Moving large number of files within same drive

[Lucvdv]

Up to XP, when you moved a folder containing many subfolders/files
underneath it to another location on the same drive, it went blazingly
fast because it would move just the one folder's entry in NTFS.

Not anymore in Vista: it moves everything file by file, even when it's
on the same drive, which can take a lot of time if you're moving a few
GB of small files.

I assume it is now done this way to enable the OS to adjust the search
index for each individual file, so it points to the new location.

Is there a way to make it revert to the XP way?

If I could get that for non-indexed locations only, it would be all I
need (I already keep the subtrees where I'm having the problem
unindexed, because the contents change too often and indexing would be
a bit pointless as the files often don't exist for more than a day and
I never use search there).

 

[Guest]

I have found that disabling Remote Differential Compression (as recommended
in assorted posts across the web) has improved my file copy/move speeds.

You can disable it by going to Control Panel...Uninstall Programs...Turn
Windows Features On and Off

- John

 

[Lucvdv]

Looking at the description of what RDC is, I thought it impossible
that it would have an affect on local move operations - but
incredibly, disabling it does the trick.

Thanks!

 

[Lucvdv]

Looking at the description of what RDC is, I thought it impossible
that it would have an affect on local move operations - but
incredibly, disabling it does the trick.

It's still significantly slower than it could be though.

The final solution: use the move command on a command prompt, or mv in
powershell. They're instantaneous, the slowness was caused by using
the explorer GUI.