Microsoft KB Archive/240268

= COPY, XCOPY, and MOVE Overwrite Functionality Changes in Windows =

Article ID: 240268

Article Last Modified on 3/1/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server

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This article was previously published under Q240268





SUMMARY
To bring Cmd.exe into conformity with the Microsoft MS-DOS 6.x and Microsoft Windows 95 command shells (Command.com), Microsoft has added support for overwrite warnings. When you are copying or moving files from one location to another, if the files already exist in the destination folder, you receive an "overwrite" warning that prompts for confirmation before overwriting the file.

This behavior is controllable with the /y switch.



MORE INFORMATION
This information is currently documented in the copy /?, xcopy /?, and move /? commands. The switch information for each command includes:

Move
Moves files and renames files and directories.

To move one or more files: MOVE [/Y | /-Y] [drive:][path]filename1[,...] destination

To rename a directory: MOVE [/Y | /-Y] [drive:][path]dirname1 dirname2

[drive:][path]filename1 Specifies the location and name of the file or files you want to move. destination            Specifies the new location of the file. Destination can consist of a drive letter and colon, a                         directory name, or a combination. If you are moving only one file, you can also include a filename if                         you want to rename the file when you move it. [drive:][path]dirname1 Specifies the directory you want to rename. dirname2               Specifies the new name of the directory.

/Y                     Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to                          overwrite an existing destination file. /-Y                    Causes prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an existing destination file.

The switch /Y may be present in the COPYCMD environment variable. This may be overridden with /-Y on the command line. Default is to prompt on overwrites unless MOVE command is being executed from within a batch script.

Xcopy
Copies files and directory trees.

XCOPY source [destination] [/A | /M] [/D[:date]] [/P] [/S [/E]] [/V] [/W] [/C] [/I] [/Q] [/F] [/L] [/H] [/R] [/T] [/U] [/K] [/N] [/O] [/X] [/Y] [/-Y] [/Z] [/EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...]

source      Specifies the file(s) to copy. destination Specifies the location and/or name of new files. /A          Copies only files with the archive attribute set, doesn't change the attribute. /M          Copies only files with the archive attribute set, turns off the archive attribute. /D:m-d-y    Copies files changed on or after the specified date. If no date is given, copies only those files whose source time is newer than the destination time. /EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...              Specifies a list of files containing strings. When any of the strings match any part of the absolute path of the file to be              copied, that file will be excluded from being copied. For example, specifying a string like \obj\ or .obj will exclude all files underneath the directory obj or all files with the .obj extension respectively. /P          Prompts you before creating each destination file. /S          Copies directories and subdirectories except empty ones. /E          Copies directories and subdirectories, including empty ones. Same as /S /E. May be used to modify /T. /V          Verifies each new file. /W          Prompts you to press a key before copying. /C          Continues copying even if errors occur. /I          If destination does not exist and copying more than one file, assumes that destination must be a directory. /Q          Does not display file names while copying. /F          Displays full source and destination file names while copying. /L          Displays files that would be copied. /H          Copies hidden and system files also. /R          Overwrites read-only files. /T          Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not include empty directories or subdirectories. /T /E includes empty directories and subdirectories. /U          Copies only files that already exist in destination. /K          Copies attributes. Normal Xcopy will reset read-only attributes. /N          Copies using the generated short names. /O          Copies file ownership and ACL information. /X          Copies file audit settings (implies /O). /Y          Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an               existing destination file. /-Y         Causes prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an               existing destination file. /Z          Copies networked files in restartable mode.

The switch /Y may be preset in the COPYCMD environment variable. This may be overridden with /-Y on the command line.

Copy
Copies one or more files to another location.

COPY [/V] [/N] [/Y | /-Y] [/Z] [/A | /B ] source [/A | /B] [+ source [/A | /B] [+ ...]] [destination [/A | /B]]

source      Specifies the file or files to be copied. /A          Indicates an ASCII text file. /B          Indicates a binary file. destination Specifies the directory and/or filename for the new file(s). /V          Verifies that new files are written correctly. /N          Uses short filename, if available, when copying a file with a               non-8dot3 name. /Y          Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an               existing destination file. /-Y         Causes prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an               existing destination file. /Z          Copies networked files in restartable mode.

The switch /Y may be preset in the COPYCMD environment variable. This may be overridden with /-Y on the command line. Default is to prompt on overwrites unless COPY command is being executed from within a batch script.

To append files, specify a single file for destination, but multiple files for source (using wildcards or file1+file2+file3 format).

Keywords: kbfaq kbinfo KB240268

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