Windows 10: Robocopy "C:\Users\" results in an output folder larger than the entire source disk.

Hi everyone. My windows 11 install on my main PC has gotten quite messy as of late, and additionally, I am split between two different Microsoft accounts on two different computers, which I'd like unified under one account. My solution for this was going to be to simply back-up the old users folders there are three in case I need any data from it in the future, nuke the entire install, and then reinstall - signing in under the correct account in the process. However, I seem to repeatedly run into the same issue at the beginning of this process. I've run robocopy with several combinations of

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Robocopy Error 2 - copyying folder in dropbox

I have successfully created and used the following batch file in windows10

robocopy C:\Users\Julie\Documents\Test C:\Users\Julie\Documents\accounts-backup
pause

However when I run the batch below to copy the contents of a folder in Dropbox I get

ERROR 2 (0x00000002) Accessing Source Directory C:\Users\Julie\Dropbox\accounts\
The system cannot find the file specified.

robocopy C:\Users\Julie\Dropbox\accounts C:\Users\Julie\Documents\accounts-backup
pause

Any suggestions to resolve this

 

How to copy a folder structure (including files within) into multiple folders simultaneously.

These four ROBOCOPY commands will accomplish what you want.

From Command Prompt, run:

robocopy "C:\Users\John\Downloads\Source" "C:\Users\John\Desktop\Destination\Folder J" /MIR

robocopy "C:\Users\John\Downloads\Source" "C:\Users\John\Desktop\Destination\Folder K" /MIR

robocopy "C:\Users\John\Downloads\Source" "C:\Users\John\Desktop\Destination\Folder L" /MIR

robocopy "C:\Users\John\Downloads\Source" "C:\Users\John\Desktop\Destination\Folder etc..." /MIR

Optionally, you may create a Batch file containing the above commands on your desktop.

For more information about ROBOCOPY, run robocopy /? in Command Prompt.

The /MIR parameter mirrors a directory tree, which also means that any extra items in the destination folder will be removed.

• /MIR :: MIRror a directory tree (equivalent to /E plus /PURGE).
  

See also:

• How to Compare Two Folders and Synchronize them
  

 

Robocopy copies folders not in Documents to my backup Documents folder on 2nd drive.

Two things:

• You must surroound your folder names with double quotes:
  
  robocopy "C:\Users\my name\Documents . . ." "D:\Dropbox\my name\Documents
  . . ."
• Robocopy often hides target folders, causing users to think they are missing. Look for hidden folders.