Sort of OT: Re: copy utility
I'd call this post a little OT but none the less have added a few caveats
for the unwary since most don't RTFM before expecting everything to work
exactly as they 'think' it should work. xxcopy is an excellent application
that is command line driven and xxclone is BETA with recognized issues
remaining. Note the date and revision of the software.
See inline:
In news:hr8e6p$nhh$1@news.eternal-september.org,
Johnw <johnmattmel@gmail.com> typed:
> catatonic-state@today.com used his keyboard to write :
>> On Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13
22 -0700, "wu"
>> <fqwu2003@126.com.discuss> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> The copy/paste function in windows explorer is not good
>>> enough. If it cannot read one file during the copy
>>> process, explorer just give error message and skip all
>>> remaining files. Then I have no idea how may files have
>>> been copied unless to compare. It is painful when I copy
>>> huge amount of files. Is there any utility can solve this
>>> problem?
>>
>> I know just what you're saying. When I copy an entire
>> hard drive partition to my backup drive (external USB
>> drive), it often chokes on the Windows folder because of
>> system files, and that one file that serves as the swap
>> file in the root. I finally learned to copy everything
>> except the windows folder and that swap file. Then I
>> fight with the windows folder later. But I have to agree
>> that MS was really not smart when they implemented the way
>> "copy" works. It could just skip that file, continue on,
>> and leave a message saying xxxxx.xxx was skipped. But MS
>> is not so bright at times. I will try some of the other programs
>> mentioned in this
>> thread too. To the person who said use the "MOVE" function, that would
>> not work too well for a backup.
>
> These will work perfectly, same author.
>
> XXCOPY
> http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/File-Management/XXCOPY.shtml
> http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/XXCOPY-Screenshot-14055.html
> http://www.xxcopy.com/index.htm
> http://www.xxcopy.com/download/xxcopy.zip
XXCopy.exe can NOT back up an operating system because it doesn't use Shadow
Copy Services. It will skip all active OS files when it backs up.
The BEST source for XXCopy, complete with Help articles & all information
needed, is available at
www.xxcopy.com/ . Take the free version to begin
with if you're going to try it out; it's an outstanding application but
command line driven (runs fine in batch files) with several hundred switches
available.
>
> XXCLONE Freeware Package (for personal use only)
> http://xxclone.com/idwnload.htm
Note the version is 0.58.0, and dated 2007: It might be better to wait to
see if this BETA product is going to get anymore updating; it does have
bugs, a few of which are noted in the FAQ, which is necessary reading for
anyone planning to use it for serious work. TEST, test, test, before you
need it! Do not depend on it unless you have tested it in your own
application before you end up needing it.
Disk cloning programs are avalable from just about every disk mfr there
is. There are excellent reasons for that. An excerpt from xxclone's FAQ:
After a successful XXCLONE operation, I rebooted the system using the
newly cloned disk. Then, I discovered that my Office-XP says it needs a new
installation. What should I do?
A:
It is best that you re-install the application as required.
Although the cloned volume created by XXCLONE is capable of booting up the
system to a Windows operating environment very much like the original
environment, it just cannot be 100% the same.&nbps; In virtually all cases,
the hardware characteristics of the disk drives are differnt. Even if you
choose an idenical model from the same manufacturer, the serial numbers of
the disks are differnt.
There are a number of software products that are sensitive to minute
differences in the environment. Typically, it is a result of deliberate
design by the software vendor.
XXCLONE has just one provision to handle such chases. The Cool Tools >
Duplicate Vol. ID function allows you to copy the volume serial number from
the source volume to the target volume. For certain products (e.g., some
popular anti-virus products) that are finicky with the volume serial number,
the problem will go away with the change in the serial number. But, in our
view, the fundamental issue is that XXCLONE can only do so much within its
design parameters. It is our opinion that if a software product issues a
warning and suggests a specific solution, you should follow the instruction.
The duplication of the volume ID will not cure all such problems.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q:
Why won't XXCLNOE recognize my D: drive (CD/DVD) so I can make a bootable
copy ?
A:
Frankly, we are puzzled by the frequency of questions like this one. As
the name implies, XXClone "clones" the Windows system disk to another. We
mean a "faithful" duplication of a volume by "cloning". The target volume
must be a local disk drive. Currently, the target volume cannot even be a
remote computer, nor a subdirectory.
For us, "cloning" is not a synonym of backup.
==========
Here's a list of the basic XXCLONE features that are supported by *ALL*
packages of XXCLONE.
1.. makes a self-bootable clone of the system volume. <--- Might, not
does. Often further work is necessary. See FAQs.
2.. makes a full backup of a non-system volume. <--- Works GREAT! FAST!
3.. restores (repairs) the self-bootability. <---- Well, sorta
4.. makes a Quick Boot Diskette (QBD). <--- can be made to be useful
5.. makes a batch file for repeated operations. <--- Mostly works. ymmv
6.. may show an alternate wallpaper for distinct look.
7.. may shut down the system after its job is done. <--- or even before
IME
8.. may throttle down its CPU usage. <--- good option; allows use of
computer to continue during a backup.
9.. can save log and debug files.
10.. can add an entry in the boot menu for testing. <--- never figured
that out.
11.. can duplicate the Volume ID. <--- See FAQs
12.. can be run with command line options (batch file).
13.. can be invoked in minimized/hidden modes.
14.. provides a convenient button for the DiskMgmt tool.
All in all, ntbackup.exe requires less futzing and hoop jumping in my
xperience. I've always thought they'd get there but the product appears dead
and unsupported IMO; nothing since 2007.
IMO the drive mfr's clone utils are much better; there's a reason why
one mfr's cloner doesn't work for other mfr's and this is where xxclone hit
the wall, I think. I didn't think they were insurmountable problems, but
maybe they were.
HTH,
Twayne`
