I often have occasion to copy or move large blocks of files from one
partition to another.

Win XP SP2 has never told me yet that it has lost a byte here or a byte
there. Can I assume that all transfers are done flawlessly and with zero
data loss? Will Windows let me know if it accidentally loses or mangles a
few bytes while transferring data?

--
Walter
www.rationality.net
-

Walter R. wrote:

> I often have occasion to copy or move large blocks of files from one
> partition to another.
>
> Win XP SP2 has never told me yet that it has lost a byte here or a byte
> there. Can I assume that all transfers are done flawlessly and with zero
> data loss? Will Windows let me know if it accidentally loses or mangles a
> few bytes while transferring data?
>

How would it know? It doesn't do a bit by bit copy verify. On the other
hand, when the system doesn't suffer hardware failure it works great.
The majority of the "data loss" is user error, followed by outright
drive failure. (which the user didn't backup)

On Sep 5, 5:59*pm, "Walter R." <we...@example.com> wrote:
> I often have occasion to copy or move large blocks of files from one
> partition to another.
>
> Win XP SP2 *has never told me yet that it has lost a byte here or a byte
> there. Can I assume that all transfers are done flawlessly and with zero
> data loss? Will Windows let me know if it accidentally loses or mangles a
> few bytes while transferring data?
>
> --
> Walterwww.rationality.net
> -

Nothing is every fool-proof. Xcopy has been around for some time and
may be reliable.

Well, I was wondering if it uses some kind of checksum before and after the
transfer. It should. Otherwise, Windows would be inherently unreliable.

Anyone know?

--
Walter
www.rationality.net
-
"Bob I" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
> Walter R. wrote:
>
>> I often have occasion to copy or move large blocks of files from one
>> partition to another.
>>
>> Win XP SP2 has never told me yet that it has lost a byte here or a byte
>> there. Can I assume that all transfers are done flawlessly and with zero
>> data loss? Will Windows let me know if it accidentally loses or mangles a
>> few bytes while transferring data?
>>
>
> How would it know? It doesn't do a bit by bit copy verify. On the other
> hand, when the system doesn't suffer hardware failure it works great. The
> majority of the "data loss" is user error, followed by outright drive
> failure. (which the user didn't backup)
>

"smlunatick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:dc32b5c6-2208-4f87-8116-(E-Mail Removed)...
On Sep 5, 5:59 pm, "Walter R." <we...@example.com> wrote:
> I often have occasion to copy or move large blocks of files from one
> partition to another.
>
> Win XP SP2 has never told me yet that it has lost a byte here or a byte
> there. Can I assume that all transfers are done flawlessly and with zero
> data loss? Will Windows let me know if it accidentally loses or mangles a
> few bytes while transferring data?
>
> --
> Walterwww.rationality.net
> -

Nothing is every fool-proof. Xcopy has been around for some time and
may be reliable.

==============

.. . . and it has a /v (verify) switch!

Pegasus (MVP) wrote:

> "smlunatick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:dc32b5c6-2208-4f87-8116-(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Sep 5, 5:59 pm, "Walter R." <we...@example.com> wrote:
>
>>I often have occasion to copy or move large blocks of files from one
>>partition to another.
>>
>>Win XP SP2 has never told me yet that it has lost a byte here or a byte
>>there. Can I assume that all transfers are done flawlessly and with zero
>>data loss? Will Windows let me know if it accidentally loses or mangles a
>>few bytes while transferring data?
>>
>>--
>>Walterwww.rationality.net
>>-
>
>
> Nothing is every fool-proof. Xcopy has been around for some time and
> may be reliable.
>
> ==============
>
> . . . and it has a /v (verify) switch!
>

Don't bet on that.

Using /v
Windows XP does not use this command. It is accepted only for
compatibility with MS-DOS files.

and

VERIFY ON, COPY /V, XCOPY /V Commands Do Not Compare Data
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/126457

Walter R. wrote:
> Well, I was wondering if it uses some kind of checksum before and after the
> transfer. It should. Otherwise, Windows would be inherently unreliable.
>
> Anyone know?
>

Well, even if _XP_ doesn't do it, there is nothing to stop _you_ from
generating a checksum or hash before the copy and then it afterward to make
sure that it worked properly. You could do a simple CSV. Or do an MD5. Or
even generate 10% of PAR2 files and copy them along with the originals and
then your copies will be to a large extent self-repairing even if something
goes awry.

John McGaw
http://johnmcgaw.com

"Bob I" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
> Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
>
>> "smlunatick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:dc32b5c6-2208-4f87-8116-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> On Sep 5, 5:59 pm, "Walter R." <we...@example.com> wrote:
>>
>>>I often have occasion to copy or move large blocks of files from one
>>>partition to another.
>>>
>>>Win XP SP2 has never told me yet that it has lost a byte here or a byte
>>>there. Can I assume that all transfers are done flawlessly and with zero
>>>data loss? Will Windows let me know if it accidentally loses or mangles a
>>>few bytes while transferring data?
>>>
>>>--
>>>Walterwww.rationality.net
>>>-
>>
>>
>> Nothing is every fool-proof. Xcopy has been around for some time and
>> may be reliable.
>>
>> ==============
>>
>> . . . and it has a /v (verify) switch!
>
> Don't bet on that.
>
> Using /v
> Windows XP does not use this command. It is accepted only for
> compatibility with MS-DOS files.
>
> and
>
> VERIFY ON, COPY /V, XCOPY /V Commands Do Not Compare Data
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/126457
>

Well, I learn something new every day! BTW, I assume you meant to write
Windows XP does not use this switch instead of
Windows XP does not use this command.
because the command "xcopy.exe" is fully supported under WinXP (even though
it is now deprecated in favour of robocopy).

Bob I wrote:
> Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
>
>> "smlunatick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:dc32b5c6-2208-4f87-8116-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> On Sep 5, 5:59 pm, "Walter R." <we...@example.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I often have occasion to copy or move large blocks of files from one
>>> partition to another.
>>>
>>> Win XP SP2 has never told me yet that it has lost a byte here or a
>>> byte there. Can I assume that all transfers are done flawlessly and
>>> with zero data loss? Will Windows let me know if it accidentally
>>> loses or mangles a few bytes while transferring data?
>>>
>>> --
>>> Walterwww.rationality.net
>>> -
>>
>>
>> Nothing is every fool-proof. Xcopy has been around for some time and
>> may be reliable.
>>
>> ==============
>>
>> . . . and it has a /v (verify) switch!
>>
>
> Don't bet on that.
>
> Using /v
> Windows XP does not use this command. It is accepted only for
> compatibility with MS-DOS files.
>

Whatever. It still has the "/V" switch, even if the switch is a no-op.

Then there's the placebo effect...

> Then there's the placebo effect...
>

ROFL!