Robocopy is the tool to use when working with entire directories, since that's what it was designed to do. If you only want to copy a directory (and its included files) to another directory, you can use the basic syntax for Robocopy, and you need not specify any options. So let's say you have a directory tree that looks like this:
C:\Temp1\Temp2
The Temp1 directory contains a file named T1.tmp. The Temp1\Temp2 directory contains a file named T1T2.tmp.
Now, let's say you want to copy the Temp1 directory (and its files) to a new directory called C:\Temp3. The command to do this is:
ROBOCOPY C:\Temp1 C:\Temp3
Robocopy creates the C:\Temp3 directory and copies the files from the C:\Temp1 directory into it. If you want to copy the entire directory tree under C:\Temp1 you just need to add the /E switch to the command:
ROBOCOPY C:\Temp1 C:\Temp3 /E
This results in the creation of C:\Temp3, and all of the files and folders under C:\Temp1 will be copied to the newly built tree under C:\Temp3.
This tip (13188) applies to Windows 7, 8, and 10.
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Discover More2019-10-22 17:18:00
K
How to copy few of the .xml files from a folder to the other folder?
I used to copy one by one which is not right
2018-06-04 06:36:58
Vowner
But using robocopy i am not able to copy the mlinks folder content
2017-11-07 10:24:23
catherine lee
Well, using robocopy for copying entire file directroy and file sync does not sound good to me. Because its transfer speed is not good enough to transfer million of files. I am now using GS Richcopy 360 instead and I found it way better than robo. Plus it has a clean GUI so no need to remember the commands, what else would someone want. Cheers!
2017-10-19 19:30:08
Barry
I honestly have no idea. Of course you could try it out simply by opening a second command window and kick off both of your copies in different windows. I'd be curious to know the outcome.
2017-10-19 18:31:43
Questorfla
I was wondering whether there was a way to handle multiple copy routines at once and if so would it save any time or use less resources?\
For example: I have a need to copy (C:\A\*.* to D:\A\) AND (C:\A\*.* to E:\A\) making two identical sets of backups.
I currently do this by running the first one (C to D) then running the 2nd one (C to E).
Is there a way to run (C: to D: & E:) at the same time? And would it be any faster or more efficient to do so?
2017-10-02 15:20:01
Ted Duke
Is Robocopy more efficient than opening two File Explorer windows, selecting files or folders from one location and moving or copying the selected items to another location? That is not at all difficult to do, visually shows what is being processed, and would likely be easier than command-language for most users of Windows.
2017-10-02 12:48:14
Allen
Brian, see here:
https://windows.tips.net/T013186_Understanding_Robocopy.html
Note, as well, that you can type "RoboCopy" (without quote marks) into the search box at the upper-right of this page and find lots of tips related to the utility.
-Allen
2017-10-02 12:32:14
Brian Hershman
I am feeling amnesiac and rather stupid.... But how and where do you enter the Robocopy command?
2017-10-02 11:30:52
David H.
Tom: Here's a link from lifewire for displaying the command prompt for various Operating Systems.
https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-open-command-prompt-2618089
2017-10-02 07:18:06
Barry
You invoke Robocopy from a command prompt. If you don't know how to get to a command prompt, that's discussed in another tip here somewhere.
2017-10-02 06:48:29
Tom
I understand that RoboCopy comes on windows but I don't see it on my machine to give it a try. Even trying to search Microsoft is rather confusing.
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