ROBOCOPY - Create Backup Script

jraju · 09 Aug 2017

Hi, No reply to my query from any expert. could i expect a reply

0pTicaL · 09 Aug 2017

jraju said:

Hi, I know and read the tutorials and tried myself a bit copying using robocopy which is a free larger size copy commands at cmd.
i tried and copies so much files but now i am having issues with it.
I want to copy a logical drive totally to a ext hard disk and i used this formula, which came with error .
i miss something , would you please correct it
robocopy d:\ g:\appacomputer /E/copyall/dcopy:T
where my d:\ is a logical drive and g:\appacomputer is the destination folder (ext.hdd.disk).
what is the mistake in the formula, it gives error such as destination not specified etc..
Somewhere in some forum, i read it and made some slash changes, which immediately copied , but only the folders and sub folders without the files .
Immediate response would be helpful as, i want to take a backup of the drive , as i am facing data loss. pl
N.B: i want the date of folders and files of original date as at d: drive

You need spaces between /E/copyall/dcopy:T, like this:

D:\ G:\appacomputer /E /COPYALL /DCOPY:T

jraju · 10 Aug 2017

Hi, Thanks for your reply at last.
Definitely i will try. But what is the error, that i committed and what would happen if i use my incorrect formula? This is for my learning

jraju · 12 Dec 2017

Hi, why no reply was given for the sub query please

essenbe · 13 Dec 2017

I am not an expert, but I am not sure what you are asking. You want to know what would happen if you use an incorrect formula? If it is not correct, why would you want to use it because it will not give you the results you want.

I have been told it will work, but I have always had problems copying a drive to a drive. The tutorial says Robocopy is basically a folder to folder copy and that is the way I use it. Using it as a folder to folder copy works very well and I never have problems. Using it as a drive copy I have always had issues, but again, have been told it can be done.

In any command with robocopy or anything else, it requires the correct syntax. The commands have to be exact, written in the correct format. Any deviation, spacing, order or spelling mistake will create an error or do something you did not intend.

JDobbsy1987 · 13 Dec 2017

jraju said:

Hi, Thanks for your reply at last.
Definitely i will try. But what is the error, that i committed and what would happen if i use my incorrect formula? This is for my learning

It's hard to help with why you got the error as you haven't posted the actual error message you got (from what i can see) but the chances are the syntax was incorrect as per 0pTicaL response.

As per essenbe's response, if you run a command with an incorrect syntax it could just simply fail and do nothing or could actually run but under the wrong instructions / conditions and create an undesirable result such as duplicated, deleted or missing files etc...

The safest thing to do would be to test/learn on a test set of data or a different laptop/pc where possible until you are confident.

jraju · 16 Dec 2017

Hi, Essenbe, Your formula is correct. Why i have asked you is , it just not only copies the desired folder in the source, but tries to over copy something more, which resulted in error, waiting messages and not going further.
I just used your formula to retain the date of folder creation in a folder , source: external Hard drive. It was getting well with copying speed and correct. All of a sudden, i get error message, that the computer drive to which i am copying from source, space not enough and waiting for 30 seconds repeating the same thing over looping and again.. It was a backup file from macrium reflect, which i have not selected for copying.
I just quit , but found what i wanted. The other file had not been copied for want of space and so, it was enough that i got what i want, maintaining the date of folder creation. I wish to point out, that this folder was not visible at first. I just went to the folders and option menu to show all the files , to see the files.

essenbe · 16 Dec 2017

I'm glad it helped you. It is the switches that determines what is copied and how it does it. It will copy the folder and everything inside it. For instance, if you want the destination folder to be an exact duplicate of the source folder, I use the /mir switch.The /mir switch is mirror. But you always have to make sure you have the space on the destination drive. Post #1 in this thread tells what many of the switches do. This Technet article will explain more Robocopy. Just keep it a simple as possible.

jraju · 16 Dec 2017

Hi, Thanks once again.
I understand folder include sub folders and file in it.....
But what it copies is the files outside this folder that caused me the concern.
as already said, i first found out the folder , which was hidden in the ext.hdd.
This i could guess from the storage shown.
Then i used the folder copy to the computer to retain the date of creation, ie, date stamp.
It copied taking less time the entire folder i selected. But , after finishing it, it tries the other files present in outside this folder. Your command gives exact. source folder g:\xxxx destination d:\.
But it tries to copy a backup file, stored elsewhere on the same ext.hdd.
This , i could not guess.
The back up was created by using acronis application and stored in the ext.hdd for security backup purpose.I think that it mrmg. extension file, which normally is a large size file about 18 gb size.
So, while copying this file, i got the error and i quit.
I got all i wanted, as it copied the contents of the g:\xxxx folder.
am i making it clear
Your formula is simple to understand than the one at the link you give. It does not convey correctly.

essenbe · 16 Dec 2017

Really it should not copy anything you did not tell it to copy. Mine never does. I really don't have any idea why it would do that. I would check the path for your source folder to make sure it is correct.