With Google Drive, users can directly Download, Upload and Sync (in real time) various types of files and multiple folders to the Cloud from different/multiple Computers and Mobile based Operating Systems (OS) viz. Android, iOS, Windows and MAC.
Let’s check out in this post, a short review of Google Drive Software/Client for Windows Operating System, along with necessary download link.
Download and Install Google Drive for Windows
Google Drive Client is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 and you can download Google Drive for Windows using THIS LINK
When you click the Download Google Drive Button, a Windows Installer named googledrivesync.exe will be downloaded onto your Computer Hard Drive. Now, Run the installer and the installer will start downloading Google Drive Setup from the Internet – This should complete in few minutes/seconds depending on the speed of your Internet Connection.
As soon as the installer has finished downloading Google Drive setup from the Internet, G Drive will be installed automatically and you will see following icon in your System Tray:
Right click on the Icon and Select Sign In, and you will be get following Login interface:
Here you need to enter your Google Account Email Address, which you want to use with Google Drive Cloud Storage Service and Password. Hit the Sign In Button and if your login credentials are correct, you will be getting following Google Drive Getting Started Window:
Hit the Next Button and now hit the Advanced Setup Button:
In Advanced Setup Option of Google Drive you can customize the client as per your needs:
Here:
- Folder Location: This will be the folder location for Google Drive Sync Folder on your Computer’s Hard Drive. Whatever files and folders you add in this folder, will be uploaded to the cloud by G Drive. Also, any other file/folder NOT present/synced in this folder will be downloaded from the cloud. Hit the Change Button, if you want the folder to be created on some other location on your Hard Drive.
- Sync Option for Folders: Before installing the Desktop client, if you used Google Docs/Google Drive Web interface for uploading/creating files in folder(s), then those folder names will be present in the List under Sync Options. Either you can Sync/Download ALL/Selected folders onto your computer’s Hard Drive OR you can simply ignore them ALL!
- Sync Google Docs Files: When using Google Docs, if you have created/uploaded files which were NOT assigned to any folder, this option allows you to Download them all onto your Local Hard Drive. Even you can setup offline access for Google Drive, which enables you to view Google Documents and Spreadsheets, Shuffle/Manage folders around and Edit Non-Google Docs files stored in your Google Drive folder in Offline Mode (when you are not connected to the Internet)!
- If you want Google Drive Client to run at System Start Up (as soon as your Windows PC gets started), select Start Google Drive automatically when you start your computer.
Once, you have customized the client as per your Syncing requirements, hit the Start Sync Button and Google Drive will instantly start downloading the files present in your Google Drive Folder.
Working with Google Drive Client on Windows
Working with Google Drive Client on Windows Operating System is very easy! – If you have earlier used Dropbox and SugarSync clients for Windows, then working with GDrive will be a cake walk for you!
As soon as Google Drive is installed on your system, a special Google Drive folder with following icon will be created on your Hard Drive:
Whatever files and sub-folders you add in this folder will be directly synced/uploaded to the Cloud and files/folders which are present in the cloud will be downloaded to this folder automatically!
If you Right Click on the Google Drive Icon in the System Tray, you will be getting following options:
Here:
- You will see How many files are being Synced (both Upload and Downloads) automatically with the cloud (your Online Google Drive Account). If all files are synced already, you will be getting Sync Complete message.
- Pause option will immediately PAUSE/STOP all syncing processes, unless you UN-PAUSE/START it manually – Useful, when you want to use the Bandwidth of your Internet Connection for other purposes!
- Open Google Drive Folder will open the location of Google Drive Folder present on your Hard Drive.
- Visit your Google Drive on the Web will open your Google Drive Account in your Computer Browser – From here you can manage your files and folder, share files and folder with your friends/colleagues etc.
- View Items shared with me option will show all Files and Folders shared with you in your Computer Browser – You will see a full list of files and folders shared with you, along with the name of Sharer and Share Date.
- Buy More Storage option allows you to purchase additional storage space for your Google Drive Account – Check out How to Upgrade Google Drive Storage Space?
- Preferences… will open the same Advanced Setup option we discussed earlier – If you want to change the location of default Google Drive folder OR want to disable running of G Drive on system start up etc., make use of Preferences.
- Help will redirect you to the Official Google Drive Help Page
- Send Feedback allows you to send Feedback to Awesome People! of Google/Google Drive Team using THIS PAGE
- Quit Google Drive option will make Google Drive EXIT from running services/processes completely – If you want to run Google Drive again, you need to click on the Google Drive Icon present on your Desktop or in Windows Start Menu.
Overall, working with Google Drive for all your Sync requirements is very easy!
Short Review of Google Drive for Windows
Pros:
1. Google Drive runs like a charm in Windows System Tray, whenever it is syncing files and folders to/from the cloud. It doesn’t slow down your system in anyway.
2. The client Uploads and Downloads Files and Folders at Maximum Speed of your Internet Connection!
3. Ability to Add/Remove Google Accounts instantly:
4. See ALL Shared Files and Folder in your Web Browser with a Single Click!
5. No matter whether you are logged in or not in your Computer’s Web Browser, Google Drive will instantly open Shared Items Folder in the Web Interface of your Google Drive Account. This means you don’t need to login again and again in your Web Browser!
6. You will see same beautiful icons in your Google Drive Folder, which you can see in your Google Docs/Google Drive Web Accounts:
Cons:
1. Currently, there’s NO option for setting up/limiting Download and Upload Speed in Google Drive client for Windows! Once, Google Drive starts syncing files, it will sync at Maximum Speed of your Internet Connection!
2. You can’t configure a Proxy Connection with Google Drive.
3. Like SugarSync File Manager, you can’t share a File/Folder directly from your Desktop! – For this you have to go to the Web everytime!
4. As of now, Google Drive can’t sync Multiple Folders from your Computer. Instead all files and folders you want to sync, must be dragged to the Default Folder of Google Drive.
5. No LAN Sync feature like Dropbox
6. In order to edit/upload certain files in the Web Interface of Google Drive, you need to convert them to Google Docs supported format. This may not be welcomed by many users who want to keep their files in original format like Microsoft Office format etc.!, because if you convert a file to Google Docs supported format you are likely to lose tracked changes and other features!:
7. No Music/Video Streaming Facility with Google Drive – You can store music and videos in your Google Drive Account, but you can’t play them in the Web Interface of Google Drive:
Some cloud storage services like SugarSync etc. supports direct streaming/play of Music and Videos on certain platforms/clients.
Important Note: Google Drive has been launched recently and more features/functionalities will be added by Google Team in upcoming days/months. This whole post and review is all about the PRESENT client of Google Drive for Windows. This post will be updated suitably with more added/enhanced features and functionalities in future! Kindly don’t jump to any conclusion, just by reading the above review! Google Drive is AWESOME and you should definitely try it.
Also See: Google Drive Keyboard Shortcuts