No April joke. Since 1st of April you are able to download the Next Generation Sync Client also for the Operating System Windows 8.1
The new version 17.3.6378.0329 is now available around the globe. If you have subscribed to my blog, you know that I have written, that on Microsoft roadmap the next generation Sync Client should be available at the end of the 1st quarter 2016. Ok, only one day…
But during the last MVP call, Reuben Krippner, Microsoft Director product management, announced the second quarter for GA.
I have had suggested, that there will be an Update for Windows 8.1. Perhaps you know, that OneDrive Personal is integrated in the OS. But this was wrong. And therefore I have to write this blog post, to tell you, If you are a Windows 8.1 user and want to sync document libraries to Office 365, there will be three different sync clients.
SkyDrive.exe | integrated in OS Windows 8.1 Syncs personal data to OneDrive personal. Particularities: Icon-Color: white |
OneDrive.exe | Syncs business data to OneDrive for Business document libraries in Office 365 (fka MySite)
Particularities: Icon-Color: blue |
Groove.exe | Syncs business data to SharePoint Online Team sites and document libraries in Groups
Particularities: Icon-Color: Blue |
I suggest, that changing the Sync engine Skydrive.exe to OneDrive.exe (NGSC) would be not so easy. If you see, that more and more companies will plan to upgrade to Windows 10, than this decision would be much clearer. And in short terms: SkyDrive.exe is running most without any problems.
But with colored icons, the user will have some issues. Where do I find , which programs in which version do I have on my device?
Sync-Client | Version | Path |
SkyDrive.exe | 6.3.9600.17484 | C:\Windows\System32 |
OneDrive.exe | 17.3.6378.329 | C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive |
Groove.exe | 15.0.4805.1000 | C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15 |
Where may I download the Next Generation Sync Client?
Here is the Link to the Microsoft OneDrive Site. You may click on both Download Links, colored with green arrows. Both will download the same sync client. But on the right site there is another page with useful descriptions. So administrators have a change, to rollout this client automatically and f.e. connect the NGSC automatically with the users OneDrive for Business.
If you click on the Download Link (marked with the red arrow,you are able to install a 32- or 64 Bit version of the “old” Groove.exe as a C2R Version. And this download is available in different languages. The NGSC is available also in different languages, but these languages are in the Setup and is based of the language of the OS. The Next Generation Sync Client is only available Click 2 Run Version. The big advantage: Like the components of Office 365, there will update automatically.
By the way, now you do not have to setup a special registry Key, but in Windows 8.1 you are not allowed, to setup a connection to your OneDrive (Personal)
For testing purposes, I have setup two different VM’s (Windows 8.1 and Windows 7), both OSs have been fully patches with all updates. I want to have four different scenarios:
- I want sync my personal data to OneDrive (part only a part of it)
- I want sync selective data to my OneDrive for Business
- I want to sync data from a team site in Office 365
- I want to sync selective data form OneDrive for Business of another tenant
The last option is not a typical business scenario, but often IT consultants would use it.
Windows 8.1
If you see al cloud symbols in the notification area, so after setup it looks like the following:
If I have a sync issue as a user, first I have to identify, which sync client is having a problem. If you open Windows Explorer, the above configuration looks as following:
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Conclusion: Windows 8.1 users must be trained, what’s behind the different sync client symbols
But for completeness here are the other Windows operating systems.
If you work with one of these OS, you only have maximum two sync clients:
OneDrive.exe | Syncs my Personal data to OneDrive (Personal)
and Particularities: Icon-Color: |
Groove.exe | Syncs business data to SharePoint Online Team sites and document libraries in Groups
Particularities: Icon-Color: Blue |
Conclusion:
Microsoft closes one more Sync app. But we have to wait until the Next Generation Sync Client is able to connect to all different destinations in Office 365.
The goal is…
… One fully functional Sync client, we may sync to all document libraries (without any errors).
I’m wondering, that Microsoft has not published the GA of the NGSC for Windows 8.1 on the OneDrive Blog, I found the first information published on a support site of Office 365
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