I recently backed up the data on my computer, using the xcopy command. I briefly looked through some of my backup files and directories, and they looked the same as the originals. However, I understand that some people use backup wizards instead of xcopy, and I was wondering whether xcopy provides a safe means of backing up data.
I typed the following command in the Windows command prompt terminal:
xcopy [Source] [Destination] /s /e /v
My source was my home directory on my hard drive. (My hard drive is not partitioned, and I have only one home directory.) My destination was a new directory to be created on a flash drive. After typing the command, I was asked whether the destination was a directory or a file, and I indicated a directory. I used the "/s"-option to copy subdirectories. I used the "/e"-option to copy empty directories. I used the "/v"-option to verify that all copies were the same as the originals. There were no encrypted files to copy.
For the parameters that I included in my command, I believe the correct order was, "/s /e /v". However, I do not remember for certain that this was the order which I used. Does the order of these parameters matter?
Because my source was my home directory, I know that I did not create any backups of software on my computer. However, I only wanted to back up my data, not software.
I understand that there is a "/h"-option to copy hidden files. I did not include this option, since none of my data would be in hidden files, and I read that it is best to leave hidden files alone. I understand that hidden files are created by Windows for the purpose of running the operating system and programs, and are hidden so that users do not unintentionally fiddle with them.
I backed up my data, because I am planning on installing Ubuntu on my computer. To be safe, I created several backups, each on a different flash drive. I understand that I should periodically back up my data, and I plan to do that after I install Ubuntu. Since my data are saved in Windows directories, I understand that I might need to use Wine to access my data from Ubuntu.
Before I attempt the installation, I thought I should ask whether my method of using the xcopy command was safe. Would my command be expected to copy all of my data from my home directory? Would the process have stopped and given me an error message if a file or subdirectory had not been copied correctly? Is there any reason to use a backup wizard instead?
Thank you.
robocopy
to make sure I got all of my data and only use that in the future.robocopy
will ensure that source and destination are the same without copying the files all over again. Google "using robocopy to sync folders" .. once you get to Linux land, you would usersync
the exact same way and notcp
if you were trying to accomplish this same thing.xcopy
androbocopy
are an inefficient means of backing files up, with no guarantee of data integrity, no compression, and an incorrect use case for both, as backing up files is not the purpose of either; instead capturing/appending to a WIM would be the recommended native route. Linux shouldn't be used to backup files in Windows and is really bad advice, generally recommended when folks who primarily use Linux don't know how to do so natively in Windows (would Wine be recommended to backup Linux?).