Back-up using XCOPY

[RobinBClay]

I've just bought a new add-on hard-drive. I want to copy across to it, say once a week, from C:/Robin to N:/, every file that has been changed or is new, and every new folder. Can I do this using XCOPY in a batch file ? And if so, how ?

 

[ex_bubblehead]

XCOPY is old school. You need to learn how to use Robocopy, which is included with Windows 7. Much more flexible and robust.

Two links to get you started:
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ee851678.aspx
http://burpee.smccme.edu/studenthowtos/robocopy.htm

 

[jsmithepa]

I've just bought a new add-on hard-drive. I want to copy across to it, say once a week, from C:/Robin to N:/, every file that has been changed or is new, and every new folder. Can I do this using XCOPY in a batch file ? And if so, how ?

For a simple thing as described, sure. Steps:

1. Create CO.BAT, content a single line: XCOPY /M/S C:\ROBIN N:\
2. Open Scheduler and schedule a task and run CO.BAT at the time and frequency of your choosing.

The /M says copy new and modified files/folders.
The /S says include all folders.

For a comprehensive list of what xcopy can do, simply say XCOPY /?

I forget whether XCOPY does verify. For that reason (I need verification, no excuse accurate copies), and because xcopy does not preserve folders' time stamps, which is important to me, I've been using TERACOPY (free shareware) instead but am not sure it can be automated.

 

[RobinBClay]

XCOPY is old school. You need to learn how to use Robocopy, which is included with Windows 7. Much more flexible and robust.

Two links to get you started:
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ee851678.aspx
http://burpee.smccme.edu/studenthowtos/robocopy.htm

Thank you - I had never heard of it ! Not that it seems a great deal different (for MY purpose) from XCOPY.

Anyway ... it's running now !

 

[RobinBClay]

For a simple thing as described, sure. ...

Thank you !