PC FAQs & Answers

By Steve Robinson
For suggestion or comments contact Steve Robinson

The Powerful XCOPY32 Command

The XCOPY32 command is the most powerful command used to copy files. It can copy whole hard drives, directory trees, and even files with the Read Only attribute. Only Tape Backup or Zip Drive software can do this.
With a simple command like this you can copy your registry files to A: drive.

XCOPY C:\WINDOWS\*.DA0 A:/K/H
There's one criteria, you have to be in WIN95 MSDOS to get full usage of this command. If you restart your computer in MSDOS mode, over half of the options are no longer available. Here's a complete breakdown of the XCOPY command.
I've put a * by the WIN95/MSDOS only options.

XCOPY source [destination] [/A|/M] [/D[:date]] [/P] [/S[/E]] [/W] [/C] [/I] [/Q] [/F] [/L] [/H] [/R] [/T] [/U] [/K] [/N]
Source specifies the file(s) to copy. Destination specifies the location and/or name of new files.
/A Copies files with the archive attribute set, doesn't change the attribute.
/M Copies files with the archive attribute set, turns off the archive attribute.
/D:date Copies files changed on or after the specified date. If no date is given, copies only those files whose source time is newer than the destination time.
/P Prompts you before creating each destination file.
/S * Copies directories and subdirectories except empty ones.
/E * Copies directories and subdirectories, including empty ones. Same as /S /E. May be used to modify /T.
/W * Prompts you to press a key before copying.
/C * Continues copying even if errors occur.
/I * If destination does not exist and copying more than one file, assumes that destination must be a directory.
/Q * Does not display file names while copying.
/F * Displays full source and destination file names while copying.
/L * Displays files that would be copied.
/H * Copies hidden and system files also.
/R * Overwrites read-only files.
/T * Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not include empty directories or subdirectories. /T /E includes empty directories and subdirectories.
/U * Updates the files that already exist in destination.
/K * Copies attributes. Normal Xcopy will reset read-only attributes.
/Y Overwrites existing files without prompting.
/-Y Prompts you before overwriting existing files.
/N * Copy using the generated short names.
Knowing the full usage of the XCOPY command can turn a no win situation into a few keystrokes.

Steve is a second trick car inspector at the Crest Yard at Fort Worth.

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