Copying Folder to External Hard Drive

  • Thread starter Thread starter JamesJ
  • Start date Start date
J

JamesJ

I frequently backup my Documents folder (which I have relocated to a folder
called DataFiles)
to my external hardrive. My problems stems from the fact that when I drag
and drop the folder
from c: to D:, if DataFiles already exists on E: I'm prompted with alt these
'Do want to merge,
do you want ot replace and other messages by Vista Home Bassic.
So, to eliminate this I deleted the folder on E: and then dragged and
dropped. Whgich went much
better. But, if somethging happens to the copy process I have no backup. I
decide to rename the
folder in E: from DataFiles top DataFiles_8-18-2009 which is the date of the
last copy. Well,
Vista still tels me 'The destinationalready contains a folder named
'DataFiles_8-18-2009'. The folder
I'm copying is 'DataFiles.
Is Vista that stupid or am I that stupid??
If fact no matter what I rename the folder on E: to it still gives me the
same message.

James
 
Since the Documents folder is a container for data files I'm curious as to
why you would want to move it to another named data folder.

Rather than a manual backup/copy process it might be simpler to use one of
the many backup/copy apps available, or even a batch file.
 
I want to be able to access the data without having to depend on a
particular program.
I want raw data that I can simply drag and drop. I also back up other
folders and they
are now kept in the sm,ae place. And I don't mean to be rude but, please
answer
the question instead of questioning my tactics all the timer here!!!

James
 
Anyway I found a solution.
Create the folder first then drag and drop.
No more messages
Duh.
 
You dont need a particular program to access data files
I also trust E is not a partition of a single drive
 
Don't want to insult Microsoft?


whs said:
I think your question was:" Is Vista that stupid or am I that stupid??
". I think I know the answer but I don't want to be rude.
Click to expand...
 
No, E is an external hard drive.
Just wondered why Vista gives me the impression that the folders have the
same
name when they clearly don't.

James
 
Have you considered alternative such as Robocopy? Part of Vista, the
Robocopy command-line tool has options including "Mirror" which will
synchronize one folder to another easily and quickly.
 
Part of Vista Basic?

James

Richard G. Harper said:
Have you considered alternative such as Robocopy? Part of Vista, the
Robocopy command-line tool has options including "Mirror" which will
synchronize one folder to another easily and quickly.
Click to expand...
 
Because Documents is not a 'true' folder, the same being true for My
Documents as in winxp
They are both 'virtual folders' for want of a better word
 
DL said:
Because Documents is not a 'true' folder, the same being true for My
Documents as in winxp
They are both 'virtual folders' for want of a better word
Click to expand...

That's interesting. AFAIK you are the only person who has ever said
that.

"Documents" IS a folder. "My Documents" is a shortcut for use by
older programs that weren't written for Vista.
 
Bill Daggett said:
That's interesting. AFAIK you are the only person who has ever said
that.

"Documents" IS a folder. "My Documents" is a shortcut for use by
older programs that weren't written for Vista.
Click to expand...

And interestingly Windows 7 has reverted to the "My" in front....
 
Yep, should be. Open a command prompt window and type robocopy /? to
check - if you see the program help screen you are all set.
 
Ok. It's there. Interesting.

James

Richard G. Harper said:
Yep, should be. Open a command prompt window and type robocopy /? to
check - if you see the program help screen you are all set.
Click to expand...
 
Very much so. And highly useful once you learn a couple command switches
with it. You can even schedule it with Task Scheduler and make it even more
useful.
 
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