Get the Most From Microsoft SkyDrive

1/24/2014

8 Tips To Get the Most Out Of Microsoft SkyDrive

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By Brian(http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/author/brianvoo/). Filed in Tools(http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/category/tools/)
Cloud drive services are becoming widely popular nowadays with services like
Dropbox (http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/tag/dropbox/), Google Drive (http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/getting-the-mostout-of-google-drive/), and even Amazon Drive (http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/amazon-cloud-drive/). Microsoft has its
own version, SkyDrive (http://www.skydrive.com) with many recently improved features for a better cloud experience.
Similar to Google Drive and Gmail, SkyDrive works with a Microsoft account. You can register for the service with any
email, or login using an existing MSN or Hotmail account. (On a side note, Microsoft has also revamped its email
service Outlook(http://www.outlook.com) which you can also use as a login.) SkyDrive starts you out with 7GB of
free storage but you can get more with pricing plans costing up to US$50 a year.
In this post, we’ll be looking at some of the features of the revamped SkyDrive and sharing with you 8 tips to
enhance your experience with SkyDrive.

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/ms-skydrive-tips/

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Recommended Reading:
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1. Edit Skydrive File/Folder Sharing Permissions
SkyDrive offers sharing just like other cloud storage services. However, when generating a link to share files via
SkyDrive, you have the option to control whether the files has "View only", "View and edit" or "Public" access.
This also applies for sharing by email or on a social network website. If you would like to monitor who has been
editing the file you shared, you can also set the option that requires users to login first.
The details pane on the
right is a quick way to see
who has access to a
shared file or folder and
what permissions they are
given. Take advantage of
this by disabling sharing or
changing permissions in
just one click.

2. Enable
Commenting on
Shared Files
While traditional filesharing services give you
only a link for the other
person to download, on
SkyDrive you can allow
users with access to
your shared files to
comment on them. Users who comment on your files will have their Microsoft profile picture displayed alongside
their comments (ala Facebook style) and by changing a few privacy settings, you can choose to allow
commenting to just some or all your Messenger friends, and their friends, or even Everyone.
Setting up Commenting

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1. Go to SkyDrive.com and
click on your Profile name
on the top right corner,
then click on Edit profile.
2. Then, click on the link at
"Shared with:" ("Some
Messenger friends" is the
default option) to edit the
privacy settings to your
needs.
3. You’ll now be able to
change the privacy
settings on who can
comment on your
shared files. By
sliding the
‘Comments’ bar all
the way to the right,
everyone on a
Microsoft account
who has access to
the file will be able
to leave a comment.

3. Make
SkyDrive your
PC’s “Primary”
Drive
This is a trick for
people who use
Windows Libraries
as you can use
SkyDrive to sync all
your files which will
be available to you
where you go.
Here’s how you set
it up:
1. Create the following
folders in SkyDrive. Name these folders "Documents", "Music", "Pictures" and "Videos" respectively.
2. Under "Libraries", right click on "Documents" and click on "Properties".
3. In the Properties window, click on Include a folder. Then navigate to where the SkyDrive folder is and then
click on Include folder.

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4. You’ll now see the
SkyDrive folder
under ‘Library
Locations’. To
change your
primary drive, click
on the SkyDrive
folder location and
then click on Set
save location.
5. Repeat the steps for
"Music", "Pictures"
and "Videos" after
"Documents".
6. After you’ve setup
the remaining 3
libraries, run the
SkyDrive program
and the results will
look something like
the image below.

4. Access
Every File On
Your PC
Remotely
One interesting
feature (depending
on how you look at
it) for SkyDrive is
that you can
remotely access
files that are in your
PC even if it is not
in the SkyDrive
folder. Let’s say you
left an important
work document at
home, no problem,
just access your
computer via
SkyDrive and look
for the file in your
home PC from work. The catch is, your PC has to be running and have Internet access as well as the SkyDrive
program (https://apps.live.com/skydrive) on. Good news is this also works even with the computer locked.

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As for security
issues, you do not
have to worry as
files on your
computer cannot
be edited or
deleted in this
way, and you can
only transfer files
from your
computer to your
SkyDrive folder,
not the other way
around. Basically,
you can extract files
from your PC via
SkyDrive.
SkyDrive is also
available on mobile
devices of all
platforms:
Windows

Phone (http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/skydrive/ad543082-80ec-45bb-aa02-ffe7f4182ba8),
iOS(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skydrive/id477537958?ls=1&mt=8) and
Android(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.skydrive). However, this feature is only
accessible through the website.

5. View or Edit Files Simultaneously
Editing documents simultaneously might not be a very new feature as it is also available on Google Drive. However,
with SkyDrive you’ll be able to do that with an online version of Microsoft Office products which includes
Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote.
Any changes made to a document will be sync’ed online. Small popups will appear that notify you that a change has
been made, either by you or a collaborator. You then hit ‘Save’ to view the edited section, highlighted with the other
person’s name.
These Microsoft Office Web Apps give you all the basic functionalities their desktop programs could provide. You can
even present slideshows on PowerPoint through the Web App.
What’s great is after editing, your file will be updated and the Microsoft Office file will be ready for immediate
download or sharing.

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6.
Automatically
Sync Notes to
SkyDrive
You can add notes
to SkyDrive while on
your smartphone or
tablet with the
Microsoft OneNote
Mobile app,
available on

iOS(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-onenote/id410395246?mt=8),
Android(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.onenote) and Windows
Phone (http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/how-to/wp7/office/use-office-onenote-mobile). Login with a Microsoft
account to start using the app. The interface looks clean and organized, as you can see in the shots below: iOS,
Android, and Windows Phone on the right.
You can create to-do lists complete with checkboxes or add pictures to your notes. If you want to email the note, it is
created in a text format (with pictures and lists included) instead of a OneNote format.
The app syncs all your created notes with your SkyDrive account automatically which is very convenient as you can
then access and edit them on your computer. There is also the option to sync only selected notes to your SkyDrive
account.

7. Integrate SkyDrive with Gmail
By installing Attachments.me (http://attachments.me/) as a Google Chrome Extension or Firefox Add-on, you are
able to attach any file on SkyDrive to your Gmail account.
By clicking on ‘Share from SkyDrive’, you can look through all the files on your SkyDrive. Once you have selected the
file you want, it will create a link that you can share to your email recipients.
Note that the files that you share through Attachments.me can only be viewed and not edited, ensuring your original
document will remain in SkyDrive.

8. Avoid Mistakes with Recycle Bin and Version History
If you happen to accidentally delete any file from your mobile device or desktop, SkyDrive will still have it in an online
recycle bin, found at the bottom left corner of the site.
SkyDrive automatically keeps 25 changes made to your document files and with Version History you’ll be able to

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restore to any of these
the previous versions,
where necessary. If
you’re a chronic saver, no
worries as it will only
update "Version History"
after a successful sync.
Items in the recycle bin will
be automatically removed
after 30 days, but if the
recycle bin exceeds 10%
of your total storage limit,
the oldest item will be
deleted after it has been
there for 3 days.

Conclusion
Features offered by
SkyDrive can be said to be
combined features of two
or more cloud storage
services. Overall, it has
improved user experience
through its revamped
website which is why you
should give it a try.
You might like:
1. 17 Online Data Backup &
Synchronization Tools


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(http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/online-backup-sync-tools/)

2. How To Share Dropbox Files On Your Facebook Group (http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/share-dropbox-tofacebook-group/)

3. How to Import Windows Mail (.eml) to Mac (.mbx) (http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/import-email-windowshttp://www.hongkiat.com/blog/ms-skydrive-tips/

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1/24/2014


mac/)
Author:

Brian(http://w w w .hongkiat.com/blog/author/brianv oo/)

Brian is a Mass Communication graduate with a passion for everything related to technology, minimalistic designs,

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and every kind of gadgetry.
Tags:

Microsoft(http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/tag/microsoft/)
rr(http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/tag/rr/)
skydrive (http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/tag/skydrive/)
Comments for this thread are now closed.

×

15 comments
Newest

2

Hongkiat.com

Anh

•

Login

a year ago

It seem not to sync data in my computer to skydrive after i edited data in my computer
20

• Share ›

Eka J Putra

•

a year ago

I changed my privacy setting to enable comment
I'd slide the comment bar to everyone and save it but my friend still cannot leave a comment
he already has microsoft account
1

• Share ›

Bud Porter-Roth • a year

ago
10/15

1/24/2014

Bud Porter-Roth

•

a year ago


Can you explain how to connect your SkyDrive to Office 365? BTW, very good article, thanks.
• Share ›

boat transport

a year ago

•

Due to dropbox application it makes more simple.It is easy and do by any new people no
problem ,only they have need basic knowledge of computer.
• Share ›

Michael Hazell

a year ago

•

Those are some nice tips. The thing about SkyDrive though is that there is no Windows XP
application. I know that supporting an old and dying platform is bad, but basically users are
stuck in the new web interface, which cannot upload large files. Also, the Web Apps pictured in
this article are in the normal office, not the preview one. I think that the new preview has a lot
more features.
6

• Share ›

Guest

Michael Hazell • a year ago

It's good that it's limited on XP. There has to be some reason to upgrade, right?
Windows 8 is cheap. Get on that and stop basing your opinions on FUD you read via
tech blog reviews.
4

• Share ›

Michael Hazell

Guest • a year ago

Well...no. I'll run Ubuntu Linux like normal. Forget XP.
5

• Share ›

Guest


Well, XP is actually more useful than Ubuntu, Lol.
Sent from Windows Mail
4

• Share ›

Michael Hazell


You're lying. Have you ever used a Linux OS? Oh, and the "Sent from
Windows Mail" line proves that you are a fanboy. Therefore I render your
opinion irrelevant. Subject: [hongkiat] Re: 8 Tips To Get the Most Out Of
Microsoft SkyDrive
4
Guest

• Share ›


I was a RHEL Subscriber from version 3-5, before that I paid for
Mandrake Linux. After that I used OpenSuse and Fedora. I also managed
HP-UX servers at work and I used Solaris and Open Solaris. I had like 5

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1/24/2014


computers at one time so it was easy for me to run multiple OSes.
Sent from Windows Mail means I used the Windows Mail application on
my PC to send this reply. Unlike some people, I don’t have a problem
upgrading my PC OS ASAP, and I don’t have a problem paying $14.99
for an OS upgrade, ya dig. Also, the Windows Mail client in Vista has the
same signature and is called the same thing as this one, so perhaps you
shouldn’t assume.
Fanboy? XP is more useful than Ubuntu. I’ve tried Ubuntu. It’s shit. Have
you tried Vista, 7 or 8 for any reasonable span of time, though. The
Windows Mail client in Vista has the same signature and why should I
use a third party mail client when the one built into my OS works just
fine? Sorry, Windows is not Linux and Windows users don’t run to the
Windows store to bloat up their system/internet just “cause they can.”
Why do you think so many people still use IE?
see more

9

• Share ›

Michael Hazell


Actually, I do have XP on my system and I find myself using Linux much
more often. For one, Linux really does run lighter on machines. Take the
12.04 LTS version of Ubuntu's base, and then slap LXDE or something
similar on top of that. Keep all of the main packages though. One of the
fastest configs of Ubuntu you can possibly get. Ubuntu is not shit. Prove
why it's shit if you think of it that way.
3
Guest

• Share ›


Ubuntu is not lighter on your machine than Windows XP. Sorry.
Sent from Windows Mail
4

• Share ›

Michael Hazell


Go look at the "How Light is it" section. This is with just the web browsers
open. You are under 200 mb when running this base with nothing else
running. If you need better prove I'll be happy to provide. Ubuntu is lighter.
It just is. Face it.http://www.techmansworld.com/2012/10/...
3
Guest

• Share ›


A modern web browser will take up almost 100MB of RAM really I can run
a text browser on XP that takes up < 10 that doesn't mean anything. A

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1/24/2014


usable Ubuntu desktop is not 200MB and who gives a shit about that
anyways. RAM is cheap you can get 4GB for $25 at Best Buy. Go buy
some and call it a day.
7

• Share ›

Michael Hazell


Actually your argument was that Ubuntu with LXDE is not lighter than
Windows XP, and it is. If you want to prove me wrong then start up XP
and then start up Lubuntu 12.10 and open up the task manager
immediately. You'll see that ram usage is really low.
4

• Share ›

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