Windows 7: ROBOCOPY - Create Backup Script

Thanks NailIT! Welcome to SevenForums!

I just joined after finding your excellent discussion from a Google search. Thanks for all the good information. I'm just starting to set a backup strategy to an external USB drive. I first just copied the directories but I noticed that the dates on the directories changed to the current date and some of the file dates changed also--that will not work for me.

I used your most simple command line:
robocopy E:\Data1 G:\Backups\Data1 /e /mir /np /log:backup_log.txt

When I ran this with my direcotires and qiuckly checked the desintation, which was blank. created new directories with the current date--again not what I wanted.

2 Questions---

1 Is there a way to use Robocopy to preserve all the dates for all directories and all files?

2 Is there a way to select copies from the source by FILE CREATION DATE? (Secondarily, can you point me to a good reference to dates for files and directories--I have heard that there are three different dates, creation, last modified, and last accessed)

Thank you.

Hi Mooring10,

Thanks for the feedback, and apologies for the delayed reply.

The modified date of the folder will always change to the date that the copy is performed, since the folder is newly created on the USB device. The modified date of the files, however, should not change. Can you please check:
- the date of the folder
- the date of the files

To be sure that the file attributes (incl. dates) are copied and preserved, add the /COPYALL option as shown below:

To select files based on date, you need to use the /MAXLAD or /MINLAD OPTIONS. Please type the following at a command prompt and refer to those under the file selection options:

I found this articel that explains the different dates:
Build Your Skills: Learn to manipulate file time stamps in Windows | TechRepublic

Regards,
Golden

Thanks for your reply.

I trie your suggestion and used this line:

robocopy "C:\Data 01" "P:\WD My Book ES\Backups\Data 01" /e /mir /np /copyall /log:backup_log.txt
pause

Note I think the command line is word wrapping on me.

It goes to the pause statement without copying any files?

Hello. Awesome tutorial. I don't know yet how I've missed this robocopy command all those years.

Nevertheless, I have two questions:

1 - Which version is the current version or robocopy?
2 - How do I know which version do I have?

Believe me, I know how to use google, but I'm giving up. Also, there are at least two hot-fixes:
A robocopy command updates DACLs incorrectly in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
"Robocopy /B" does not copy the security information such as ACL in Windows 7 and in Windows Server 2008 R2

But, since I don't know which version I have I can't say for sure if I should apply them.
My current system is Windows 7 x64 SP1 with the latest updates.

Thanks in advance, and thanks again for this thread.

PS: The only "Manual" I can find is a file called robocopy.pdf with the title "Robocopy.exe Robust File Copy Utility Version XP010"... As far as I know that product version in fairly outdated...

Hi,

Thanks for the compliment.

In C:\Windows\System32, find and right-click on Robocopy, then click Properties. Under the Details tab, you will find the version of Robocopy.



Regards,
Golden

That was easy. Sorry, I've installed Windows 7 yesterday for the first time, hence my disorientation... hehe.

Well... I have the same version like you: 5.1.10.1027 but, shouldn't we have the 6.1.7601 bundled with Windows 7 (as Wikipedia says?) and if there is no 6.17601 version do you think I should apply those fixes?

UPDATE:

Ok, here is the thing: the latest version bundled with Windows 7 and vista is this one: 5.1.10.1027 (which is not the same version even when they share the same version number).

So I was thinking that there is no such a thing as version 6.1, and we have to correct wikipedia. But, reading here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3A...XP027.21.21.21

There is a link to one of the hotfixes which, aparently, updates robocopy to a 6.1 version...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2639043/en-us

I cannot confirm all this, but makes sense to me now.

Still I dunno if I should apply the fix....

I would only apply it if you need it.....setup a test run to see what happens.

I am having an issue with backing up the c:\user\username folder.
Here is my script:
robocopy "C:\Users\VocWorks User" E:\Backup /MIR /E
pause

It will copy Desktop, Favorites, My Documents, My Music and My Pictures. If there is any other folder in that directory it will not copy it. I have attached pictures of the Main drive and the Backup drive. Also it will only copy to the root of the drive not into a Folder called Backup. Any help would be greatly appropriated.

@champ488: Just for curiosity, why are you using both "/MIR /E" ? The manual says that "/MIR" Mirrors a directory tree (equivalent to /e plus /purge). So why the combination?

About the latest update to 6.1: Robocopy is working beautiful for me even when the Owner flag is not copied or updated with any possible switch combination. So, I will not take a risk breaking what already works, I'll wait for a proper release.