Copying Folder to External Hard Drive

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
 
D

DL

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.
 
J

JamesJ

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
 
J

JamesJ

Anyway I found a solution.
Create the folder first then drag and drop.
No more messages
Duh.
 
D

DL

You dont need a particular program to access data files
I also trust E is not a partition of a single drive
 
J

JamesJ

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...
 
J

JamesJ

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
 
R

Richard G. Harper

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.
 
J

JamesJ

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...
 
D

DL

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
 
B

Bill Daggett

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.
 
G

Gordon

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....
 
R

Richard G. Harper

Yep, should be. Open a command prompt window and type robocopy /? to
check - if you see the program help screen you are all set.
 
J

JamesJ

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...
 
R

Richard G. Harper

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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