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General discussion

copying files...

Jun 20, 2010 1:02AM PDT

I have Windows Vista Home Premium. When selecting folders and files from the root folder [C:\], and copying to an external HD[250GB], only the first 5 folders were copied. Why is this ? Thanks.

christy

Discussion is locked

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Let's try simple.
Jun 20, 2010 1:29AM PDT

Because a file or folder is locked, in use or your current account does not have permission.

But let me suggest you reveal what you are attempting to do. Such a copy sounds like you are trying to backup. This sort of backup is rarely useful.
Bob

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Why?
Jun 20, 2010 4:50AM PDT

Bob - Why do you say it's rarely useful? Is it because it's a HD? I always burn my data files to a DVD to back them up. Is it ok to back them up that way?

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Re: copying files
Jun 20, 2010 5:05AM PDT

Where does it go wrong? For example, you can't copy your users registry ntuser.dat in your folder in Documents and Settings.

There's little wrong with using an external hard disk as a backup for selected files. Things to realise:
1. You can't copy EVERYTHING. So have to know what to backup and what not to backup.
2. It's not VERY reliable. But as long as you still have the original on your PC it's fine. But it won't harm at all to have 2 backups on different media in stead of only one.

Kees

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For a moment, let's say we copied and
Jun 20, 2010 7:08AM PDT

Told the copy command to skip locked, open or files/folders that we don't have permission to. We end up with a collection of files which we are never sure we can use later.

This is why I asked for some clarification about what you were trying to do.
Bob

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btw...I'm not the op
Jun 20, 2010 7:31AM PDT

Don't think this changes anything in your answers. I don't copy to a ext HD. I burn to DVD.

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Sorry.
Jun 20, 2010 7:36AM PDT

When other members jump on other threads we may not know if it's the original poster some some members have two accounts (at work and elsewhere.)

If you want to discuss more I suggest a clean new shiny post with your question and very own topic.
Bob

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Sorry, I was confused.
Jun 20, 2010 7:39AM PDT

Backing up to DVD is fine, of course. But if you've got 500 GB of data it's tedious, to say the least. Then copying to an external hard disk is much easier (and only slightly less secure, as long as you keep the originals also).

Kees

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Re copying files...
Jun 20, 2010 9:27AM PDT

Thanks, Bob.

Yes - the copying was intended as a backup.
The source files and folders total some 180G, and the computer has 2G RAM, and free HD space of more than 150G The folders and files are data files only.

The folders and files were selected for copying via Organize > Select All, then the Ctrl key was used to deselect the system files and those not being copied. At the destination folder[external HD], copying was completed via Organize > Paste.

As I have mentioned, only 5 Folders were copied [the first five on the list of more than 20, in alphabetic order].

Is RAM an issue ? There were no error messages.

christy

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Addendum..
Jun 20, 2010 9:30AM PDT

The copying was done with a user account with administrator's privileges.

christy

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Not a RAM issue.
Jun 20, 2010 10:09AM PDT

And not an Admin issue. Windows has many files that are locked from reading no matter what account. There are ways around this. For example I used a VHD Creator from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/ee656415.aspx to capture ALL the files on my old XP laptop to a VHD file (works on Vista too). Later on Windows 7 I copied this over and mounted it there and can access all the files from the old machine.

But this is just an exercise in how I could show it would be possible to backup (but what about restore) files when the Windows OS is running.

-> For a full image backup of my laptop I don't use Windows but a CLONEZILLA boot CD and some USB hard drive. I have to schedule some hours for that to get done but I can backup and restore the entire machine when ever I want (for free no less.)

We also can boot up some Ubuntu CD (no install required) and since the Windows OS has no file locks in place one could copy all the files on C: to some other place.

Ok, we have ways to get around every possible lock and more. But what's the goal?

More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHD_(file_format) and google CLONEZILLA.
Bob

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Re files being locked
Jun 20, 2010 9:35PM PDT

I can appreciate that files can be locked by the OS, but these were my own folders and files, created by me. These files should not be locked. I am able to copy the folders and files, a few at a time, but not the whole lot at one go.

Thanks for the "disk2VHD" link and for introducing CLONEZILLA.

christy

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"These files should not be locked. "
Jun 20, 2010 9:53PM PDT

This is untrue in Windows. There are files in our folders that are locked while we are logged in. For example the ntuser.dat as a case in point. When I'm logged in, Windows locks that one as it is using it. If I log out I could copy that out.

There is a lot to learn here but your statement for this OS is untrue.
Bob

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ntuser.dat
Jun 21, 2010 12:04AM PDT

I know that file- cannot be deleted, cannot be copied...because it seems that it is always being in use; but you can tame it by using another user account[which has is own ntuser.dat]...that file is created by the system, not by me. Are you saying that my folders and files can be locked ? It is normal ? Unbelieveable !

christy

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This area.
Jun 21, 2010 12:17AM PDT

Is something of an OS DESIGN CLASS topic. Windows has its quirks but we can get what we need done with just a little research or insight.

Since I grew up during all this and programmed pre-PC (look up the GE-210) all this is an area that we would cover in a classroom or BIG book.

-->> Let's get back to defining goals and finding solutions.
Bob

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Work-around?
Jun 20, 2010 9:33PM PDT

You've copied 5 folders. Now the next 5. And so on.

Tell what doesn't work.

Kees

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Re work around...
Jun 21, 2010 12:32AM PDT

Thanks, Kees. That's what I have had to do, but I do not think it has to be that way.

christy

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I don't think so either.
Jun 21, 2010 5:10AM PDT

Try drag and drop in stead of copy/paste?

Or try command mode. xcopy has a lot of switches, free xxcopy has at least 10 times more. That's what I use (with the /backup switch) for these mass copies to external hard disk (in a batch file, to do 10 folders in 10 lines).
Others prefer the GUI and use syncback or free synctoy.

Your choice if you current method for some reason doesn't work.

Kees

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The xcopy memories run deep.
Jun 21, 2010 5:18AM PDT

The two words that help me remember the switches to backup without stopping are:


HICKORY
RICHKEYS

You can research what each option does in xcopy and yes, it works.
Bob