Managing your files

Owned by Iain Peat (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Dec 11, 2019 by Elaine KeoghVersion comment
2 min read

Introduction

A typical user of a Surface Pro will spend much of their time off-site or connected to wireless networks, leaving them unable to access standard network drives. For this reason, to ensure that your data is both accessible and backed up, we have configured them differently to our standard PCs. On a standard PC, when you save a file to a profile folder such as your Desktop or Documents, you are actually saving to your network drive. This has the effect of your Documents and Desktop being the same on any CSCS supported PC.

However, as this is not possible off-site, we have configured Surface Pros to instead save to your OneDrive for Business, which is provided as part of the Office 365 suite (which the University purchased in 2015). This ensures your files are backed up, but also that you need to manage your files differently.

Syncing Files to and from your Surface Pro

We will install and configure the OneDrive client on both your Surface Pro and your primary PC. This creates a OneDrive folder on each, with data synced between the two automatically. If you have files on your desktop PC that you wish to use on your Surface Pro, move it into the OneDrive folder. It should start to sync within a few seconds as long as the Surface Pro is on and connected. For more detailed information on syncing with OneDrive see our guide  Syncing OneDrive for the First Time

Outlook will also be installed on your Surface Pro, so you will be able to receive and open email attachments directly.

Back-up of other folders

We redirect the following folders on your Surface Pro to your OneDrive:

  • Desktop
  • Documents
    • My Music
    • My Pictures
    • My Videos
  • Downloads
  • Links
  • Saved Games
  • Searches

Should you forget or lose your Surface Pro, a file saved in its Documents folder will be accessible in your OneDrive folder - either from your primary PC, or via the Office 365 web portal (See /wiki/spaces/FAQSTAGE/pages/24379647)

How secure is saving files on the Surface Pro?

Each Surface Pro is BitLocker encrypted. See BitLocker - User Guide

Data stored in OneDrive is considered appropriate for the majority of data produced by the University. See Security Guidance for Microsoft OneDrive for Business