Copy and paste problem with Vista

[MaryL]

I keep multiple backups of my data and digital images. Some of my "backups"
are really copies that I keep on external hard disks. There was no problem
when I used XP. I would simply copy files or folders from drive C:\ and
paste into the external hard disks. However, I have run into a problem ever
since I got my new computer with Vista. I don't know if it is a Vista
problem or if it is a problem that I am causing because I am now back to
being a newbie again. For example, I wll copy folders with a large number
of files. Then I will start getting *numerous* reports like this: "The
file...has properties that cannot be copied to the new location" and "Are
you sure you want to copy this file without its properties?" Another
frequent message is one that says I am about to copy a file over another.
Do I want to do that. Well, it *should not* have found a duplicate file
unless the file is within the files I am copying because I delete old
"backups"/copies before I start the new copy-and-paste job.

Can anyone explain what is going on here and what I can do to avoid it?
And, most especially, I want to be sure that I am not copying something that
will have no value in case I need to retrieve something from that disk.

I am using a Dell 530 with Vista Home Premium.

Thanks,
MaryL

 

[Bob]

Is the external drive in NTFS format?

Have you gone the the drive manufactures site and installed the latest
drivers?

 

[MaryL]

I have several external hard disks from three manufacturers (HP, Iomega, and
I/O Magic). Some are formatted Fat32 and some are NTFS. I have not
downloaded drivers. To be honest, I didn't think about it since all
"seemed" to show up correctly under plug and play. On the other hand,
*all* of the disks have returned the same messages that I described.

(1) Would it be better to reformat all of them as NTFS?
(2) Does this sound like something where I need to locate drivers for every
disk?

Thanks,
MaryL

 

[Bob]

If you're having the problem only with the FAT32 disk(s) I would suggest you
convert it to NTFS.

 

[MaryL]

I have several external hard disks. Three of them were FAT32, and I have
now formatted them as NTFS. That provided "partial" success. I no longer
get the error message that says "The file...has properties that cannot be
copied to the new location." So, the formatting seems to have been the
solution for that one. I continued to get the message that said I was about
to copy a file over another. I still don't understand what would cause
that, especially since these were newly-formatted disks. On the positive
side, though, I now only received that message for 9 files, and it was
always the same 9 files. I located the files on drive c:\. In each case,
the file names had been changed and were truncated to 8 characters plus "~"
(like the old DOS files). All were old and none were important, so I simply
deleted them instead of renaming them. I have since copied everything to
one of the external disks -- and there were *no* error messages. So,
whatever caused the problem, it may be that it has been solved. (I
certainly hope so!)

Thanks for the help.

MaryL

 

[Bob]

I don't know why you got the "copy a file over another message" but you can
use the Vista Backup program, or you can write a simple batch file like
this:

xcopy /y [path]\[filename] [drive letter:\folder name]

To copy all of the files in a folder use *.* instead of filename.

The "/y" switch will replace existing files without a confirmation prompt.

 

[MaryL]

Thanks. One final question: Can you please explain where/how I would type
in the batch file? I used to write batch files in DOS (many years ago), so
I recognize what you are saying -- but I don't know where to enter this
information in Vista.

MaryL

I don't know why you got the "copy a file over another message" but you
can use the Vista Backup program, or you can write a simple batch file like
this:

xcopy /y [path]\[filename] [drive letter:\folder name]

To copy all of the files in a folder use *.* instead of filename.

The "/y" switch will replace existing files without a confirmation prompt.

I have several external hard disks. Three of them were FAT32, and I have
now formatted them as NTFS. That provided "partial" success. I no longer
get the error message that says "The file...has properties that cannot be
copied to the new location." So, the formatting seems to have been the
solution for that one. I continued to get the message that said I was
about to copy a file over another. I still don't understand what would
cause that, especially since these were newly-formatted disks. On the
positive side, though, I now only received that message for 9 files, and
it was always the same 9 files. I located the files on drive c:\. In
each case, the file names had been changed and were truncated to 8
characters plus "~" (like the old DOS files). All were old and none were
important, so I simply deleted them instead of renaming them. I have
since copied everything to one of the external disks -- and there were
*no* error messages. So, whatever caused the problem, it may be that it
has been solved. (I certainly hope so!)

Thanks for the help.

MaryL

 

[Bob]

Open NotePad.
Enter your batch file text and choose "all files" not "text" when you save
it. Be sure to save it with the .bat extension. If done correctly the file
will display a gear icon.
Have some fun and copy and paste the following to the end of your file.

@echo off

inputbox.vbs echo Dim Input

cscript /nologo inputbox.vbs
del inputbox.vbs

Thanks. One final question: Can you please explain where/how I would
type in the batch file? I used to write batch files in DOS (many years
ago), so I recognize what you are saying -- but I don't know where to
enter this information in Vista.

MaryL

I don't know why you got the "copy a file over another message" but you
can use the Vista Backup program, or you can write a simple batch file
like this:

xcopy /y [path]\[filename] [drive letter:\folder name]

To copy all of the files in a folder use *.* instead of filename.

The "/y" switch will replace existing files without a confirmation
prompt.

I have several external hard disks. Three of them were FAT32, and I have
now formatted them as NTFS. That provided "partial" success. I no
longer get the error message that says "The file...has properties that
cannot be copied to the new location." So, the formatting seems to have
been the solution for that one. I continued to get the message that said
I was about to copy a file over another. I still don't understand what
would cause that, especially since these were newly-formatted disks. On
the positive side, though, I now only received that message for 9 files,
and it was always the same 9 files. I located the files on drive c:\.
In each case, the file names had been changed and were truncated to 8
characters plus "~" (like the old DOS files). All were old and none were
important, so I simply deleted them instead of renaming them. I have
since copied everything to one of the external disks -- and there were
*no* error messages. So, whatever caused the problem, it may be that it
has been solved. (I certainly hope so!)

Thanks for the help.

MaryL

 

[MaryL]

Thanks again! I see that my question wasn't clear, though. I really meant,
how do I run the batch file? In DOS and even in earlier versions of
Windows, I would run batch files from the command line. What about Vista?

MaryL

Open NotePad.
Enter your batch file text and choose "all files" not "text" when you save
it. Be sure to save it with the .bat extension. If done correctly the file
will display a gear icon.
Have some fun and copy and paste the following to the end of your file.

@echo off

inputbox.vbs echo Dim Input

cscript /nologo inputbox.vbs
del inputbox.vbs

Thanks. One final question: Can you please explain where/how I would
type in the batch file? I used to write batch files in DOS (many years
ago), so I recognize what you are saying -- but I don't know where to
enter this information in Vista.

MaryL

I don't know why you got the "copy a file over another message" but you
can use the Vista Backup program, or you can write a simple batch file
like this:

xcopy /y [path]\[filename] [drive letter:\folder name]

To copy all of the files in a folder use *.* instead of filename.

The "/y" switch will replace existing files without a confirmation
prompt.

I have several external hard disks. Three of them were FAT32, and I
have now formatted them as NTFS. That provided "partial" success. I no
longer get the error message that says "The file...has properties that
cannot be copied to the new location." So, the formatting seems to
have been the solution for that one. I continued to get the message
that said I was about to copy a file over another. I still don't
understand what would cause that, especially since these were
newly-formatted disks. On the positive side, though, I now only
received that message for 9 files, and it was always the same 9 files.
I located the files on drive c:\. In each case, the file names had been
changed and were truncated to 8 characters plus "~" (like the old DOS
files). All were old and none were important, so I simply deleted them
instead of renaming them. I have since copied everything to one of the
external disks -- and there were *no* error messages. So, whatever
caused the problem, it may be that it has been solved. (I certainly
hope so!)

Thanks for the help.

MaryL

 

[Bob]

As long as your batch file contains the correct path all you need to do is
click on it. If your keyboard offers user defined hotkeys you can assign a
hotkey to the file.

Thanks again! I see that my question wasn't clear, though. I really
meant, how do I run the batch file? In DOS and even in earlier versions
of Windows, I would run batch files from the command line. What about
Vista?

MaryL

Open NotePad.
Enter your batch file text and choose "all files" not "text" when you
save it. Be sure to save it with the .bat extension. If done correctly
the file will display a gear icon.
Have some fun and copy and paste the following to the end of your file.

@echo off

inputbox.vbs echo Dim Input
inputbox.vbs echo Input = ("GOOD JOB MARY! COPY COMPLETE! GIMME FIVE!")
inputbox.vbs echo MsgBox (Input)

cscript /nologo inputbox.vbs
del inputbox.vbs

Thanks. One final question: Can you please explain where/how I would
type in the batch file? I used to write batch files in DOS (many years
ago), so I recognize what you are saying -- but I don't know where to
enter this information in Vista.

MaryL


I don't know why you got the "copy a file over another message" but you
can use the Vista Backup program, or you can write a simple batch file
like this:

xcopy /y [path]\[filename] [drive letter:\folder name]

To copy all of the files in a folder use *.* instead of filename.

The "/y" switch will replace existing files without a confirmation
prompt.

I have several external hard disks. Three of them were FAT32, and I
have now formatted them as NTFS. That provided "partial" success. I
no longer get the error message that says "The file...has properties
that cannot be copied to the new location." So, the formatting seems
to have been the solution for that one. I continued to get the message
that said I was about to copy a file over another. I still don't
understand what would cause that, especially since these were
newly-formatted disks. On the positive side, though, I now only
received that message for 9 files, and it was always the same 9 files.
I located the files on drive c:\. In each case, the file names had been
changed and were truncated to 8 characters plus "~" (like the old DOS
files). All were old and none were important, so I simply deleted them
instead of renaming them. I have since copied everything to one of the
external disks -- and there were *no* error messages. So, whatever
caused the problem, it may be that it has been solved. (I certainly
hope so!)

Thanks for the help.

MaryL

 

[Dave]

You can run your batch file from Windows, or from a command prompt
Winkey-R (shortcut to the Run command)
type CMD
Enter


--
http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview

Thanks again! I see that my question wasn't clear, though. I really
meant, how do I run the batch file? In DOS and even in earlier versions
of Windows, I would run batch files from the command line. What about
Vista?

MaryL

Open NotePad.
Enter your batch file text and choose "all files" not "text" when you
save it. Be sure to save it with the .bat extension. If done correctly
the file will display a gear icon.
Have some fun and copy and paste the following to the end of your file.

@echo off

inputbox.vbs echo Dim Input
inputbox.vbs echo Input = ("GOOD JOB MARY! COPY COMPLETE! GIMME FIVE!")
inputbox.vbs echo MsgBox (Input)

cscript /nologo inputbox.vbs
del inputbox.vbs

Thanks. One final question: Can you please explain where/how I would
type in the batch file? I used to write batch files in DOS (many years
ago), so I recognize what you are saying -- but I don't know where to
enter this information in Vista.

MaryL


I don't know why you got the "copy a file over another message" but you
can use the Vista Backup program, or you can write a simple batch file
like this:

xcopy /y [path]\[filename] [drive letter:\folder name]

To copy all of the files in a folder use *.* instead of filename.

The "/y" switch will replace existing files without a confirmation
prompt.

I have several external hard disks. Three of them were FAT32, and I
have now formatted them as NTFS. That provided "partial" success. I
no longer get the error message that says "The file...has properties
that cannot be copied to the new location." So, the formatting seems
to have been the solution for that one. I continued to get the message
that said I was about to copy a file over another. I still don't
understand what would cause that, especially since these were
newly-formatted disks. On the positive side, though, I now only
received that message for 9 files, and it was always the same 9 files.
I located the files on drive c:\. In each case, the file names had been
changed and were truncated to 8 characters plus "~" (like the old DOS
files). All were old and none were important, so I simply deleted them
instead of renaming them. I have since copied everything to one of the
external disks -- and there were *no* error messages. So, whatever
caused the problem, it may be that it has been solved. (I certainly
hope so!)

Thanks for the help.

MaryL

 

[Bob]

Why add steps when simply clicking the file will run it?

You can run your batch file from Windows, or from a command prompt
Winkey-R (shortcut to the Run command)
type CMD
Enter


--
http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview

Thanks again! I see that my question wasn't clear, though. I really
meant, how do I run the batch file? In DOS and even in earlier versions
of Windows, I would run batch files from the command line. What about
Vista?

MaryL

Open NotePad.
Enter your batch file text and choose "all files" not "text" when you
save it. Be sure to save it with the .bat extension. If done correctly
the file will display a gear icon.
Have some fun and copy and paste the following to the end of your file.

@echo off
inputbox.vbs echo Dim Input
inputbox.vbs echo Input = ("GOOD JOB MARY! COPY COMPLETE! GIMME
FIVE!")
inputbox.vbs echo MsgBox (Input)
cscript /nologo inputbox.vbs
del inputbox.vbs



Thanks. One final question: Can you please explain where/how I would
type in the batch file? I used to write batch files in DOS (many years
ago), so I recognize what you are saying -- but I don't know where to
enter this information in Vista.

MaryL


I don't know why you got the "copy a file over another message" but
you can use the Vista Backup program, or you can write a simple batch
file like this:

xcopy /y [path]\[filename] [drive letter:\folder name]

To copy all of the files in a folder use *.* instead of filename.

The "/y" switch will replace existing files without a confirmation
prompt.

I have several external hard disks. Three of them were FAT32, and I
have now formatted them as NTFS. That provided "partial" success. I
no longer get the error message that says "The file...has properties
that cannot be copied to the new location." So, the formatting seems
to have been the solution for that one. I continued to get the
message that said I was about to copy a file over another. I still
don't understand what would cause that, especially since these were
newly-formatted disks. On the positive side, though, I now only
received that message for 9 files, and it was always the same 9 files.
I located the files on drive c:\. In each case, the file names had
been changed and were truncated to 8 characters plus "~" (like the old
DOS files). All were old and none were important, so I simply deleted
them instead of renaming them. I have since copied everything to one
of the external disks -- and there were *no* error messages. So,
whatever caused the problem, it may be that it has been solved. (I
certainly hope so!)

Thanks for the help.

MaryL

 

[Dave]

I agree, but MaryL wanted to know how to get to the command prompt....


--
http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview

Why add steps when simply clicking the file will run it?

You can run your batch file from Windows, or from a command prompt
Winkey-R (shortcut to the Run command)
type CMD
Enter


--
http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview

Thanks again! I see that my question wasn't clear, though. I really
meant, how do I run the batch file? In DOS and even in earlier versions
of Windows, I would run batch files from the command line. What about
Vista?

MaryL

Open NotePad.
Enter your batch file text and choose "all files" not "text" when you
save it. Be sure to save it with the .bat extension. If done correctly
the file will display a gear icon.
Have some fun and copy and paste the following to the end of your file.

@echo off
inputbox.vbs echo Dim Input
inputbox.vbs echo Input = ("GOOD JOB MARY! COPY COMPLETE! GIMME
FIVE!")
inputbox.vbs echo MsgBox (Input)
cscript /nologo inputbox.vbs
del inputbox.vbs



Thanks. One final question: Can you please explain where/how I would
type in the batch file? I used to write batch files in DOS (many
years ago), so I recognize what you are saying -- but I don't know
where to enter this information in Vista.

MaryL


I don't know why you got the "copy a file over another message" but
you can use the Vista Backup program, or you can write a simple batch
file like this:

xcopy /y [path]\[filename] [drive letter:\folder name]

To copy all of the files in a folder use *.* instead of filename.

The "/y" switch will replace existing files without a confirmation
prompt.

I have several external hard disks. Three of them were FAT32, and I
have now formatted them as NTFS. That provided "partial" success. I
no longer get the error message that says "The file...has properties
that cannot be copied to the new location." So, the formatting
seems to have been the solution for that one. I continued to get the
message that said I was about to copy a file over another. I still
don't understand what would cause that, especially since these were
newly-formatted disks. On the positive side, though, I now only
received that message for 9 files, and it was always the same 9
files. I located the files on drive c:\. In each case, the file names
had been changed and were truncated to 8 characters plus "~" (like
the old DOS files). All were old and none were important, so I
simply deleted them instead of renaming them. I have since copied
everything to one of the external disks -- and there were *no* error
messages. So, whatever caused the problem, it may be that it has
been solved. (I certainly hope so!)

Thanks for the help.

MaryL