Hello,

I can't believe how difficult it is to locate an essential feature of windows xp and 7 in Windows 8.1! My shiny new 8.1 machine has mapped a folder on a NAS device to its P: drive. This folder is used by a couple of other machines in my small network (both W7) and they have made the folder "available offline" as they need to be able to access the files when away from home. This works fine and files are synchronised on return to the office. 

I cannot find any way to "make the folder available offline" with my 8.1 machine. Sync Centre (in the control panel) wont allow me to create any "partnerships". The nearest I can get to this functionality is SkyDrive but that's not what I need.

This has GOT to be a common requirement, surely? Am I missing something?

Many thanks

Stuart

Hi Stuart,

If you want to a network file or folder to be available offline on the Windows 8.1, please click "Easy access",and click "Always available offline".

Hope this helps.

Re

Kelvin,

Thanks for that BUT The sync center items do not appear in my Easy Access menu. I can get to sync center via control panel but When I select "Set up new sync partnerships" I get no response, in fact it says There are no new sync partnerships that can be set up on this computer. Clicking on "Manage offline files" does nothing.

Its as if Sync Center is partially disabled?

Your help is appreciated

Stuart



Hi Stuart,

Did you select the file (any file) in an folder? You should select the folder that you would like to be available offline and then it works! Try it again :)

Gerrit,

Thanks for that, yes I did select the folder I want, still no luck. I have a HORRID feeling that my version of 8.1 does not support offline files. I think I need something called Pro Pack to enable this!

If that is the case then I am a bit annoyed/frustrated that something that is so common and is available to my xp and w7 machines is not available in 8.1 (except at a cost!)

Is there anyway I can confirm this and what else will I get for my 99 (yes a $1-1 exchange rate still applies. Then again, is it also 99 Euros?)

Thanks everyone

Stuart

Hi Stuart,

Which version of Windows 8.1 are you running? Is it the base version of Windows 8.1 or the Enterprise version? Concurrently, which version of Windows XP and Windows 7 are you running? If I am correct in the my thinking, I would guess that you are currently running the professional version of Windows XP and Windows 7. To the best of my knowledge, Sync Center does require Windows Client to be at the Professional level edition or higher. According to this Sync Center FAQ from Microsoft the ability to sync with network folders will not work with Home Premium editions which is equivalent to the standard version of Windows 8.1 I can confirm that Sync Center and offline files does indeed work in Windows 8.1 Professional as I am using Windows 8.1 myself and just performed a local test. 

If you were to upgrade to Windows 8.1 Pro by purchasing the Windows 8.1 Pro Pack you will gain quite a few features such as the ability to join a domain. Check out this page from Microsoft to compare the features each edition of Windows 8.1 offers

I hope this helps!