Our computers are fast becoming the hub of our lives, organising everything from our music and videos to memories and precious documents.
However, when our physical possessions can be transported around with us easily, why should our digital ones be locked down in one place, or require a multitude of devices to be carried on the move? Windows Live SkyDrive means you can take your information wherever you go.
Put simply, Windows Live SkyDrive is a 500MB disc in cyberspace, and it’s yours totally free. It’s secure, safe and means you can access your information wherever you are. It’s also designed to mirror your Windows Vista PC with provisions for documents, music, pictures and videos.
Files in a flash
Imagine you’re about to go to work and you want some music to play while you’re there, that document you were working on last night, and the pictures of your holiday to show off to your workmates.
Just upload them to Windows Live SkyDrive before you leave and you’re sorted. Uploading is simplicity itself, and the fast transfer rates mean you won’t be sat around all morning waiting for your files to upload.
However, Windows Live SkyDrive is much more than an online storage centre. It also allows you to set up shared and public folders, meaning that files of your choosing are available to selected people. They can then access the information through Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Spaces.
Back up your work
Another benefit of Windows Live SkyDrive is the backup facility it offers users. If you don’t feel the need to share information or access files on the move, but need a relatively small amount of space to back up vital files then look no further.
Instead of shelling out for external hard drives, just upload your information and rest in the knowledge that it’s safe and secure. However, the majority of users are likely to find that 500MB disappears quite fast, especially if you’re backing up media files.
Windows Live SkyDrive is still in its beta phase at the moment, so there are bound to be plenty of improvements still to come. At the moment folders can’t be uploaded directly, but the drag and drop function is excellent, so you can simply dump large amounts of files straight from your PC to the Windows Live SkyDrive folders without having to use the fiddly browse controls. Read on to find out how to get started.
Set up your Windows Live SkyDrive
1. Sign up. Log on to Skydrive and sign in with your Windows Live ID, the same one you use for Live Messenger and Live Spaces. If you haven’t already got one, what are you waiting for? It’ll only take a few minutes and it’s completely free!
2. Space to grow. You should now see your Windows Live SkyDrive. Folders are provided so organisation is easy, and your space takes the form of your existing folders in Windows Vista.
3. Adding files. Go to the Windows Live SkyDrive folder you wish to upload to, and hit the Add Files button. In the beta version you can only add files by browsing your PC for them and will encounter the infuriating prospect of adding one file at a time. Overcome 4 this by opting to install the upload tool.
4. Drag and drop. Enable the ActiveX Control by clicking the yellow bar at the top of the screen. Once it’s installed you can drag and drop groups of files directly from your PC to Windows Live SkyDrive.
5. Upload. The files will then be queued for upload in Windows Live SkyDrive. In the beta version files have a limit of 50 MB, and the progress of your 500MB entitlement is tracked on the graph in the top right corner.
6. Share. When you’ve uploaded your data, you can set up shared folders so people can have access to selected information. Just drag and drop the files into your shared folder in the main screen and choose people from your Windows Live contacts who are authorised to access them.
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