Command: xcopy (rxcopy)
XCOPY copies files and directories, including subdirectories.
Syntax:
XCOPY source [destination] [options]
source Specifies the directory and/or name of file(s) to
copy. The source must be either a drive or a full
path.
destination Specifies the location and/or name of new file(s).
The destination to copy to. If not present, xcopy
assumes the working directory.
Options:
/A Copies only files with the archive attribute set and
doesn't change the attribute.
/C Continues copying even if errors occur.
/D[:M/D/Y] Copies only files which have been changed on or after the
specified date. When no date is specified, only files which
are newer than existing destination files will be copied.
/E Copies any subdirectories, even if empty.
/F Display full source and destination name.
/H Copies hidden and system files as well as unprotected
and system files.
/I If destination does not exist and copying more than one file,
assume destination is a directory.
/L List files without copying them. (simulates copying).
/M Copies only files with the archive attribute set and turns
off the archive attribute of the source files after copying
them.
/N Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
existing destination file and skips these files.
/P Prompts for confirmation before creating each destination
file.
/Q Quiet mode, don't show copied filenames.
/R Overwrite read-only files as well as unprotected files.
/S Copies directories and subdirectories except empty ones.
/T Creates directory tree without copying files. Empty
directories will not be copied. To copy them add switch /E.
/V Verifies each new file.
/W Waits for a keypress before beginning.
/Y Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
existing destination file and overwrites these files.
/-Y Causes prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
existing destination file.
/? Shows the help.
Comments:
The switch /Y or /N may be preset in the COPYCMD environment variable.
This may be overridden with /-Y on the command line.
e.g. SET COPYCMD=/Y.
To cancel the /Y for a particular XCOPY command, use /-Y at the command line.
The COPYCMD variable also affects the COPY command. Use /Y to change
the way both COPY and XCOPY behave. Use /N, which ignores COPY, to
change only the way XCOPY behaves.
XCOPY may be used to determine if a drive is valid in a BATCH FILE.
XCOPY %drive%\NUL /L >NUL
IF NOT ERRORLEVEL 5 GOTO invaliddrive
XCOPY may be used to determine if the destination drive is full in a BATCH FILE.
XCOPY %drive1%\%dir% %drive1%\%dir% /S
IF ERRORLEVEL 39 GOTO destinationfull
XCOPY supports NLS (national language support).
XCOPY has the following EXITCODES (ERRORLEVEL):
0 No error. XCOPY successfully copied the files.
1 File not found. XCOPY could not find the source file(s).
4 Path not found. XCOPY could not find the source or
destination path. Format invalid.
The user used the wrong syntax on the command line.
5 Access denied. The user does not have access to the
source or destination files.
8 Insufficient memory. There is insufficient system memory
to carry out the command. (Not implemented because not
possible to handle in a high level language like C!)
29 Write fault. XCOPY could not write a destination file
or directory.
30 Read fault. XCOPY could not read a source file.
39 Insufficient disk space. There is insufficient disk
space in the destination path.
Examples:
xcopy a:\test\*.* c:\test /q
See also:
Batch file
copy
diskcopy
goto
if
move
set (config.sys command)
File:
Please read this command's lsm file also.
You will find the updated version (internet) here and
the version described in this manual page here.
The lsm file contains information about the name of the programmer,
the download site, and some other command related information.
Copyright © 1998 Jim Hall, updated 2007 by W. Spiegl.
This file is derived from the FreeDOS Spec Command HOWTO.
See the file H2Cpying for copying conditions.