there's that solution. That while I don't mirror my PCs, I do share data between them by....

Use of OneDrive in keeping data sync'd between PCs
Use of Outlook where my email accounts are tied to and sync'd using IMAP.
Run a cloud based NAS for backups and access to media, files and folders when the need arises.

Lots of options if you aren't the "fear the cloud" person. And here data stays sync'd.

But that's me.

Ghot · Aug 26, 2025

TraderGary said:
I've used OneDrive for the past 18 years. All my data and photos are always in real-time sync between all my computers. I can move transparently from one computer to the other and keep right on working.

So can Microsoft.

abactuon · Aug 27, 2025

Syncthing

syncthing.net

gunrunnerjohn · Aug 27, 2025

I've been using Beyond Compare for years. It allows me to sync folders or whole volumes between computers, to my NAS, or even over FTP to remote computers.

PhilB · Sep 24, 2025

gunrunnerjohn said:
I've been using Beyond Compare for years. It allows me to sync folders or whole volumes between computers, to my NAS, or even over FTP to remote computers.

Goodsync is automatic, once you set up a synchronization "job" for a given drive or folder. Just click to analyze and then sync.

gunrunnerjohn · Sep 24, 2025

x509 said:
Goodsync is automatic, once you set up a synchronization "job" for a given drive or folder. Just click to analyze and then sync.

My problem with Goodsync is it's a subscription license, you have to keep paying for it every year. Beyond Compare you can use forever for a one-time payment. The free version of Goodsync is useless, it maxes out at 100 files.

PhilB · Sep 24, 2025

gunrunnerjohn said:
My problem with Goodsync is it's a subscription license, you have to keep paying for it every year. Beyond Compare you can use forever for a one-time payment.

True, but at $30/year it's not that much, scenically for a guy like me who uses it almost on daily basis

Also, unlike Beyond Compare, it's fully automatic. I also own Beyond Compare, but compared with Goodsync, it's timeconsuming to use for non-trivial synch.

gunrunnerjohn · Sep 25, 2025

x509 said:
True, but at $30/year it's not that much, scenically for a guy like me who uses it almost on daily basis

Also, unlike Beyond Compare, it's fully automatic. I also own Beyond Compare, but compare with Goodsync, it's timeconsuming to use for non-trivial synch.

It's easy to automate a Beyond Compare job, I have a bunch of them scheduled using Task Scheduler.

PhilB · Sep 25, 2025

gunrunnerjohn said:
It's easy to automate a Beyond Compare job, I have a bunch of them scheduled using Task Scheduler.

Nice. Can you post an example. Maybe a screenshot.

gunrunnerjohn · Sep 25, 2025

x509 said:
Nice. Can you post an example. Maybe a screenshot.

Sure...

I have a ton of scripts that are run at various intervals, this is just one example. This task runs every day.

I create a Beyond Compare script file for the task in question, in this case this one is my daily backup of my data drive. The Beyond Compare Session is called Backup D on Main. That task defines the parameters to copy my entire D: drive to a separate physical drive in my computer. I'm going to presume you know how to create a backup session in Beyond Compare since you own it.

The contents of the text script file are below. The script turns on logging, accepts all the defaults, adds any exceptions we would like to use, and does the sync operation to copy the data. The logs allow me to check the status of the latest copy, and also if the task aborts or

Code:

# Turn logging on
  log verbose "D:\BC_Logs\(Backup D on Main).Log"
# say yes to everything
option confirm:yes-to-all
# start with our defaults
  load "Backup D on Main"
# expand everything we want, collapse stuff we don't
  expand all
# Copy left newer, different, and orphans
  sync create-empty mirror:left->right

In the scheduled task, I set up when I want the task to run, etc. just like any other scheduled task. For the program to run I point to the Beyond Compare .EXE file, for the arguments I point to the script file shown above.

Here's the contents of the "Action" tab in Task Scheduler.

Code:

  <Actions Context="Author">
    <Exec>
      <Command>"C:\Program Files\Beyond Compare 4\BCompare.exe"</Command>
      <Arguments>"@D:\BC_Sync\Backup D on Main.txt"</Arguments>
    </Exec>
  </Actions>

PhilB · Sep 25, 2025

@gunrunnerjohn Thanks for these scripts. I hadn't known that I could script BeyondCompare. There are some situations where BeyondCompare is the only solution to an issue.

gunrunnerjohn · Sep 25, 2025

x509 said:
@gunrunnerjohn Thanks for these scripts. I hadn't known that I could script BeyondCompare. There are some situations where BeyondCompare is the only solution to an issue.

They do have some documentation on their site about scripting. It's been years since I did the scripts, occasionally I copy one to make a new job, but I haven't looked for the documentation for a long time. Obviously it's there somewhere, I'm not smart enough to invent this on my own.

Best way to synchronize one computer with another

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