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.
Answers
- 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\ParametersEnableOplocks 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!- Marked As Answer byGeoffWB Tuesday, January 19, 2010 3:51 AM
All Replies
- 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 ? - 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? - Hello, we have 2 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 ... - 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-us
I will try this and then post again if it works. - I have same problem with windows 7 - and succes with XP. Looking forward to get some help.
- 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 errors reported 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. - 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. 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.- 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?
- Marked As Answer byArthur XieMSFT, ModeratorFriday, December 25, 2009 5:52 AM
- Unmarked As Answer byGeoffWB Tuesday, January 19, 2010 3:51 AM
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.- 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\ParametersEnableOplocks 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!- Marked As Answer byGeoffWB Tuesday, January 19, 2010 3:51 AM
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- 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. - The fix above did not work for me. Anyone else?
Cheers,
Tom
