How do I copy the contents of the Documents folder to another folder

Jim8080 · 24 Jul 2020

I'm asking how to copy the contents of the Documents folder to another folder, not move the folder, itself.

The Documents folder seems to have a special status, and the normal copy-paste approach seems to only work for a limited number of folders at one time. Unusual things seem to happen if the number is too large.

Maybe the problem is just the large number of folders I'm attempting to process at one time. If so, what is a good approach to copy a large quantity of folders at one time?

I'm running win10 with a legacy BIOS, but also have a computer with UEFI.

Jim

Samuria · 24 Jul 2020

Built in robocopy should do it you can get a GUI if you can't use CMD line

Try3 · 24 Jul 2020

Jim,

There should be nothing special taking place at all. But do not have hidden or system items displaying because that would mean you were trying to copy, for example, the normally hidden AppData folder and that could introduce complications [but not, I think, those that you have described]

I imagine that you are trying to make a backup. I agree that RoboCopy is an appropriate tool.
It is a built-in utility and you can see its built-in Help by entering this in a command window RoboCopy /?
Robocopy - SS64
RoboCopy - MSDocs
This is still relevant ROBOCOPY - Create Backup Script - SevenForumsTutorials

I took part in some RoboCopy discussions in
About your question concerning regular backing up to an SD card - TenForums
and returned to the same subject in
Sample RoboCopy backing up script - TenForums

The unofficial MS RoboCopy GUI [Graphical user interface] apparently works with Windows 10 but I haven't used it myself.
- You can do a general online search for it using something like robocopy gui download
- There was also a Microsoft Robocopy GUI Users Guide that you might search for as well.
- There are also several TenForums threads that discuss the use of RoboCopy Advanced Search - TenForums
- I do not claim to speak for other people. I never liked the GUI. I felt that you had to have studied RoboCopy itself in order to use it.

Best of luck,
Denis

Jim8080 · 24 Jul 2020

Well, I found what caused my problem. I was using a 3rd party file manager, Directory Opus. It provides two windows and has many features not found in File Explorer, but performs poorly for me when attempting to copy the contents of the Documents folder.

I have noticed issues with other 3rd party apps when dealing with the Documents folder. For example, Beyond Compare lists documents in two folders side by side and allows you look for differences, shift files from one folder to the other, etc., but the Documents folder cannot be checked.

Thanks to all who answered my topic.

Jim

KeithM · 24 Jul 2020

Jim8080 said:

Well, I found what caused my problem. I was using a 3rd party file manager, Directory Opus. It provides two windows and has many features not found in File Explorer, but performs poorly for me when attempting to copy the contents of the Documents folder.Jim

That's a critical piece of information. Possibly due to the presence of the backward compatibility junctions: My Music, My Pictures, and My Video. In addition to being "SuperHidden", they have special permissions that prohibit browsing/enumerating, which means they can't be viewed in Explorer, but you can traverse them, which means they can be part of a path that ultimately redirects to the "modern" equivalent.

These ev en cause errors with routines that are part of the OS, such as cascading Ownershop/Permissions operations.