XCOPY - How do I display error messages?

[pgcohen]

I use XCOPY to automatically backup my files.
I use the following switches:
/C - Ignore errors
/Q - Copy quiet
I would like to see a report of any error XCOPY encounters while copying, but I have not been able to figure out how to do this.
Does anyone know if there is a way to make XCOPY provide error detail even while using above switches?

 

[Golden]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,

XCOPY doesn't really contain switches for error reports - any errors would simply show up in the cmd window.

Longer term, you may want to consider using something like ROBOCOPY, which is more robust and offers better reporting and mirroring (shorten backup time significantly) capability:

Type

robocopy /?

at a command prompt, or try this tutorial:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/187346-robocopy-create-backup-script.html

Regards,
Golden

 

[pgcohen]

Thank you so much for your response

I will definitely take a look at robocopy - never even heard of it prior.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Here is a post from member PParks on how he uses robocopy. I think this is verbatim from him:

"All you have to do is create a .bat file on your hard drive. Put the following syntax into the file

C:\windows\system32\robocopy D:\data I:\backups\data /E /MIR
C:\windows\system32\robocopy D:\music I:\backups\music /E /MIR
C:\windows\system32\robocopy D:\movies I:\backups\movies /E /MIR
C:\windows\system32\robocopy D:\pix I:\backups\pix /E /MIR

The /E includes directories that are empty
The /MIR tells it to mirror the source and the destination. Hence, if you delete the file from D:\data, it will remove it from the I:\backups\data folder as well.

robocopy only gets changes...so the first run takes awhile, and subsequent runs are fast..as it's only files which have changed."

 

[Golden]

The various swicthes are covered in that tutorial, but heed the warning about the /MIR switch.

Post back if anything is unclear in that tutorial and I'll explain it. If you would like some help setting up a custom .BAT file with the robocopy commands, just let me know.

Regards,
Golden

 

[pgcohen]

Wow - thanks so much for your responses.
I guess my next step is to find an appropriate profile picture to match my ignorance

 

[Golden]

Hey, no problem - we were all ignorant at some point

Post back here (or directly in the tutorial) if you need any further help, I'll be more than happy to assist.

Regards,
Golden