Groups > alt.comp.os.windows-11 > #18087

Re: what is the fastest command line copy?

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From	Paul <nospam@needed.invalid>
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Subject	Re: what is the fastest command line copy?
Date	Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:47:15 -0400
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On Sun, 3/30/2025 10:43 PM, Steve Hayes wrote:
> On Mon, 31 Mar 2025 02:12:05 +0100, Dual Boot Windows
> <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> 
>> On 30/03/2025 00:03, T wrote:
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>> It use to be robo copy for a mass copy of a
>>> directory.Â  Does that still exist?Â  Or is
>>> there something better?
>>>
>>> Many thanks,
>>> -T
>>>
>>
>>
>> You can use FastCopy GUI program. It has a cmd line built in but Windows 
>> users prefer GUI version.
>>
>> <https://fastcopy.jp/>
>>
> 
> Does xcopy/xxcopy still work?
> 
> I want something that works with batch files to automate transfer of
> data files from desktop to laptop & vice versa via USB flash drive
> 

Robocopy is built into the OS.

For WinXP, you have to download a copy, as at the time WinXP
was written, Robocopy was a hobby program. But on any later
OS (Vista+) , it is a built-in part of the Windows OS and
supported by Microsoft.

For help, start a cmd.exe window, then enter

   robocopy /?

and that explains the options.

Robocopy is a directory copy program, that can at its smallest,
copy a single file. But it can also copy all the files from
one partition to another partition. It can notch out certain kinds
of files, that would stop other copy programs from finishing a run.

It's also a *dangerous* program. If you mirror (/mir) an empty folder to
a full folder, the full folder can be erased. It has been used, on purpose,
to erase entire partitions (that could not otherwise be erased).

   robocopy Y:\ F:\ /mir /COPY:DATSOU /dcopy:t /XJ /r:3 /w:2 /zb /np /tee /v /log:robocopy_y_to_f.log

Via /XD dirs , it can avoid copying a section of a file tree (exclude function).
You can also define an explicit list of items to copy via  /job:filename

    filename
    --------

    /IF
    file1.ext
    file2.ext
    file3.ext

where the /IF stands for Include File. I expect there are
details and limitations that are important, or at least,
a need to pretty carefully format the pathname with respect to
the root folder. Those look like relative pathnames with
respect to the original source directory name.

If you're skillful, I would think no fancy .bat looping constructs
would be needed to get Robocopy to do a job of work.

My needs for the thing, were always pretty simple. I don't use it
all that often any more.

If you need to do a "hot" copy, I don't think it creates a
VSS shadow for you, and you would use vssadmin to make a shadow
copy first, assign a drive letter, then robocopy that, then
drop the shadow copy when your copying attempt is finished.
Normally, that would arise if trying to copy the entire C:\
drive and I do not recommend it for performing that function.
Very few fluffy utilities, are suited to verbatim C: copy. To
copy the C: partition, use backup/restore or partition clone
software, which work at a different level, and don't care about
filesystem details because they work closer to the PHY level.

Working at the file system level is always perilous, in terms
of getting all the details right. "Data partitions" are not
normally too bad, except if you're dealing with a twit who
has prepared the partition and put booby-traps in it. Never
use an XCOPY against a forensic opponent. Regular copying
is only appropriate for file trees where no "tricks" have
been used.

   Paul

Thread

what is the fastest command line copy? T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2025-03-29 17:03 -0700
  Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-03-29 20:43 -0400
    Re: what is the fastest command line copy? T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2025-03-29 17:49 -0700
    Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2025-03-30 06:55 +0000
      Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Stan Brown <the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm> - 2025-03-31 12:08 -0700
        Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2025-03-31 20:35 +0100
          Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Stan Brown <the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm> - 2025-03-31 13:35 -0700
  Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Dual Boot Windows <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2025-03-31 02:12 +0100
    Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2025-03-31 04:43 +0200
      Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-03-31 00:47 -0400
        Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2025-03-31 11:06 +0200
        Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Stan Brown <the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm> - 2025-03-31 12:10 -0700
        Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "Jonathan N. Little" <lws4art@gmail.com> - 2025-04-01 18:56 -0400
      Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam> - 2025-03-31 08:21 -0400
        Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-03-31 15:47 +0200
          Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam> - 2025-03-31 10:54 -0400
            Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2025-03-31 15:59 +0100
            Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-03-31 17:32 +0200
            Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2025-04-01 07:00 +0200
              Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-04-01 09:11 +0200
              Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-04-01 03:44 -0400
              Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam> - 2025-04-01 09:26 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2025-04-02 08:50 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-04-02 04:15 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-04-02 10:35 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-04-02 05:54 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-04-02 16:15 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-04-02 11:40 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-04-02 18:13 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-04-02 12:41 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-04-02 20:27 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-04-03 03:22 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-04-03 13:10 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam> - 2025-04-02 07:57 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-04-02 16:19 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam> - 2025-04-02 11:04 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-04-02 12:04 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-04-02 18:06 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-04-02 12:41 +0000
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-04-02 12:15 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-04-02 17:36 +0000
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Stan Brown <the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm> - 2025-04-02 10:50 -0700
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2025-04-03 05:24 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Democrat <Democrat@invalid.invalid> - 2025-04-03 06:00 +0000
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-04-03 08:39 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2025-04-03 15:55 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-04-03 15:06 +0000
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2025-04-04 13:55 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-04-04 12:11 +0000
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Don_from_AZ <djatechNOSPAM@comcast.net.invalid> - 2025-04-04 10:32 -0700
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2025-04-05 05:20 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2025-04-05 00:44 -0700
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Daniel70 <daniel47@eternal-september.org> - 2025-04-06 20:20 +1000
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "Kerr-Mudd, John" <admin@127.0.0.1> - 2025-04-06 21:15 +0100
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam> - 2025-04-04 08:49 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2025-04-05 05:29 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam> - 2025-04-05 08:26 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-04-05 00:37 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam> - 2025-04-05 08:18 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Char Jackson <none@none.invalid> - 2025-04-03 11:00 -0500
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam> - 2025-04-02 07:53 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-04-02 16:26 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam> - 2025-04-02 11:03 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-04-02 18:04 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-04-02 12:36 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam> - 2025-04-02 13:07 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-04-03 04:14 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam> - 2025-04-03 08:40 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Stan Brown <the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm> - 2025-04-02 10:43 -0700
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Char Jackson <none@none.invalid> - 2025-04-02 18:59 -0500
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Stan Brown <the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm> - 2025-04-02 11:11 -0700
          Re: what is the fastest command line copy? knuttle <keith_nuttle@yahoo.com> - 2025-03-31 10:59 -0400
            Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-03-31 17:26 +0200
              Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam> - 2025-03-31 13:05 -0400
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-03-31 20:18 +0200
                Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam> - 2025-03-31 14:43 -0400
      Re: what is the fastest command line copy? Stan Brown <the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm> - 2025-03-31 13:40 -0700
    Re: what is the fastest command line copy? T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2025-03-30 23:03 -0700
    Re: what is the fastest command line copy? T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2025-03-30 23:43 -0700
    Re: what is the fastest command line copy? T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2025-04-01 02:01 -0700

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