Microsoft Windows Live Mesh:

A Journey of Trial and Triumph

Like many tech enthusiasts, I decided to try out Microsoft’s new Windows Live Mesh service from the Windows Live family. Designed to make file synchronization and remote access simple, it was a promising tool in Microsoft’s venture into cloud computing.

But my experience with it was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Setting it up on my Windows Vista notebook turned out to be a lot more complicated than I’d anticipated, with hurdle after hurdle cropping up along the way.

Initial Setup: The Beta Barrier

When I first attempted to log in to Windows Live Mesh with my Windows Live Account, I discovered that the service was only available in beta to users residing in the United States. But there was a workaround that I, and many others, used to bypass this restriction. All I had to do was change my account’s language setting to English (United States), and suddenly, I was granted access to the Live Mesh desktop. This felt like a small victory, but it was just the beginning.

Eager to add my computer as a new device, I went ahead and downloaded the required software. Yet, installation proved challenging. Windows Vista required me to change my region and language settings to English (United States) before I could install the software. After making the changes, I attempted to run the installation, but was promptly met with an error message: “This product can be installed on 32-bit Windows XP SP2 or later and 64-bit Windows Vista or later.” Frustrated, I decided to give up for the moment.

Round Two: Expanded Access and More Errors

A while later, I read on a blog that the beta had been expanded, allowing users outside the U.S. to try Live Mesh. Encouraged by this news, I logged in again, added my device, and re-downloaded the software. This time, I encountered a new error: “Product does not support running under an elevated administrator account or with UAC disabled.” This message suggested a conflict with User Account Control (UAC) or an issue with my admin privileges.

I followed advice from the web and enabled the hidden “real” Administrator account in Vista, then tried installing it again. This time, the installation went smoothly, and Windows Live Mesh connected successfully. But I didn’t want to juggle multiple accounts on my laptop. I wanted it to work with my main user account. I found another tip online suggesting that adding the main user to both the Administrators and Users groups could solve the issue. After a quick trip to Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Local Users and Groups, I adjusted the settings and tried again.

Yet Another Hurdle: “Invalid Parameter”

Just when I thought everything was set, I launched LiveMesh.exe and encountered a new error: “Invalid Parameter.” No matter what I tried, the error persisted. I scoured forums, experimented with different settings, and made adjustments, but found little guidance on this particular issue. Then, I had an idea. I created a new user profile, added it to both the Administrator and User groups, and installed the software again. Amazingly, it worked without a hitch.

Excited by my success, I began customizing my new profile, moving my personal folders (Documents, Pictures, Music, etc.) to a different drive. However, upon reboot, Windows Live Mesh failed to start. This time, I realized that Live Mesh didn’t support users with personal folders moved to another drive. Returning the folders to the C: partition and reinstalling didn’t help. Even after clearing temp files with CCleaner, Live Mesh remained stubbornly broken on my main profile.

Starting from Scratch: A Fresh Installation

After investing a lot of time with limited success, I decided to tackle the problem at its root. I backed up all my data to an external drive, wiped my laptop, and reinstalled Windows Vista — this time with just one partition. I created a new user profile, reloaded my data, and finally installed Windows Live Mesh without any custom folder locations. Success at last! Live Mesh ran flawlessly, and I could now experience the service as intended.

A Look at Windows Live Mesh in Action

Once it was finally up and running, Windows Live Mesh lived up to its promise. The service was intuitive and easy to use, syncing my files effortlessly across devices. Soon, I’d be getting a Windows Mobile smartphone, and I looked forward to having my data seamlessly synchronized across all my devices. After just a few days of testing, I was genuinely impressed by the speed and reliability of Live Mesh. With 5 GB of cloud storage provided by Microsoft, I no longer needed to carry around a USB stick. As long as I had access to a computer with an internet connection, I could reach my files anytime, anywhere.

Using Live Mesh offered a glimpse into the future of cloud computing — a direction that Microsoft was embracing. This experience also hinted at what was to come with Windows Azure, Microsoft’s upcoming cloud platform, which would soon be part of their larger cloud computing strategy.

Final Thoughts: Who Should Use Windows Live Mesh?

In conclusion, if you’re someone who works across multiple devices — whether at home, at work, on a laptop, or even on a Windows Mobile device — Windows Live Mesh could be an invaluable tool. It simplifies the process of keeping files synchronized, allowing you to access the latest version of your documents no matter which device you’re using. However, it’s essential to remember that this service is still in beta, so some issues and bugs are to be expected.

If you’re willing to tolerate a few hiccups, I highly recommend giving Windows Live Mesh a try. It’s a powerful tool with a lot of potential, and Microsoft seems committed to refining it further. For now, I’m happy with my setup, and I’m excited to see how the technology evolves.

Happy syncing, and enjoy exploring the cloud with Windows Live Mesh!

Read more about Microsoft Cloud here in my Blog.