Windows 10: Robocopy Help - Backing Up Files in Destination Folder Before Purging

Hi,I've been using Robocopy to clone a Source folder on one device to a Destination on another using /mir for a while now, and I was wondering if it was possible to move any Extra files as opposed to deleting them.Specifically, I'm imagining using two commands: One to first scan the two folders, identify any Extra files in the log and list them, without altering any of the files.Second, my usual string, which would clone my Source to my Destination.My question is: is it possible to write a Robocopy command that will check for Extra files that exist in the Destination folder but aren't in the S

:)

 

Robocopy, protecting files/folders in the destination folder when using /MIR switch

Hi Frederik - I just did a test using the command below:

cmd /C Robocopy "C:\Users\MyName\Desktop\source" "C:\Users\MyName\Desktop\dest" /XD "New folder" /XF *.csv /MIR

As it turns out, using the regular /XD and /XF switches seemed to spare "New Folder" and "test.csv" in the destination directory from being purged, even though they did not exist in the source directory. I had (wrongly) assumed those switches would only
exempt which folders/files would be copied over to the destination, and thus purge accordingly.

Oops ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

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 /MIR deleted all my files in the destination folder..

ok so robocopy /MIR deleted all my files in the destination folder..

IT SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST A CONFIRMATION PROMPT BY DEFAULT !!!