Windows 7 Sync Centre / Offline Files Issues
Hello, I have a laptop with Windows 7 Pro OEM. I need to make a network drive available for the user when they are not on the domain. Here is what I've done so far and the issues I am comming across: (The files are on a Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition)I have setup a network drive and right clicked on it an set it to be made available offline. Windows then starts to make the offline copies. While in the process of making the files available offline, errors start to appear saying The Process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process (This error Occurs for each file in the directory 4400+ files) I have tried this multiple times with the user logged off and also checked the file server to ensure that any files are not open. But still the same error occurs. This issue occurs most times when requesting a sync. It has occasionally worked correctly. ie. it made a copy of the files After I have seen a successful sync I unplug the computer from the network and try to view the files. Each file in the directory has a cross on the icon. When opening any of the files I simply get a message saying that it cannot open the file. I have turned off the Offline files and deleted all temp files and tried to setup the Offline files again twice now but still had the same problem. I have found where the offline files are stored: C:\Windows\CSC\.... I have set the user to have full control permissions in this section but neither the Local Admin or User can access these files. I am not sure if this is what is causing it, but I am unable to change permissions on the folders and subfolders.
November 24th, 2009 8:24pm

Just in case I may be getting confused on this issue... Does Windows Sync Center control / manage the offline files?I know that some people have had problems with this in Vista as well and most solutions I have found to the issue is to use 3rd party software.I have Offline files working perfectly on XP machines and vista machines here already. Was there any big changes to how offline files work between XP and Vista/7 ?
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
November 24th, 2009 10:08pm

Is anyone successfully using Offline files in Windows 7?surely I wouldn't be the only person doing this? Has anyone found it just simple and easy?
November 26th, 2009 8:20pm

Hello,we have2 laptop with Windows 7 Pro OEM and we have the same problem and error The Process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.We have tested the same process with 2 others laptop windows XP and there is no problem.An idea to fix this errors ?Excuse me for my bad english but i'm french and so ...
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 2nd, 2009 10:03am

I will be trying out this solution by MS Next week. I have to arrange a suitable time for the server restart.http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/296264/en-usI will try this and then post again if it works.
December 3rd, 2009 9:39pm

I have same problem with windows 7 - and succes with XP. Looking forward to get some help.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 7th, 2009 11:48am

I encountered a similar problem, trying to use a mapped network drive as an 'offline file'. Discussed here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itprogeneral/thread/4451eba6-bfe8-485a-a2cd-27b2723715ea/I believe the problem was that there was a 'recycle bin' on the drive I was making available 'offline'. I had numerous synchronization errorsreported by the 'Sync Center' even when there were no deleted files in the recycler on the host machine.Worked around the problem by putting all folders other than the 'recycle bin' into a folder, and mapping that folder instead of the whole drive. (I have a feeling that the presence of any system files on the drive or in the folder being shared could generate errors during the sync process, like 'System Volume Information', $Recycle.Bin, etc.)I haven't had any problems since I did that.(Over a month) I'm able to put lots of folders and data into that folder, and all are synchronized correctly and they are available offline on the client computer.Both the host and the client are running Windows 7.The host is connected to a router with a powerline network adapter and the client is connected to the router by wireless n.Perhaps you could try this workaround and let me know if you have any luck or questions.
December 11th, 2009 1:58pm

I know for sure that there are no system files in the mapped drive, just Office documents and Pictures. I think i mentioned in one of my above posts that Windows 7 offline files work fine when syncing from an XP machine. it is the Server that has the issue. Unfortunately I still have not done a reboot on the server yet, and may not be able to until the 29 DEC 2009. I will keep your updated on my progress.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 15th, 2009 1:57am

I know for sure that there are no system files in the mapped drive, just Office documents and Pictures. Geoff WB, I have been trying to find a way to remove $RECYCLE.BIN from my drives. And pretty much gave up so far. I have a number of drives on my system and they all have $RECYCLE.BIN . I suspect that your drive does as well, You will need to uncheck 'Hide protected operating system files' in 'Folder Options' in order to see that file. OK, if you do have a drive without $RECYCLE.BIN how did you do that? I would like to do the same.
December 15th, 2009 11:40am

I see what you mean, and yes the $recycle.bin does exist on my Windows 7 machine. However I am mapping a shared folder from a Server 2003 and that folder does not contain that system file, Firstly because it is not Windows 7 and Secondly Server 2003 has a different system folder simply called "RECYCLER" in the Root C:\ which is NOT being mapped or shared. Your issue is different to the issues already addressed in this Thread. I believe that my problem is at the Server End rejecting the Windows 7 machine to Sync, this should be able to be fixed by changing entries in the registry as i have already pointed out and with this Link: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/296264/en-us I see that this $RECYCLE.BIN file is only in the Root folder of my Windows 7 install. Why not try Sharing and mapping a separate folder instead of the whole drive?
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 15th, 2009 7:38pm

I see that this $RECYCLE.BIN file is only in the Root folder of my Windows 7 install. Why not try Sharing and mapping a separate folder instead of the whole drive? Yes, that's what I found as a workaround last month. I detailed it in the thread I linked previously. And I've been very happy with the results. No errors when the data I want is in a folder.You said: "I have turned off the Offline files and deleted all temp files and tried to setup the Offline files again twice now but still had the same problem." Question: Did you format your Offline Cache before trying to setup the Offline files again? I describe how to do that if you're interested check that thread. Just turning off the Offline files and deleting temp files won't clear out the old CSC I think.
December 15th, 2009 7:54pm

Great News Everyone! I did the registry change and it WORKS! Just to outline MS's KB and what I had to do, follow these steps: On the 2003 server I had to ADD this reg entry and set it to 0: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MRXSmb\Parameters\ OplocksDisabled REG_DWORD 0 or 1 Default: 0 (not disabled) And then Changed this entry to 1: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters EnableOplocks REG_DWORD 0 or 1 Default: 1 (enabled) You will NEED to restart the server and once that is done it should just work on the Windows 7 Machines, you may need to restart the W7 machines too. Hopefully this works for anyone else having the same issue. Post your replies if this worked or not!
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 20th, 2009 9:05pm

Hi GeoffWB,Please let me know with the reg entries above resolved the offline folders in windows 7. We use Netapp filer to host our homefolders; you think we need to look this issue from a Netapp point of view...Its been a month i couldnt find a solution to this.....Regards,Jagjit Singh
December 21st, 2009 5:13am

Yes, these reg changes have resolved the offline files issue for Windows 7. I believe from what i have found online that this fix was originally for Vista's offline files. I have not tried anything on vista yet, but I'm pretty confident it will work fine. I am not familiar with Netapp or any 3rd party syncing software, sorry.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 21st, 2009 7:55pm

The fix above did not work for me. Anyone else? Cheers, Tom
March 15th, 2010 2:43pm

This worked great thanks!
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
May 13th, 2010 12:43pm

i have a quick questions are both registry changes made on the windows 2003 file server or only the first on one (OplocksDisabled) the file server and the 2nd registry (EnableOplocks) change on the windows 7 client? i am having similar issues but only one some of my windows 7 clients (i have 40 clients and know of 3 windows 7 clients that have this issue but not the other 37) Many thanks for your help
May 18th, 2010 6:47am

I have had serious issues using offline files with spreadsheets that are about 5Mb in size. Keep getting save error, then system hangs and reboot is required, but also have a hung process that prevents shutting down and requires manual power shutdown. I disabled offline files, and have not had the problem since. The sync center is not quite ready for prime time. Microsoft - please fix!
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
October 22nd, 2010 1:33pm

I had the same sync errors "The Process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process". I couldn't get in to the folder C:\Windows\CSC\.... (which i think is quite strange) but I was able to uncheck the blue filled 'readonly' box under properties. After that I had no sync errors. Now lets hope it's stays that way
January 16th, 2011 4:22am

I have added the registry entries on both server (2003) and client (7 pro), rebooted and still have sync errors. I have looked at CSC folder and its configured correctly. How has this problem been out there for 18 months and there is no good fix anywhere out there?
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
March 7th, 2011 4:20pm

I have Win7 Ultimate on a laptop connected to a network with a Linux server running Samba. I used to run WinXP before getting the laptop upgrade and had found syncing offline files to be a great way of getting access to my network files on the laptop. However, on the Win7 box I was having the same problems as everyone else and when I tried to sync files on the server so that I could access them offline, I got the 'being used by another process' error on all files in the folders I wanted to sync. My registry didn't have the keys mentioned above so I was not sure whether I should create them. I didn't want to go down the route of looking for alternative ways to sync the files, even though I use microsoft's SyncToy on my laptop for other purposes. Anyway I decided simply add the new keys to the registry. First I simply added EnableOplocks as a REG_DWORD under LanmanServer and also LanmanWorkstation (for luck), after rebooting this didn't solve the problem. HLM\System\CurrentControlSet\services\LanmanServer\Parameters\EnableOplocks REG_DWORD 1 HLM\System\CurrentControlSet\services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters\EnableOplocks REG_DWORD 1 So second, I added Parameters as a key to mrxsmb and then OplocksDisabled as a REG_DWORD. HLM\System\CurrentControlSet\services\mrxsmb\Parameters\OplocksDisabled REG_DWORD 0 After rebooting again, lo and behold the disk drive went into high activity mode and the files became synced for offline use. Of course I dont know whether either of the first two actions were needed, but the last one definitely is. BTW my laptop runs GoogleDesktop on the networked files and also Bonjour. I had previously tried disabling both of these two services but that did not have any impact on the problem, and they were automatically re-enabled during my reboots.
March 14th, 2011 3:30am

@VaughnR Are you sure this is all you did to get this to work? I added: HLM\System\CurrentControlSet\services\LanmanServer\Parameters\EnableOplocks REG_DWORD 1 HLM\System\CurrentControlSet\services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters\EnableOplocks REG_DWORD 1 HLM\System\CurrentControlSet\services\mrxsmb\Parameters\OplocksDisabled REG_DWORD 0 Rebooted the system, and it still won't sync any files. I am running Windows 7 Pro, and trying to use offline files with a ReadyNAS server. I'm almost ready to downgrade to XP Pro. Windows 7 is the pits. XP Pro has no trouble syncing files with the same server. Thanks.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
March 16th, 2011 7:57pm

@Goreo95033 Did you find a solution? I'm exactly the same setup as you and very frustrated. Mine syncs a few directories, but stops with "Status: Sync requested". Thanks!
July 10th, 2011 7:04pm

I've had the same problems. Having applied all the registry changes mentioned here I turned my attention to my storage device, it's a D-Link Sharecentre 320. In the application management settings for both AFP & NFS service there is a little (marked in brackets) sentence that says enabling either of these disables OpLocks. I've turned both off, restarted the device and suddenly everything works. Not sure If I even needed the registry entries but it's working so i'm happy :)
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
November 19th, 2011 5:41am

I could not find the delete when I right clicked on the partnership and the Stop option was greyed out. I FIXED IT by going to View Sync Partnerships and delete the partnership. At this point I have no partnerships listed under any of the menu options. Then I had to select Manage Offline Files and Disable Offline Files. Finally when I rebooted and I was able to connect to my network drive. I hope this helps!
April 25th, 2012 10:58am

I have been using a PC with Win 7 Ult, and a Laptop with Win7 Pro, i had sync'd at folder from the PC to the Laptop, But since the MS updates of May 11th 2012 this seems to have stopped working. I have restarted both units multiple times, run the Homegroup Trouble shooter multiple times on each unit, But the Laptop fails to see the sync'd folder on the PC and also now requests a domain login and passwords (which I had disabled or listed as not required for login). Anyone got another suggestion? This Server registry option seems a little extreme for this issue. A Secondary issue with the PC, which hasn't been an issue, but may now be related, the PC won't retain the Homegroup settings (shared libraries) when each box is ticked and then save changes is selected, it seems to keep going back to Printers as the only one being selected. Any thoughts on this?
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
May 15th, 2012 7:59am

This topic is archived. No further replies will be accepted.

Other recent topics Other recent topics