Help! Need a robust copying tool which copies all files

Odelot said:

I'm still looking for a robust copying tool which will copy all files from a set of directories to an external drive.

I'm not sure I fully appreciate what you're looking for that makes it unique or special from a good "backup/restore" software product that deals with folders and files.

I can highly recommend NovaBACKUP from NovaStor (not free, but very modestly priced). It supports both "backup/restore" of selected folders and files, as well as "copy" of selected folders and files. The BACKUP function is like ZIP in that all selected folders/files from selected drives are placed into a single target output file. The COPY function is what you'd expect, namely a complete copy of the selected folder/file tree structure from source to destination.

It has a very intuitive "old fashioned" simple and text-based Explorer-tree-like interface (i.e. not GUI), and also utilizes VSS Shadow Copy so that you can backup/copy "open files". You won't miss getting a file because it is "in use" by some program while the backup/copy job gets run.

There's no problem with long file names. And the backup/copy job can be run with a specific user logon, if you have some special access/permission concern.

Product has a free 30-day trial, if you want to see if it works for your needs. But again, very modestly priced.

I hope batch script created by my friend Hackoo and modified by me is what you are looking for.

If you just want a dynamic versatile utility that will sync folders this is a great program.

FreeFileSync - Free Data Backup and File Synchronization Software

I haven't challenged the robustness of this yes, (Hidden and locked files or empty folders or over network sync), but it is awesome and fast.