how to copy hard drive to external storage using command prompt

[haz8000]

Hi all,

My laptop is playing up. It auto updated to windows 10 from windows 7. It was okay but I decided to go back. So I did it through the recovery thing in settings (just pressed the button take me back to windows 7). Then after that my computer basically doesn't go passed the login password screen. I could start it in safe mode, but now that is playing up.
When I running start up system tool thing it says there is no problem.

I want to just get all my files off my hard drive (if I can? I really hope I can) and then reformat the computer.

So I have a hard drive, and tried to copy files from command prompt using the instructions from this page http://www.ampercent.com/backup-files-folders-windows-boot-failure/9325/)
But when I do this on my C:drive it says that under the directory of C: there is only:
MFGSTAT
RECOVERY

RECOVERY is dated 04/25/2016 which i think is the date that WINDOWS 10 auto updated.

I copied the contents of C: to my external hard drive and there were only 12 files in it :|

From the article I was assuming to see all of my files swish pass and be copied to my hard drive. The 12 files were all MFGSTAT files

Hmm, are all my files gone? please help. I have used the forums to get me this far but this next problem seems unique to me.

Thanks, Harry

 

[hang-the-9]

Create a Linux Boot Live disk using another computer, you can make a CD/DVD or USB stick. I usually use UBUNTU Linux for this.
Boot off that, you should be able to see the files on the hard drive. Attach an external drive, copy your files to that drive.

 

[Illumynization]

It's definitely not a unique problem but you did the right thing making a new thread for this.
I would create a bootable USB with windows 7. From there if you boot into it there is an option for repair your computer.
In the next set of options you can boot to command prompt.

Within command prompt you can use:
fsutil fsinfo drives

to find out which drives the computer can see. Make sure your external is plugged in as well.

Navigate to a drive letter by typing:
C:\ or D:\ or E:\ and so on

Once you are in that drive type:
dir

and it will provide you a directory list. This should help you figure out which drive holds what current data.

--
If you want to do a full copy try:

robocopy C:\ D:\Backup -e

Assuming your laptop drive is C:\ and your external drive is D:\ .. Change this as the letters probably won't be correct.

--

Good luck buddy!