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Windows 7: ROBOCOPY - Create Backup Script
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ROBOCOPY - Create Backup Script
How to Create a Backup Script using ROBOCOPY Command
Published by Golden
18 Sep 2011
How to Create a Backup Script using ROBOCOPY Command
I nformation
There are many paid and free software solutions available to backup critical data and files on a computer
system. Many users, however, are unaware of an inbuilt Windows 7 command called ROBOCOPY (Robust
File Copy) that allows users to create simple or highly advanced backup strategies.
In its simplist form, ROBOCOPY can be likened to an extension of XCOPY on steroids. Some of the more
important features that make ROBOCOPY an attractive backup alternative are:
multi-threaded copying
mirroring or synchronisation mode between the destination and source
automatic retry and copy resumption
The examples shown below are primarily geared towards less experienced users, especially those that are
unfamilar with batch file creation and running. More experienced users, however, are welcome to explore
some of the advanced functionality offered by ROBOCOPY here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc733145(WS.10).aspx
and also here:
http://www.theether.net/download/Mic...s/robocopy.pdf
or by simply typing robocopy / ? at a cmd window prompt.
Note
ROBOCOPY is a FOLDER copier, not a FILE copier - the source and destination syntax arguments in
ROBOCOPY can only be folder names.
Creating a BACKUP strategy
The easiest way to use the ROBOCOPY command to create a backup strategy is by creating a batch (.BAT) file. A
batch file is a simple text file, that when executed, runs several commands one after the other.

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Step 1
Click and in the search box, type notepad. Select Notepad to open up a new blank Notepad document.
Step 2
Type the ROBOCOPY commands into the Notepad document, save it as a .BAT file, and then execute it.
In the example below, I have 3 folders (Data1, Data2, and Data3) containing some data that I wish to backup. One
folder is located on E: drive and the other two are located on F: drive. I wish to back these up as follows:
Data1 folder on E: backup to a folder called Backups on G: (external USB drive)
Data2 folder on F: backup to a folder called Backups on G: (external USB drive)
Data3 folder on F: backup to a folder called Backups on Q: (network storage drive)
The general format of the ROBOCOPY command is:
Code:

r obocopy <sour ce> <dest i nat i on> <opt i ons>
In the empty Notepad document, the simplist form of the command would look like this:
Code:

r obocopy E: \ Dat a1 G: \ Backups\ Dat a1
r obocopy F: \ Dat a2 G: \ Backups\ Dat a2
r obocopy F: \ Dat a3 Q: \ Backups\ Dat a3
pause
Tip
If source or destination paths contain spaces in them, enclose these in double quotes e.g. "C:\My Data\My
Music"
Only the source
E:\Data1
F:\Data2
F:\Data3
and the destination
G:\Backups\Data1
G:\Backups\Data2
Q:\Backups\Data3
are mandatory inputs into the ROBOCOPY command.
Tip
The PAUSE command at the bottom of the .BAT file allows the cmd window to stay open after it has
completed to allow me to see the output from ROBOCOPY.
If I save the .BAT file to my Desktop, and run it by double-clicking it, then a cmd window is opened and the .BAT file executes the three
ROBOCOPY commands as shown below.
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The same information is repeated for every ROBOCOPY line in the .BAT file.
In order to utilise some of the powerful functionality in ROBOCOPY, I need to utilise some options in the ROBOCOPY command line. In this
next example I want to edit my existing backup strategy such that:
All sub-folders within my data folders are backed up, even if they are empty. 1.
The backup only copies newer files to my existing backup - this means a faster backup time. 2.
The percentage progress counter for copying is not shown - this neatens the overall appearance of the ROBOCOPY information, and
creates a smaller log file.
3.
The information normally echoed to the cmd window is saved to a log file that I can examine at a later stage. 4.
In order to do this, I need to specify some additional options in my ROBOCOPY commands like this:
Code:

r obocopy E: \ Dat a1 G: \ Backups\ Dat a1 /e /mir /np /log:backup_log.txt
r obocopy F: \ Dat a2 G: \ Backups\ Dat a2 /e /mir /np /log+:backup_log.txt
r obocopy F: \ Dat a3 Q: \ Backups\ Dat a3 /e /mir /np /log+:backup_log.txt
pause
Where:
/e = copy all sub-folders, even empty ones
/mir = mirror (check the files in the destination, and only copy newer files)
/np = no progress counter
/log: = create a logfile
Tip
Note the use of the / log+: option in the 2nd and 3rd line of the .BAT file. This option ensures that the
results of the 2nd and 3rd ROBOCOPY are appended to the log file created in the 1st ROBOCOPY line,
meaning I only need one log file to capture all the information I backup.
The log file is always saved to the same folder as the .BAT file - in my case, the folder is saved to my
Desktop.
Since the output from ROBOCOPY is written to the log file, the cmd window will not display the output from ROBOCOPY. If I wish to have
this information written to both the log file and the cmd window for visual tracking of the backup process, then I can add the /tee option
to each line in the .BAT file, as shown below.
Code:

r obocopy E: \ Dat a1 G: \ Backups\ Dat a1 / e / mi r / np /tee / l og: backup_l og. t xt
r obocopy F: \ Dat a2 G: \ Backups\ Dat a2 / e / mi r / np /tee / l og+: backup_l og. t xt
r obocopy F: \ Dat a3 Q: \ Backups\ Dat a3 / e / mi r / np /tee / l og+: backup_l og. t xt
pause
This is an example of the typical output to the the log file - it looks exactly the same as what is echoed to the cmd window.
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Code:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ROBOCOPY : : Robust Fi l e Copy f or Wi ndows
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
St ar t ed : Sun Sep 18 23: 35: 01 2011
Sour ce : E: \ Dat a1\
Dest : G: \ Backups\ Dat a1\
Fi l es : *. *

Opt i ons : *. * / S / E / COPY: DAT / PURGE / MI R / R: 1000000 / W: 30
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 E: \ Dat a1\
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tot al Copi ed Ski pped Mi smat ch FAI LED Ext r as
Di r s : 1 0 1 0 0 0
Fi l es : 2 0 2 0 0 0
Byt es : 442. 1 k 0 442. 1 k 0 0 0
Ti mes : 0: 00: 00 0: 00: 00 0: 00: 00 0: 00: 00
Since one of the data folders I am backing up is being copied across a network, I want to ensure that any possible network outages do not
cause some critical files to be skipped in the backup. To do this, I can make use of the / z option in the 3rd line of my .BAT file (backup to
my network storage) as shown below.
Code:

r obocopy E: \ Dat a1 G: \ Backups\ Dat a1 / e / mi r / np / t ee / l og: backup_l og. t xt
r obocopy F: \ Dat a2 G: \ Backups\ Dat a2 / e / mi r / np / t ee / l og+: backup_l og. t xt
r obocopy F: \ Dat a3 Q: \ Backups\ Dat a3 / e / mi r / np /z / t ee / l og+: backup_l og. t xt
This option implements a "retry" for the copying. If I were part way through the copying process, and I lost connection with the network,
then ROBOCOPY would automatically restart the copying at the point of failure once the network connection was re-established. It would
retrying a million times every 30 seconds (the default settings shown in the image above). The only drawback with this option, is that it
can significantly increase the backup time.
ROBOCOPY also has the ability to perform faster multi-threaded copying by simply using the option / mt. I can choose the number of
threads to use by specifying a number between 1 and 128 after the /mt option, or if I just specify /mt without a number then the it will
use 8 threads by default. In the example below, I use 4 threads to copy to my USB drive, and 8 threads (no number) to copy to my
network drive.
Code:

r obocopy E: \ Dat a1 G: \ Backups\ Dat a1 / e / mi r / np / t ee /mt:4 / l og: backup_l og. t xt
r obocopy F: \ Dat a2 G: \ Backups\ Dat a2 / e / mi r / np / t ee /mt:4 / l og+: backup_l og. t xt
r obocopy F: \ Dat a3 Q: \ Backups\ Dat a3 / e / mi r / np / z / t ee /mt / l og+: backup_l og. t xt
Below is a template that you can use to create your own backup strategy using ROBOCOPY. Simply copy and paste the lines into a blank
text document, and then edit as appropriate.
Code:
r em- - - Edi t t he l i nes bel ow t o cr eat e your own backup st r at egy
r em- - - The / mi r opt i on has been l ef t out f or saf et y sake
r em- - - Add mor e l i nes f or each new f ol der r equi r i ng backup
r em- - - Speci f i ed 4 t hr eads t o use f or mul t i - t hr eaded copyi ng
r em- - - The r esul t s of t he backup can be f ound i n my_backup_l og. t xt
r obocopy <sour ce> <dest i nat i on> / e / np / t ee / mt : 4 / l og: my_backup_l og. t xt
r obocopy <sour ce> <dest i nat i on> / e / np / t ee / mt : 4 / l og+: my_backup_l og. t xt
r obocopy <sour ce> <dest i nat i on> / e / np / t ee / mt : 4 / l og+: my_backup_l og. t xt
pause
Tip
The can automate your backup's by using the Windows 7 Task Scheduler to run the .BAT file at specific
times.
For more information please refer to this tutorial by Orbital Shark:
Task Scheduler - Create New Task
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I hope this brief tutorial helps you access the power and simplicity of ROBOCOPY to create some effective backup strategies.
Regards,
Golden
.
18 Sep 2011 #1
Bill2
Windows 7 x64 pro/
Windows 7 x86 Pro/
XP SP3 x86
5,148 posts

Bravo! Well done, Golden!
Tip: Download Windows Repair Tool
My System Specs
.
18 Sep 2011 #2
Golden
Windows 7 Ult. x64
Windows 8.1 x64
Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Tri-Boot
14,408 posts
South Australia

Thanks Bill
My System Specs
18 Sep 2011 #3
Guy Scharf
Win 7-32, XP Pro-32
80 posts
WA

Good article, but note that the URL for technet should not have "www." in front of it. The link should be to
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc733145(WS.10).aspx.
My System Specs
18 Sep 2011 #4
Golden
Windows 7 Ult. x64
Windows 8.1 x64
Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Tri-Boot
Thanks Guy. I've been having some formatting "issues" with http's recently - links corrected.
XP migration with HP
hp.com/xp-migration
Fast, east, hassle-free transition to Win7 or 8. Upgrade now!
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14,408 posts
South Australia

My System Specs
10 Feb 2012 #5
marcusidle
Windows 7 Home
Premium
1 posts

winscp also provides handy automated backups
Came across this forum while looking for alternative backup strategies. I've found Dropbox and Mozy quite useful,
but also winscp (with a bit of work). The first two do continuous backup but winscp is ideal if you want an in-house
solution.
My System Specs
27 Feb 2012 #6
BigV
Windows 7 Ultimate
x64
20 posts
Belgium

Brilliant tutorial thanks!
My System Specs
27 Feb 2012 #7
Golden
Windows 7 Ult. x64
Windows 8.1 x64
Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Tri-Boot
14,408 posts
South Australia

Quote: Originally Posted by BigV
Brilliant tutorial thanks!
Thanks BigV. Many of our MVP's that attend conferences can testify that SevenForums has by far the best tutorials
out there.
My System Specs
05 Mar 2012 #8
mick1
Windows 7 64bit
17 posts

Very Nice , But a person like me who is very new at this computer stuff how can i restore my files from this
operation ?? and where can i see them ???
My System Specs
05 Mar 2012 #9
Golden
Windows 7 Ult. x64
Windows 8.1 x64
Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Tri-Boot
14,408 posts
South Australia

Hi Mick,
Thanks for the comment. ROBOCOPY is designed to backup/copy folders to another destination (different disk,
external USB drive). The idea is that if the original files are accidently deleted or damaged, you can simply copy
the required from the backup location to where you need them.
If you need help setting up a robocopy script to backup your data, then let me know and I'll write one for you.
Regards,
Golden
My System Specs
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