Robocopy where is it and how do I use it?

**speckytecky** · 28-07-2008 02:36 PM

Over ther next few weeks we hope to move from our existing Windows 2K server to a Windows 2003 server upgrading the old tin to 2003 and keeping it as a back up. From advice particularly from this forum I can see that one of the first steps will be to Robocopy the relevant stuff to the new server.

I have had a look on the W2003 disks but can't see the Robocopy exe which I will need to copy to the old server. Where is it please and how do I use it. I see a fair number of postings about it on this Forum but nothing I have seen so far demystifies for me

**petectid** · 28-07-2008 02:38 PM

Robocopy is part of the Windows 2003 resource kit download this from Microsoft and install it.

**K.C.Leblanc** · 28-07-2008 02:41 PM

Robocopy

It's like using the basic copy command but with more bells and whistles (including UNC path support).

**tech-man** · 28-07-2008 03:47 PM

Also have a look at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

**speckytecky** · 28-07-2008 03:59 PM

Couple of points for clarification please.

first I had an impression that the Robocopy was on the set up disks?

secondly, from the File Server Migration Toolkit would I be able to run it from my new (Win 2003 server) or would I need to run it from the Win 2K server.

**Ric_** · 28-07-2008 05:25 PM

robocopy is part of the resource kit (so not on the setup disks) but that just means you need to download it from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en and it should work on windows 2000 (I'm not 100% on that mind). If it doesn't work on 2k, just run it on 2003 and pull the data the opposite way.

The GUI for robocopy can be found at Utility Spotlight: Robocopy GUI - it's basically just an interface for generating a script by ticking boxes to select the options.

**FN-GM** · 28-07-2008 05:34 PM

I would use this over robocopy. In my opinion its quicker an easier to use.

Download details: File Server Migration Toolkit

**speckytecky** · 29-07-2008 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by Ric_

robocopy is ....

Thanks Ric,

Brilliantly helpful as usual. Crumbs what would us novices do without you and the rest of the team

**speckytecky** · 29-07-2008 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by FN-Greatermanchester

I would use this over robocopy. In my opinion its quicker an easier to use.

Download details: File Server Migration Toolkit

Thanks FN,

However, it leaves me wondering why Microsoft have the two products - why not just one or the other?

**FN-GM** · 29-07-2008 09:25 AM

Because robocopy can be used as a scheduled task and the File Server Migration Toolkit can’t there will be more reasons but just can’t think of any now.

**Geoff** · 29-07-2008 09:29 AM

Robocopy predates the File Server Migration Toolkit by about a decade, having first been released with Windows NT. Additionally, robocopy is a more general purpose tool, more akin to rsync.