Windows 10: 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 !!!

:)

 

Robocopy with /MIR fails with Recycle Bin error message

Thank you for your response, Jim.

Seems like you've done some great troubleshooting! Your approach towards sorting this issue out is much appreciated.



We reproduced this issue on our systems with both Robocopy and Xcopy commands based on what you are trying to achieve. Using
Robocopy with /Mir switch, all the files in the destination folder will be mirrored as in the source and the existing files in the destination will be deleted. The "mirror" switch keeps trees in sync by optionally deleting
files out of the destination that are no longer present in the source. However, the same command without /Mir does not delete the destination files.

With the Xcopy, you should be able to achieve the results that you are looking for and the files should be copied without any issues. Hence, I would recommend you to try the Xcopy command and let us know about the results. For more information on Xcopy refer
the Microsoft article on
xcopy.



We await your response.



Roohi Taj S

Microsoft Community - Moderator

 

robocopy backup of important files

Robocop,

You are comparing chalk & cheese. The /mir switch has nothing to do with file attributes. The /m switch does. /mir Mirrors a directory tree
/m Copies only files for which the Archive attribute is set, and resets the Archive attribute.
Switches such as the /m switch operate on the source to select which files RoboCopy chooses to work with on that occasion.

The /mir switch operates on the destination instead. It tells RoboCopy to update files on the destination from the source [where the source has newer ones] and to delete files on the destination that no longer exist in the source.

So if you RoboCopy source files abcd then you will have abcd on the destination as well
but if you later delete d from the source you will still have d on the destination.
Results after next RoboCopy -
d will stay on the destination if you RoboCopy with the /m switch
d will be deleted from the destination if you RoboCopy with the /mir switch

The /mir switch can be very useful.
1 I use RoboCopy /mir as part of my backup regime. It creates a complete mirror image of all my files on the external HDD that I connect for that backup. If my computers ever failed or the place went up in flames then I could restore all my own folders & files just as they had been at the time the last RoboCopy was made.
2 I also use RoboCopy /mir as part of my network syncing routine.

Denis

 

When using RoboCopy in Windows 10, I sometimes get errors when I specify a LogFile and RoboCopy Aborts

I use the following script for all of my RoboCopy functions, the only changes being made are to the SourceDrive, DestinationDrive and Folder variables.

REM - Backup ProgramData to Drive N:

REM ********* Set Source and Destination Drives **********

SET SourceDrive=C:

SET DestinationDrive=N:

REM ******************************************************

REM ***** Generate Source and Destination Folders ********

SET Folder=ProgramData

SET Source=%SourceDrive%\%Folder%

SET Destination=%DestinationDrive%\%Folder%

SET LogFile=/LOG:%Destination%\Xfer_%Folder%.log

REM ******************************************************
REM - Pause - Ready to backup %SourceDrive%\%Folder% Files to the N: Drive?

robocopy "%Source%" "%Destination%" "%LogFile%" /MT:16 /MIR /SEC /XA:SH /XX /R:0 /W:0 /V

REM - robocopy "%Source%" "%Destination%" /MT:16 /MIR /SEC /XA:SH /XX /R:0 /W:0 /V

REM - notepad.exe %Destination%\Xfer_%Folder%.log

Pause - Completed Backup

It gets to the RoboCopy command: -

C:\WINDOWS\system32>robocopy "C:\ProgramData" "N:\ProgramData" "/LOG:N:\ProgramData\Xfer_ProgramData.log" /MT:16 /MIR /SEC /XA:SH /XX /R:0 /W:0 /V

I then either reports the LogFile can't be found, or in this specific case displays: -

Log File : N:\ProgramData\Xfer_ProgramData.log

and freezes. CTRL+C has no effect.

I have to close the CMD window

When I REM out the first RoboCopy and enable the second one

robocopy "%Source%" "%Destination%" /MT:16 /MIR /SEC /XA:SH /XX /R:0 /W:0 /V

RoboCopy will copy the files

Any suggestions - 90% of my scripts work perfectly creating the xxx.log file!