Allway Sync is a free file synchronizer. If you need to maintain files on a USB Flash Drive, or a removable hard drive, or between two computers, here's a really smart way to do the job.

Allway Sync is free for not-for-profit usage.
Visit the web site at allwaysync.com to download the installation file. It's 6MB in size.

What does Allway Sync do?

Allway Sync checks the files in selected folders on two computers (or two drives on one computer). It identifies the most recent version of each file and replaces any old or missing files with the latest version.
If two matching documents are of equal age they will be left unchanged.

How to Install Allway Sync

1. Using a File Downloaded from the Internet
1. Download the file into your My Documents folder or into a Downloads folder within My Documents.
2. From the desktop select My Documents. Locate the Allway Sync installation file, allwaysync-10.5.6, and double-click on it. (Note: Numerals vary with version of program.)
3. Follow on-screen directions, accepting the settings suggested.
   
   
2. From a CD or USB Flash Drive
1. Place the CD or USB drive into your computer.
2. If the Windows File Manager opens, locate and double-click on the file allwaysync-10.5.6. (Note: Numerals vary with version of program.)
   If the file manager does not open, click on My Computer and locate the file on either the CD or the USB drive. Then double-click on the installation file. Follow on-screen directions, accepting the settings suggested.

How to use Allway Sync

These instructions tell how to synchronize files between folders on a computer hard drive and on a USB Flash Drive. You may modify them to suit synchronizing with a floppy disk or a removable hard drive.

1. Insert the Flash Drive into a USB port and cancel the window that offers to open the Flash Drive.
2. Open Allway Sync from the desktop icon or from the Start menu.
3. On the left section of the window, click Browse and select the folder(s) in My Documents to be synchronized.
4. On the right side of the window, click Browse and select the matching folder(s) on the USB Flash Drive.
5. In the centre, click on the Direction arrow.
   The Synchronization selector opens.
   
   Here are the options:

Click the button on the left to make the left-hand folder the master copy. Allway Sync will update the folder or disk selected on the right to match.

Click the button on the middle right to make the right-hand folder the master copy. Allway Sync will update the selection on the left to match. When you click the button on the bottom right, neither side is the master copy. Both sides will be altered to contain the latest version of any file on either side.

6. Click on the Analyze button (bottom-left of the main window).
   The status of each drive will be analyse and a report of proposed file movements will be displayed in several categories.
   
   Click on the plus symbol in front of each category to see file details. Click on the minus symbol to close the detailed view.

Scroll up and down within each section by using the scroll buttons at the top-right of each panel, or the ones at the left side of each panel.

          Between each matching pair of files is a symbol indicating changes proposed.
          Here are the change indicator symbols that you will see:

New or updated file will be copied to destination in this direction. File does not exist on source folder. Delete it from destination folder. Files on both sides are identical. No action required.

7. To amend any specific action, rest the mouse pointer over the change indicator and choose another button on selector dialog.
8. When all choices have been confirmed, click on the Synchronize button. The changes will be made, with progress being displayed on the status bar at the bottom of the Allway Sync window.
9. On completion close Allway Sync.
10. When synchronization has been completed, the program stores information about synchronized files in a special \_sync.app folder (one for each synchronized folder). This information will be used for monitoring of changes in files during the next synchronization. It also allows you to handle deleted files correctly. If you delete this new file, Allway Sync will still analyse files correctly, but not so quickly.

This is just a brief overview of a simple update / synchronize process. The program can do many more complex tasks with files. Select the Help menu for information about the other functions and options.

How to Update Allway Sync

1. Open Allway Sync and select Help » New Version Check periodically to see whether an updated version is available.
2. If an update is offered, save the update to the Downloads folder (Windows 7 and Vista) or with Windows XP make a Downloads folder within My Documents and save the file there.
3. Close Allway Sync.
4. Double-click on the downloaded file to overwrite and update your version of Allway Sync.

How to Uninstall Allway Sync

If you want to remove Allway Sync from your computer,
click on Start » Control Panel » Uninstall a Program. Wait while the list of installed profgrams is generated. Locate and click on Allway Sync. On the toolbar click the button to remove the program.