I have a Windows 7 RTM laptop connected toWindows 2008 servers, I have setup a few shares where by the users can synch up their offline files. However when the user disconnects from the network and goes offline the button "Work Online"/"Work offline" disappears and when the user re-connects to the network the button never comes back and the cache remains in offline mode. Any changes that the user makes to his/her files at this point remain un-synched. According to MS documentation the transition under Windows 7 and Vista should be automatic, however if I click on the "Work offline" button beforeI disconect from the netweok, then when Ire-connect to the network the button will still be visible and the user can then click "Work online". However this is defently not a solution.I am hoping that some of you have seen this issue?Any help is appreciated.Note: The laptops are part of a domain with all policies configured to support Offline Files (with theslow link policy disabled). All servers are Windows 2008 and the cache offline settings (on the server side) set to "Only files and programs that users specify will be available offline"Thanks

Hello, I have constated the same issue on differents computers. I have do some test with GPO, and i have always this problem frequently ... I search a solution if i find it i tell you. Julien.

we have the exact same issue - it only starts syncing again after a reboot! Clint Boessen MCSE, MCITP: Messaging Perth, Western Australia Blog: http://clintboessen.blogspot.com/

After using Offline Files in Windows 7 a bit at home, I am convinced it is a broken implementation. I have the same issue as the above where the Work Online button is missing once offline. It's one thing not to detect that the computer is back on the network again, but another to have this bug and not be able to force the system online. Plus another issue I have come across, if you have more than one drive marked for offline files, it will only keep one in sync at any one time - the others are disconnected at Windows 7 randomly chooses at different points in time which one to make online. It's one of the real differentiators between Macs and PCs - a shame Microsoft couldn't get it right. Anyone work out how to get the Work Online button back or at worst run a command to force it into online mode? P.

Hi,I have solved the problem, and the issue is caused by a problem on ACL.The pre-requised is the user has right to read on the folder that you need to synchronize, and the network drive.And i have resolved All issues descripted above.Julien.

The users have explicit read access to the shares in question in my scenario. Any advice on getting the Work Online button back?

It's important that's the user has right to read on the network share ! Ex : You map Z:\ and Z:\ = \\server\share And the user access to his data to Z:\DATA_OF_TOTO Your user need right to read on \\server\share, not only DATA_OF_TOTO. And this solve my problem.

I have seen similar issues, and as a local administrator to all PC's and all servers, I don't see rights as being an issue.Network and Systems Manager

Just saw this today.

I have the same issue (I am using WHS as my share)... dont see a way to go back online, will try to log on and off again).

Been having this issue for long time now. I have an open case with MS...

Hi! Win 7 Enterprise and Win 2008R2. I got the same issue. I've got no button, and all files are showed from cache. [quote]When Offline Files is operating in the slow-link mode, all network file requests are satisfied from the Offline Files cache. This is similar to a user working offline. However, users can manually initiate synchronization by using Sync Center. After synchronization completes, computers running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 continue to operate in the slow-link mode until the user clicks the Work Online button on the toolbar in Windows Explorer. This transitions the shared folder to the online mode. While in the online mode, Windows periodically checks the connection to the server. If the connection is slow, Offline Files transitions the folder back to the slow-link mode.[/quote] [quote]When a connection is considered slow, Offline Files automatically adjust its behavior to avoid excessive synchronization traffic and will not automatically reconnect to a server when the presence of a server is detected.[/quote]

Not sure if this helps, but if I connect to the office using VPN then the file server will not show all the shares. I.e. it only shows the offline ones, even though I can ping it and the name is resolving. There is no 'Go Online' button.When I open the Sync Centre and go to the Offline Files folder and then click 'Sync All' the 'Go Online' button appears. I can then click the 'Go Online' button and all the Shares reappear and my Offline Folders go back online.

Same problem here, very frustrating (my security is setup correctly as the share normally appears and works correctly, but for some reason, it just sometimes thinks the data is not available).

This appears to solve the issue for me. Can you explain where/how you found this information please?

OK- After extensive testing and seaching the internet and reading hundreds of posts, I've finally figured this one out!! I am going to try to explain with as much info as possible so as to assist others in finally putting it to bed! I will start off with a config example just for reference (plug in your own names): Server = FS1 Share 1 = \\FS1\UserData\Folders$ (for all Redirected User Folders, i.e. Documents, Desktop, Contacts, Searches, etc.) Share 2 = \\FS1\UserData\Profiles$ (for the roaming profiles, separate since the cache on the share needs to be disabled) Two sample users: Jim Smith, Mary Jones Jim's Home Directory: \\FS1\UserData\Folders$\JSmith Mary's Home Directory: \\FS1\UserData\Folders$\MJones Mapped H: to \\FS1\UserData\Folders$\%USERNAME%\My Documents for simplicity sake. Here COMES THE PROBLEM!!! Microsoft says in their step-by-step documentation to set the following permissions on the *SHARE* (in this case, the Folders$ directory): SYSTEM: FULL CONTROL This folder, subfolders and files CREATOR OWNER: FULL CONTROL Subfolders and files only {Users needing access to the Share} In our case, we used Authenticated Users: Assign the following to "This folder only": List Folder/Read Data Create Folders / Append Data While this accomplished my (and I assume many of your) goals, which would be that John can only see \\FS1\UserData\Folders$\JSmith and Mary can only see \\FS1\UserData\Folders$\MJones and neither would see each other's or any of the other usernames under the \Folders$ share, it DOESN'T WORK and results in the issues we've all described and witnessed. The PC goes offline never to return again [automatically] after a reconnect. Well, you can reboot, but that's just not an option. Another problem, at least on Win 7 is that under Sync Center, you get the "There are no details for this sync partnership." message when you double-click on Offline Files. The Solution: Add the following permissions for "Authenticated Users, this folder only" on the *Share*, i.e. \\FS1\UserData\Folders$: Traverse Folder/Execute File Read Attributes Read Extended Attributes Read Permissions So you will have 6 boxes checked. Problem Solved! Caveat #1. Any user can now type \\FS1\UserData\Folders$ in Windows Explorer and see everyone else's user ID (UGH!) Not good for security. Fix #1: Apparently there's an add-on I've heard about for WS2008 and WS2003 that basically hides directory names for folders to which a user has no access. Not covered here, but Google it! That's also why we add the $ to the share - to make it hidden in the first place - ok, so a semi-power user like John can take a look at his share and probably figure out Mary's, but hey, a good security approach is like Shrek, or was it onions? ....layers Caveat #2. After doing the above, if you go to "Manage Offline Files", "View your offline files", you will see every user's name (albeit just the folder name) in the Offline Cache!! (UGGHH #2). Fix #2: See Fix #1, perhaps if Windows can't see the folder, it won't add it to the cache? Haven't tested, but if someone beats me to it, please post. So there you have it. I hope I have been helpful and you are able to plug in your organization's values to resolve the issue.

Yes that's what I said earlier in the post :) Don't propagate security from \\FS1\UserData\Folders$ to all child objects. For resolve this issue, you must have right to read on the folder of the share (\\FS1\UserData\Folder$) not all child objects. Hope that's help.

Ok, for W2K08. Any suggestions for those using Samba as well? Not sure you can set those explicit permissions on Share and not propagate (unless I need to read up on the Samba ACL command line tool). P.

Although this was a nice try, it doesn't work for me. I have full control over the directly, yet I still have the problem of the "Go Online" button disappearing. If anyone has a solutions, please post. Thanks, James

I have been experiencing these problems at work and after days of troubleshooting I just needed to ticka single box to get it working. I wrote about it on my blog Offline Files versus VPN a.k.a. The case of the missing “Work Online” button « Thom's HeadSpace http://bit.ly/ig55YD Thom McKiernan (UK) @thommck | thommck.wordpress.com | MCSA | MCTS

Hi, You can refer to: Offline File Synchronization – In Windows 7 the "Work Offline/Work Online" option button disappears from Windows Explorer after an offline / online transition and the Client Side Cache remains offline until the next restart of the computer http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2512089 BrentPlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

I have a variation of this problem. The OP doesn't indicate whether the problem is intermittent or constant. My experience is that the problem is intermittent. Rather than reboot every time I move my computer between work and home, I suspend and resume. Sometimes, when I come home, resume my computer and start the VPN, I can access my home directory right away. Other times, it takes minutes or hours before I can access it. Other times, it never comes online. I'm not having this problem with other network shares and when I disable offline folders, I don't have any problem accessing my home directory. I would think that if the problem is related to access rights, it would never work.

Im having the same experience as bimmerdriver, with the problem being very intermittant. I have tried setting up sync folder on 5 different file servers and one of our fileservers is always up and down. (files going offline and online) another fileserver seems fairly solid then after some time it will suddenly switch to offline then comeback. I have tried on Citrix and Cisco VPN same issue. If I turn off offline folder then I can stay connected to a network share all day no issues. Anybody have any solutions? Ideas?