How to start working with Windows Live SkyDrive
Windows Live SkyDrive (former Windows Live Folders) is part of Microsoft’s online services portfolio, that let Windows Live ID users store documents, videos and pictures allowing them to keep the files private, share with contacts, or make them public.
At the time of writing this post, Microsoft was offering 25 GB of online storage space for SkyDrive users, with upload limitation on files larger than 50 MB (we will discuss this later).
You should be aware of the difference between Windows Live SkyDrive and SkyDrive Synced Storage which is used by Windows Live Mesh service. The last one corresponds to the online storage used by Live Mesh to synchronize files between computers; it is limited to 5 GB and doesn’t has the 50 MB upload limitation.
I haven’t use it yet (I’m a Google services user), but I’m decided to give it a try. For that purpose, I’ve created a Windows Live ID account and logged into Windows Live world; at first sight it looks like you have so many stuff pending to setup. You are automatically connected to Windows Live Messenger that can be socialized connecting it with major social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn or MySpace, among others.
But let’s focus on SkyDrive. If you move your mouse pointer over Windows Live at the top left corner, you will discover the other available Live services, associated to your account.
There you have Devices where you can add your computers to Windows Live Mesh to setup synchronization with SkyDrive sync Storage. Mobile where you can add your mobile to use Live services on it. Note that this is not available worldwide (Available to subscribers of Alltel, AT&T, Nextel, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless.). Downloads where you can basically download Windows Live Essentials including Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Writer, Messenger, etc.. And finally SkyDrive.
To start with, I’ve created a quick Favorites library to store some favorite links that could be useful in the future; and I’ve created a couple of Photo libraries to share pictures with my friend. Afterwards, my SkyDrive looks like a typical Windows XP folder, but in the Cloud.
I recommend you to start by keeping it as tide as you can (some IT people presents a complete lack of that capacity), otherwise it would become difficult to manage and you will get rid of it.
Creating folders is a good way to keep stuff organized and easy your SkyDrive administration. To create a folder, simply click on New and select Folder. It is going to be classified depending on the contents you store on it, so if you create an empty folder or you add Excel,Word or PowerPoint files it will be placed under Documents by default, but if you add pictures then it will be converted to a Photos folder.
For that purpose I have created my Windows 7 service pack 1 documents folder to keep them in hand during a massive deployment on my organization. So, click New, set Windows 7 SP1 Documents as folder name, click Next, Drag&Droped documents directly from Windows Explorer (you can add them browsing your disk too) and click Continue. At this point my documents have been uploaded to the library.
I’ll be sharing them with some colleagues of my organization to keep them documented, so click Let people know and fill the recipients e-mail addresses (you can specify if the recipients should have a Live ID or not, this is up to you). Automatically the Shared With status changes from Just Me to _People with a link,_and recipients are able to access your files.
One more little detail is the envelop icon on added to the library icon to visually let you know that contents have been shared by e-mail with others.
And my colleagues have received an e-mail with the link to the documents.
Photo and Favorite folders work on the same way, so nothing can be added. Just imagine how useful and easy will be sharing your last New York pictures with your family and friend; it is one click away to keep everybody happy.
I’ll be posting more stuff as long as I deal with, so at the moment this is quite enough to be occupied for some time. Thanks for reading.