One of the features appreciated by Dropbox users is that it uses only one folder for synchronisation. You drop inside everything you want synchronised and it works. What most people don’t know is that Windows Live Mesh can easily work with a similar setup, for those who are more comfortable working this way. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Create a Sync Folder

First, create the folder you want to use for easy synchronisation, anywhere you want to have it. Called it something nice and personal.

For me, a good name was My SkyDrive but that might be boring for others.

Step 2: Place the Sync Folder into Windows Explorer’s Favorites

The next step is to place the sync folder into the Favorites section of Windows Explorer. Complete step by step guidance on how to do it can be found here: How to Manage & Use the Favorites in Windows Explorer.

Then, find the best position for it in the list of Favorites, so that it doesn’t end-up at the bottom. To make it even "prettier", you can customize it by adding a special icon. A good option is the icon used by Windows Live Mesh. It can be found at this path: %SystemRoot%\Installer\{DECDCB7C-58CC-4865-91AF-627F9798FE48}\App.ico>

If you want to use a different icon, that’s totally fine. In case you need some guidance on how to change the icon, check this tutorial: How To Change the Icon of a Shortcut.

Step 3: Sync the Folder with Other Devices & People

The next step is to actually sync the folder you created. Go to Windows Live Mesh and select it for synchronisation. Complete instructions on how this works are found here: Windows Live Mesh - Sync Folders Between Computers & the Cloud.

Another useful tutorial on how to handle all synchronised devices can be found here: How to Manage Your Windows Live Mesh Synced Devices.

If you want to sync the folder with other people, just like you can do with Dropbox, check out this tutorial: Windows Live Mesh - How to Sync Folders with Other People.

Conclusion

As you can see, creating a simple Dropbox-like setup is not hard. Plus, by using Windows Live Mesh you get other additional features, all discussed in this article: What is Windows Live Mesh & Why You Should Use It.