Problem with Windows Vista Busines synching offline files with SBS 2003

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foxra

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#13630 21-May-2007 10:18

I'm unable to get this key networking feature functioning correctly. I'm not able to get the "always available offline" right click menu item as Offline files never activates. Any ideas?

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#71462 21-May-2007 10:24

what happens when you try to right click a shared folder and make it available offline?

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foxra

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#71467 21-May-2007 10:36

Still no Allways available offline menu item.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#71469 21-May-2007 10:38

Does it work against other file shares, or it only doesn't work against SBS?

foxra

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#71476 21-May-2007 10:59

Maybe its a general networking problem because althought I can view the machine on the LAN I cant acces its shares from another client PC. Also I cant see other machines on the network from it. I can access other machines if by by typing the path however. i've just flicked off the firewall but still now good.

foxra

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#71488 21-May-2007 11:59

Just fixed the networking issue but still unable to get offline files working

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#71489 21-May-2007 12:03

please give further details

So you have right clicked, properties on a server \\file\share

Is there a Offline Files tab?

Is Always available offline greyed out?

Can you "sync now" from that tab?

foxra

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#71499 21-May-2007 13:13

Its not even on the right click menu. I've tried a registy fix suggested here:
http://groups.google.co.nz/group/microsoft.public.windows.vista.file_management/browse_thread/thread/ddac00c47472079f/2abe48dfc4a4b0b4?lnk=st&q=offline+files+wont+work+in+vista&rnum=1&hl=en#2abe48dfc4a4b0b4
and this fixed it. However after rebooting my machine again the new dword value has disapeard and the probelm returned.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#71500 21-May-2007 13:20

so its not on the right click, thanks for that. Is there a tab when you right click properties as I asked in the previous post?

I'm not surprised the registry key goes away after you enter it. It reinitialises the Client Side Caching offline files database, once its reinitialised its done its job and the reg key goes.

foxra

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#71502 21-May-2007 13:26

I now understand that, but I have been unble to replicate the process. So still no "always available offlie" menu option even though the first time I created the Dword value it worked.

foxra

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#71504 21-May-2007 13:38

in control panel>Offline files it says Offline files is enabled but not yet active. Restart the computer to activate offline files. Obvioulsy in my case this never happens.

Snikch

74 posts

Master Geek

#71645 22-May-2007 12:13

Hrrmmm. Funny this should be here, we have the same problem in two different locations.

DWORD registry key works but is deleted after reboot. We cannot find a way to fix this, the interesting thing is that it has happened only on two Acer laptops, and installing Vista again over the top fixed it in one location, however we dont want to have to do this to every new laptop we receive.

Are you using an Acer machine? Or normal vista install?

PS. Hi Nathan. Still waiting on your email...

foxra

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#71660 22-May-2007 13:16

its an acer alright. I really dont ant to have to do a reinstall but hey if thats what it takes!

Snikch

74 posts

Master Geek

#71666 22-May-2007 13:24

foxra: its an acer alright. I really dont ant to have to do a reinstall but hey if thats what it takes!

Bloody Acers!

Try uninstalling all the eMPOWERING crap that Acer puts on by default and see if it makes a difference.

I've got our acer's working by doing a new vista install, only took 8 minutes so hey, if it was going to take me 2 hours to fix the problems, I have to install vista 15 times to make up for that time. But hopefully someone else will figure it out in the meantime!

Now that's smart thinking!

foxra

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#71672 22-May-2007 13:34

8 mins? How did you manage that?

Snikch

74 posts

Master Geek

#71673 22-May-2007 13:38

If you do lots of windows installations its worth doing this, otherwise not.

Using the Windows Automated Installation Kit you can create an install environment and put that on a USB key. Get a fast enough USB key and its a breeze to do installations.

Requires a bit of effort to get it all working and also requires multiple activation keys I think (the installation has its key preset) - I'm not too sure whether or not you can create an install that installs Vista without a key and allows you to enter it once booted. Nathan will be able to tell you if you can or can't