How is copying files in Windows 10?

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. Posts : 162
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
       #1

    How is copying files in Windows 10?


    In Windows 7, it can be a real bother to leave a folder to copy to another drive, with some files in the folder being new versions to replace versions already existing in a same-name folder on the drive that's being copied to... and at some point into the transfer a dialogue will pop up asking whether to merge folders, and then whether to copy and replace, or rename some files, and then the same question for some archives... and there's no telling at what point of the transfer these prompts will appear.

    When the transfer is 50+ GB, it's often convenient to leave it to copy and walk away to do another thing while it copies. Course, if a user isn't there to tell the prompts what to do when they show, the whole transfer sits and waits, and when the user returns, expecting things to be done, they might find they still have to wait nearly the entire time that was remaining when they left.

    This issue would be resolved if there were checkboxes in the transfer window to designate what to do with certain types of conflicts that may or may not arise:

    x merge same-named folders
    x replace same-named files
    x make backup / duplicate of same-named files


    Something to that effect.

    If Windows 10 hasn't already improved the transfer management, I'd like to see it done before its official release.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #2

    Well, that was actually "fixed" in Windows 8. It will now complete the transfer of all files it can successfully transfer, then prompt you for what to do with the remaining files. In this way, you only have to worry about the files that failed and all the good files will have completed. In addition, it offers a cool graph of transfer speed as well as lines showing average speed.

    Another nice feature is that you can pause copies, or cancel specific ones.

    Windows 10 is no exception to this and uses the same method. You can read about it in many places.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 162
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    That's good to know, though it sounds like it is still is only a halfway solution towards the example I put forth in the OP. It'd be nice to return to transfers and find that everything is done according to the user's will, and that nothing remains to be dealt with. The folders and files that are waited upon could still be many GB and take a while to transfer.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 3,502
    Win_8.1-Pro, Win_10.1607-Pro, Mint_17.3
       #4

    Delicieuxz said:
    That's good to know, though it sounds like it is still is only a halfway solution towards the example I put forth in the OP. It'd be nice to return to transfers and find that everything is done according to the user's will, and that nothing remains to be dealt with. The folders and files that are waited upon could still be many GB and take a while to transfer.
    There is a hide merge conflict checkbox in folder options
    The decision to replace or create a copy (2), (3), (4) still remains up to the user.
    The copy process is vastly improved - you can hide same files so you don't have to make decisions on those (or make backups of backups of backups - all the same file made with previous versions of windows or other means).

    The improvements mean that the first time might be more work than you want, but after that, there should only be a few files that meet the criteria of being the same. That is, unless you're a pack rat like me

    You might be using the wrong tool - backup sounds more like what you're doing. This tool has different mechanisms to test the file before performing the copy/backup, most notably is the archive bit set.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,811
    W7 Ultimate SP1 (64 bit), LM 19.2 MATE (64 bit), W10 Home 1703 (64 bit), W10 Pro 1703 (64 bit) VM
       #5

    What I don't understand is what Windows 7 is doing during the "Preparing to copy" stage.

    It certainly isn't checking for conflicts, so it can alert the user before starting the operation.

    MS could have created an "advanced copy" GUI tool using check boxes, etc. as Delicieuxz suggested.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #6

    lehnerus2000 said:
    What I don't understand is what Windows 7 is doing during the "Preparing to copy" stage.

    It certainly isn't checking for conflicts, so it can alert the user before starting the operation.

    MS could have created an "advanced copy" GUI tool using check boxes, etc. as Delicieuxz suggested.
    Well, it's mostly scanning the folder tree to determine file sizes, and number of files. So that it can display the percentage and files/size remaining.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 162
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I created a feature request listing on Windows User Voice to propose the inclusion of advanced copy management options. People can vote for the idea if they also want it, here:

    Provide advanced copy file options in the manner of checkboxes in the transfer window to designate what to do with certain types of conflict – Feature Suggestions for Windows
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 803
    10 Pro Preview x64
       #8

    You can use the robocopy command (it is command line not checkboxes I'll grant you) but it should let you do what you want. If you prefer a GUI front end you can get one from technet
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 519
       #9

    lehnerus2000 said:
    What I don't understand is what Windows 7 is doing during the "Preparing to copy" stage.

    It certainly isn't checking for conflicts, so it can alert the user before starting the operation.

    MS could have created an "advanced copy" GUI tool using check boxes, etc. as Delicieuxz suggested.
    What's windows 7. Have we drifted - again. Well it lasted 5 posts this time - lol.
    Last edited by davehc; 13 Apr 2015 at 07:39.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1,811
    W7 Ultimate SP1 (64 bit), LM 19.2 MATE (64 bit), W10 Home 1703 (64 bit), W10 Pro 1703 (64 bit) VM
       #10

    davehc said:
    What's windows 7. Have we drifted - again. Well it lasted 5 posts this time - lol.
    The OP mentioned "issues" with W7 file copying/moving.

    I also believe that an "Advanced Copy" GUI tool could be handy (especially when copying 1000s of files in a single operation).

    W10 doesn't seem to have one.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:26.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums