How do i copy a directory in MS DOS?

Question

I am not talking about a single file but a whole directory. I tried XCOPY but DOS says "Bad command or filename". :-(

Please help.
Note:- I need to use MS DOS to backup imp data coz my OS has crashed.
Thanks.
Good day!

Answer 1

use copy command. you go to directory ie cd yahoo enter,
you get prompt
c://yahoo
copy *.* as a wildcard will copy whole directory or you can be mor specifirc by using dir command to show what in dirrectory.

Answer 2

I'm pretty sure xcopy is on the hard drive, unless you're using a version of DOS earlier than 3.3... go to the C:\ prompt in DOS and run "dir /s xcopy.exe" that'll tell you exactly in which folder the xcopy executable is located. The other thing is maybe you were typing in something wrong... the link below will give you a pretty good idea how to use xcopy.

Answer 3

Copy Dos

Answer 4

xcopy is the way to go. It appears that you have a path problem, meaning that it can't find the location of the xcopy file. Simply do a dir xcopy*.* /s It will locate xcopy for you.

Once you locate xcopy you can either add the path to your path statement or type in the full path to the xcopy file for example "c:\dos\xcopy" and the rest of the command.

c:\dos\xcopy c:\dir a c:\dir b

Xcopy help info below

XCOPY source [destination] [/A | /M] [/D[:date]] [/P] [/S [/E]] [/V] [/W]
[/C] [/I] [/Q] [/F] [/L] [/G] [/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. Each string
should be in a separate line in the files. 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.
/G Allows the copying of encrypted files to destination that does
not support encryption.
/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.

Answer 5

Well, your question was a bit vague so i will be thorough. To copy directory names TO a Windows console window, copy it regularly from Windows, then go back to your console window. Then right click the title bar and mouse to Edit. Select 'Paste' from the popup menu. To copy directory names FROM a Windows console window, select the text to copy with your mouse from the console. Go to the same menu and select 'Copy.' To actually copy a directory from the command-line, use the command: copy [directory name] [path to destination directory] Example: copy dir1 c:\documents\photos\ This would copy the directory 'dir1' to the directory 'c:\documents\photos'.

Answer 6

Firsts taken example like,
ur in c prompt
c:md don
c:\cd don
c:\don\
creat a file like
c:\don\copy con xxxx.txt
after that then press control+z to save.
and next come out from directory by giving cd\or cd..
create another directory
c:md don1
c:\cd don1
after that juist come out to c prompt like..then press see below

c:\copy don c:\don1
then press enter u can see the out


for any problem just mail in [e-mail] iwill be available.....

Answer 7

Dos Xcopy

Answer 8

what are you copying the directory to? if you're copyin it say to a cd try this command

COPY DIR> D:/

change D:/ to what ever the storage medium you're copying the directory to. so if for example you're copying it to a partition of your HD then change d:/ to the drive letter of that partition.
hope this helps.

Answer 9

Pretend C:\Files is what you want to copy to C:\New

copy c:\Files\*.* c:\New

Note: Be sure to create c:\new first:
md c:\New

Answer 10

ALT+F4