Using an external hard drive from 2 locations

[paulespana]

Hi, This is my first post so thanks in anticipation. This was the closest forum I could think of for this question, but it's a fairly general query.

My question is this;

I work in Real Estate and also build and maintain the company’s website. I work with many client files and thousands of photos etc.

I do most of my work from my desktop PC, that is in an office a 30 minute drive away. I also work of a night and weekends from home, and continually bring my computer back and forth between office and home. This is a pain, because of the connecting and disconnecting, and ultimately something is going to break or get damaged.

To solve this, I have just bought an external hard drive (WD essential 1T, usb 3.0), and I want to use this instead. I have a desk top PC at both locations, but only the office PC has all my data and programs on. Am I correct in thinking that if I do a full back up onto my new hard drive, I will be able to plug this in at home, and work as though I was in my office. Both operating systems are the same (Windows 7), and the hard drive automatically and continually backs up. All advice would be much appreciated. Best wishes. Paul.

PS. I tried working remotely over the net, (teamviewer), but it was too slow and photo resolution was poor quality, and difficult to work with.

[Synapse]

Do you mean you want to boot from it using 2 different PC's?

 

Thats the only interpretation I can think of.

 

If so, no you can't.

 

If I have it wrong, can you explain a little more please.

[paulespana]

Hi Thanks for your reply. I just need the best possible way to work with my business files and website from 2 different locations. Would I need to boot from the External hard drive to be able to access the program at these locations? I know that there are other issues to take into consideration, but I'm struggling to understand the logistics of doing this. Paul.

[Synapse]

I'm still a bit stuck, so lets try and make some sense of what you are asking.

 

If you install programs to your external drive, and then pull the drive and hook it up to another machine, the programs won't work. Thats because the installer will still add entries to the first machine system folder/user folder/registry that are need to run the program.

 

If you run a full bootable backup from machine no 1 and then attempt to boot it to machine no 2 it won't work because machine 2 will have different hardware. Windows activation will throw a wobbler if it gets that far, if not, you'll get a BSOD error.

 

I get your problem with remote access, I've tried with Teamviewer and Logmein, they are both great for maintenance but for high res, full screen work a no go.

 

So, the option I would go for is to install all the programs on both PC's and run a backup of data to external drive to move from one workstation to another. You could also share the data from the main PC and pick it up from home, but it would still need the programs installing on both PC's.

 

In the back of my mind I have recollection of a piece of software that allows software installation fully onto an external drive, like a self contained installation.

 

Here's one

 

MojoPac

 

Perhaps another way is to install Windows direct to your external drive, and then install your software there too.

 

Lots to think about :-)

[BeeCeeBee]

If I am getting your issue correctly, all you want to do is to be able to work continuously on the same projects whether you are at home or at your office. If that is correct and you are a beginner lets just find a simple protocol you can follow.

 

It is probably not necessary to use an external hard drive to do what you want to accomplish. Unless you are creating huge files on a daily basis a simple flash drive will probably suffice.

 

The first thing to do is make certain that whatever programs you are using for work are installed on both computers. That way any data that you create at one location will be usable at the other. You do not need the programs on the flash drive or external.

 

Next organize your work so that it is all in one main folder. (how you do this is up to you and your "filing system." )

 

Now copy that entire folder onto the external drive and copy it to the other computer. Now you have 2 identical main folders on each computer.

 

Now you have 2 different ways to go. If you can keep track of what files you are either creating or changing simply copy them to the flash drive or external. Do not rename them.

 

When you go to the other location simply copy the changed or new files to the other main folder you created.

 

You will get a message that there is already a file by that name (unless it is new) and it will ask you if you want to overwrite it? Simply say "yes" or "yes to all" if there is more than one file. (Any new files created that day will simply copy without any notice.) If you have made no changes in other files in the folder overwriting will have no effect nor cause any files to be altered.

 

If you cant remember what you worked on recopy the entire folder to the drive. (Now unless you deleted the main folder from the flash drive you once again want to say "yes" to any overwrites.) This could take some time so it is far better to keep track of what you worked on.)

 

Eventually you will develop your own system for keeping track of new work performed so that you do not have to "carry around" your entire main folder just to keep the two in sync.

 

Finally there used to be a Windows program called "My Briefcase" or something like that which I believe allows you to do what I described above and sync your computers. I am sure this kind of programs exist. I just am unaware of them. However if you do not want to learn a new program, what I described above will work for you.

[Synapse]

but only the office PC has all my data and programs on

 

I think this part of the original problem description clinches it. Most software is licensed for one PC or installation, and is probably too expensive to replicate on another PC. Also, the use of remote access to use those programs reinforces that view for me.

 

Sure, if he has software on both PC's, 'jobs a good un', and perhaps the only caveat I would have is to keep each set of changes, say per day or per week on a new folder, just incase it all goes wrong, and the prior day/weeks work is needed to fall back on.

 

I suppose the bottom line is to install all the required software on both PC's but cost may be prohibitive.

[paulespana]

Thank you both very much for your very detailed replies. The issues/problems Synapse has brought up, have been in my mind but are now confirmed. I need to think about this carefully, and will let you know which way I go, as hopefully it will be of help to someone else in the future. Best Wishes. Paul.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Paul,

for the programs themselves have you looked into the EULA (License agreement) for each program you need to use? You may get lucky and find at least some will allow installing on two different computers. If you have the softwarwe disks available at work it will just be a case of borrowing the disk to tale home to install on your home machine. If working for yourself and not an employee, that will be all you need to do if the license gives you the right to install twice.

If you work for an employer you should ask permission to do this, otherwise you may be considered as stealing company property.

Nev.