How to keep multiple computers completely in sync--programs, program settings, EVERYTHING I need to function--is it possible?

Hey everyone. I've been searching the internet up and down for a while now, trying to figure this out. I have two computers--a productivity laptop and a gaming desktop--and I plan on adding a tablet soon. All of them (will) have boot drives that are virtually exactly the same size, and I want to keep all of these computers almost perfectly in sync so I can migrate between them without fail, almost as if they were all exactly the same computer.

Basically, I would have all my programs (Adobe CS, Office, etc.), their settings, and anything typically locked to a computer's registry in the root drives (C:\), and those would be permanently in sync. All of my documents, music, pictures, games, and anything else like that would be on an external hard drive that I'll simply have plugged into any computer I'm currently using.

What would be the best way to keep things automatically in sync in the background between these computers (perhaps over an Ethernet network)? Are there any possible things that might break by doing this, like certain files that shouldn't be synced, etc.? Would it be bad to sync these settings while Windows is booted up?

Because of the fact that I'm also talking programs and their settings, and because I want this to be near instantaneous plug-and-play solution--like if some pal calls me out to a coffee shop and I wanna just jet with my tablet--cloud services like Dropbox and SkyDrive are already out of the picture.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

Not sure if there is such a program out there, especially since it will be hard to sync everything when each computer is running different drivers and such.

 

Short answer no.

Each system would be considered a standalone. Therefore each User profile is separate and each has it's own registry section. If it was setup as a workstation system whereas you use a server and each of your notebooks are used as terminals, then there are certain programs which will sync between automatically (namely Acrobat, Office, etc.). But not everything, especially the games. And, obviously, it would require you to setup a server and keep it running at all times. Also, you would need to setup a VPN if you were to want to take your notebook(s) off-network.

 

Then how do the IT people keep all computers the same in the office?

 

They have the totally same computers and just copy 1 backup of OS to all of them. They even have same OS license.

 

^^^ What he said. Plus they all network boot over LAN. Only the bear minimum of OS files are installed on the workstations. Same with the program files. But not all programs are coded to be network accessible.

 

As far as offices go there are many options for IT admins to keep the systems in synch. A lot of this has to do with servers and/or business grade OS installs. It counts on what you want to do and how much time and money you have to spend.

I don't know but have you checked into the options of Windows 8 on all the various machines?