Xcopy - DOS isn't dead yet

• We love Xcopy for backing up files.  See our backup batch file here.

XCOPY source destination [/switch(es)]

source Specifies the file(s) to copy and destination specifies the location and/or name of new files.

Examples: xcopy "C:\Documents and Settings\Username\My Documents\*.doc"  D:\

Copies all files with the DOC extension to the D: drive

xcopy "C:\Documents and Settings\Username\My Documents\*.*"  D:\ /E /Y

Copies all folders AND files found under the My Documents folder to the D: drive replacing any that already exist.

Because of long filenames and/or spacing in filenames, you must wrap the individual parts of the command within quotes as shown above.  Failure to do so would result in Xcopy reading only C:\Documents as the source in our example. 

Xcopy also recognizes URL addresses so rather than having (obsolete) mapped network drives, you can simply use the URL. 

Example: xcopy "\\Server\Databases\PSTFiles\*.pst" C:\temp\*.* /y

Note:  Xcopy is not case sensitive. 

Command Line Switches (important ones for backing up in bold):

• /A Copies only files with the archive attribute set, doesn't change the attribute.
• /M Copies only files with the archive attribute set, turns off the archive attribute.
• /D:m-d-y Copies files changed on or after the specified date.    If no date is given, copies only those files whose    source time is newer than the destination time.
• /EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...    Specifies a list of files containing strings. Each string should be in a separate line in the files. When any of the strings match any part of the absolute path of the file to be    copied, that file will be excluded from being copied. For example, specifying a string like \obj\ or .obj will exclude all files underneath the directory obj or all files with the .obj extension respectively.
• /P Prompts you before creating each destination file.
• /S Copies directories and subdirectories except empty ones. -or-
• /E Copies directories and subdirectories, including empty ones.   
  • Same as /S /E. May be used to modify /T.
• /V Verifies each new file.
• /W Prompts you to press a key before copying.
• /C Continues copying even if errors occur.
• /I If destination does not exist and copying more than one file, assumes that destination must be a directory.
•  /Q Does not display file names while copying.
• /F Displays full source and destination file names while copying.
• /L Displays files that would be copied.
• /G Allows the copying of encrypted files to destination that does not support encryption.
• /H Copies hidden and system files also.
• /R Overwrites read-only files.
• /T Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not include empty directories or subdirectories.
•  /T /E includes empty directories and subdirectories.
• /U Copies only files that already exist in destination.
• /K Copies attributes. Normal Xcopy will reset read-only attributes.
• /N Copies using the generated short names.
• /O Copies file ownership and ACL information.
• /X Copies file audit settings (implies /O).
• /Y Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an existing destination file.
• /-Y Causes prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an existing destination file.
• /Z Copies networked files in restartable mode.