GENERAL FAQs:
Q: What type of data can I sync?
A: You can sync photos, videos, music, documents, and bookmarks.
Q: What types of documents can I sync?
A: You can sync any Microsoft Office Documents – including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc, as well as Corel documents (Corel Home Office).
Q: Can I sync my Internet Explorer Favorites and Firefox bookmarks?
A: Yes you can. Syncables Desktop will automatically convert your Internet Explorer bookmarks into the Firefox format (and vice versa) during syncing.
Q: My web links within the application do not launch?
A: Make sure that you have Internet Explorer enabled.
Q: What ways can I sync my data across my computers?
A: You can sync your data to your computers via a wired or Wi-Fi local network or USB portable storage device (flash key drive, portable hard disk drive, etc).
Q: Do I need Syncables Desktop installed on each computer that I want to sync to?
A: Yes. In order to sync all your computers, you must have Syncables Desktop installed on each computer you want to sync to up to 2 computers.
Q: Which Windows Operating Systems does Syncables Desktop with?
A: Syncables Desktop works with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Ubuntu.
Q: Is Syncables Desktop available in multiple languages?
A: Yes. The application is currently available in 23 languages.
Q: I am not seeing the information I expected after syncing. Any ideas?
A: If your information does not appear to be updating correctly across your computers and devices, check the following:
- If you are using a portable storage device, make sure you’ve paired it to sync with only one computer. If you try to sync it with more than one computer, your information may not sync correctly.
- Make sure all your computers and devices are properly connected to one of your computers or within wireless network range. If a computer or device was not present during sync, it won’t be updated until the next time it’s present.
- If you’re seeing duplicate or wrong information after you’ve removed a portable device from one computer and then sync it another computer (using Syncables Desktop), you may need to reformat your device.
- If you don’t see the information you expect to see after syncing, it may be because you tried to cancel a sync process before it was finished. You will only be able to see the information that has been synced before the Cancel button was clicked, and rest of the information will not be available until the next time you sync.
- If you’ve changed any of your sync settings, try syncing again.
Q: I am encountering errors when I try to sync. Any ideas?
A: If you see a message that your sync failed, or if nothing happens when you try to sync, check the following:
- Make sure your computer or device is turned on, properly connected (check USB, wired, or wireless network connections), and set up to work with Syncables Desktop (it will appear in the computers or devices pane on the right section of the application interface). If you computer is on a wireless network, make sure that it is within range of your wireless router. If you are using a USB device, unplug the device from your computer, and then plug it in again and make sure it is properly connected.
- If you cannot sync at all or are seeing frequent error messages, you may want to reset your Syncables Desktop sync preferences (by going through the Syncables Desktop computer setup again). Resetting your sync preferences deletes the information in the Syncables Desktop synchronization database on your computer (the place where all your sync changes are stored), and returns your computer and device sync settings to their original states.
- If you have changed your setup or any settings, try syncing again.
Q: My Firewall Software is preventing me from running Syncables Desktop. How do I avoid this?
A: Some firewall (and Antivirus) software may block Syncables Desktop from running and display a window for your attention. This is because the software (Syncables Desktop) constantly monitors your computer for changes to your sync library. If your Firewall software displays such warning messages, simply select the “Allow” option to add Syncables Desktop to your list of safe applications. Once you do this, the Firewall software on your computer will no longer flag Syncables Desktop. If you are in an office network that has an enterprise version of firewall software, please contact your network administrator for help.
Q: How come I am unable to use keyboard shortcuts to navigate through the Syncables Desktop software?
A: Keyboard shortcuts will be supported in an upcoming software update.
Q: I have 2 computers (Computer A and Computer B) that I want to keep in sync. I click the sync button on Computer A to start syncing to Computer B. Then I go to Computer B and Click the Sync button again (to sync to Computer A). Nothing gets synced. Why is this?
A: You do not need to click the sync button on both computers in order to keep them synced (you only need to click the sync button on one of the computers).
By design, when you initiate a sync from one computer (Computer A) to another (Computer B), the information is a utomatically synced bi-directionally between both computers (unless you specify that you want to perform a 1-way sync). This means that you only need to click the sync button on one of the computers to keep both of them updated and in sync.
If you click the sync button on both computers (one after the other), the action will cancel the sync process and nothing will get synced.
Q: Why can’t I de-authorize PCs from my other PC?
A: To de-authorize any PC on which you have installed Syncables Desktop, all the computers on which you have installed the software (including the computer that came pre-installed with Syncables Desktop) must be available on the same local network.
This is required so that the other computers are notified about the de-authorization request, and they can no longer sync with the de-authorized computer.
INSTALLATION + SETUP FAQs:
Q: When I run through the Syncables Desktop Quick Start Wizard again (after already going through the wizard once), all passwords and authorizations that I created are erased. Why is this?
A: Each time you go through the QuickStart Wizard, it is assumed that you are starting the computer setup from the very beginning and all previously created settings are erased.
Q: Some of the folders that I have chosen to monitor in my sync library contain shortcut links to other folders. However, when I go to my computer library within Syncables Desktop, these folder shortcuts are not displayed. Why is this?
A: Information related to shortcut folders and files will not be displayed in the application for security purposes. Syncables Desktop will only monitor and display content in folders that have direct paths.
Q: Do I have control over the type of data I want to share with other computers on my local network?
A: Yes. You can choose which data (photos, music, etc) you want to share on your Syncables Desktop network. To do this, go to the application preferences menu, click on the “Sharing” tab, and choose the specific data type (e.g. photos) that you want to share.
Q: I have a computer running an English version of Syncables Desktop, and I am unable to install the additional license that came with this PC on another computer running a different OS language. Why is this?
A: By design, the additional Syncables Desktop license that comes with your computer can only be installed on another computer running the same OS language.
Q: I have a Windows PC running an English version of Syncables Desktop, and I am unable to sync the email items on this PC to another PC running a non-English version of Syncables Desktop. Why is this?
A: By design, Syncables Desktop does not support the ability to sync mail between PCs running different language versions of the software.
Q: Why is it that I lose my settings after I run an installation repair of Syncables Desktop?
A: Anytime you run an “Install Repair” of Syncables Desktop, it will reset the software to its original settings. This means that any software configurations you previously set up will be lost, and you will have to go through the Quick Start Wizard to set up your computer again.
Q: When I copy the additional Syncables Desktop license to my USB device and then insert the device to a computer running Windows 7 to install the software, nothing happens. Why is this?
A: One of the new security features added to the Windows 7 Operating system prevents applications from automatically running when you insert a portable USB device (that is not a CD or DVD) into the computer. In this scenario, you will have to manually explore the contents of the plugged in device and click on the Syncables Desktop executable in order to start the install on the Windows 7 PC.
Q: How come other shared computers running Syncables Desktop are not displayed in the home menu under MY CONNECTED DEVICES?
A: Only computers that have been paired to your local PC for automatic syncing (either via the Syncables Desktop Quick Start Wizard or via the Computers tab in the Syncables Desktop Preferences menu) will be displayed in the MY CONNECTED DEVICES section.
Q: Why doesn’t Syncables Desktop recognize my other computer after I changed my computer name?
A: It is strongly recommended that you do not change the name of your computer after it has already been setup.
Whenever you setup your shared computers, Syncables Desktop references the computer name and stores it permanently in the application’s database. This is the information that is used to detect and display computers in the “Shared Computers” tab.
CONNECTION + SHARING FAQs:
Q: I have computers connected to different networks in my home/office. Will I be able to share and sync data between those computers?
A: No. You will only be able to sync and share data with computers running Syncables Desktop on the same local network.
Q: Will I be able to share and access my data on computers located on my local network?
A: Yes. With Syncables Desktop, you can access, share and even play back /stream your photos, music and videos located on other computers on your local network
Q: If I am on a local network that is accessible by others, are there any security features that I can use to protect the information on my computer?
A: Yes. Syncables Desktop provides an option to add password protection to your computers. This means that anytime a computer running Syncables Desktop attempts to access information on your computer, it will be required to enter the correct password in order to connect to your computer.
Q: I am on my local network but unable to see any of my shared computers running Syncables Desktop. Any ideas?
A: If you don’t see anything under Computers, check the following:
- Make sure “Share data on this computer on my local network” is selected in the sharing pane of Syncables Desktop preferences.
- Make sure you enter the correct password if the shared library you want to access requires a password.
- If you still don’t see any shared libraries, there may not be any computers on your local network with sharing turned on.
- As a last resort, you may have to restart your computers and re-launch the Syncables Desktop application.
MEDIA SYNCING + STREAMING FAQs:
Q: Can I sync music and videos that I purchased from the iTunes Music Store or from Windows Media Player?
A: Yes you can. However, if the iTunes or Windows Media Player content contains copy protection (i.e. DRM), Syncables Desktop will not transfer the content rights to the other computer. This means that you may not be able to stream or play back the synced content on the other computer.
Q: Why is it that I can stream my video library from another computer using Syncables Desktop but not music?
A: Some configurations of Syncables Desktop only support the streaming and playback of video files.
Q: I am having problems streaming my videos from another computer using Syncables Desktop. Why is this?
A: Syncables Desktop will only playback video file formats supported by Windows Media Player (for Windows PCs) as well as Flash Videos. Also note that larger videos on congested networks may take a long time to start playing, for better performance sync the video and play it from your local computer.