XCOPY.EXE
| Company type | Command-line utility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software / Operating systems |
| Founded | 1984 (with DOS version 3.2) |
| Products | File and directory copying tool |
| Website | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/xcopy |
XCOPY is a shell command utilized for duplicating files and entire directory structures either within local directories or across network connections. It was created to enhance the basic functionality of the simpler copy command, with its name derived from extended copy.
Originally released with DOS version 3.2, xcopy has been incorporated into multiple operating systems including IBM PC DOS, MS-DOS, OS/2, various Windows editions, FreeDOS, ReactOS, DR DOS 6.0, and ROM-DOS. The FreeDOS variant, authored by Rene Ableidinger, is distributed under the terms of the GPL. Meanwhile, ReactOS’s adaptation by J. Edmeades is licensed under the LGPL.
Despite Microsoft’s formal announcement that xcopy would be superseded by robocopy starting with Windows Vista, the command remains present in modern Windows versions, indicating ongoing availability.
Compression
Starting with Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10, xcopy supports a /compress switch designed to enhance network transfer efficiency. When activated, if the target supports Server Message Block (SMB) compression and the files are compressible, this feature can significantly boost transfer speeds.
Deployment
The term xcopy deployment refers to installing an application by simply copying its files using xcopy or similar utilities. This method contrasts with conventional Windows installations that typically modify the Windows Registry and register components for system integration. While xcopy deployment offers a straightforward approach, it lacks the ability to perform these advanced setup tasks. For more complex installation requirements, tools such as Windows Installer, InnoSetup, InstallShield, or NSIS are commonly employed.
Limitations
If the combined length of a path and filename exceeds 254 characters, xcopy will fail with an "insufficient memory" error. The "/J" option, available since Windows Server 2008 R2, enables unbuffered copying of files and is recommended when transferring very large files to minimize memory consumption.
Additionally, xcopy cannot duplicate files that are open by other processes and lacks support for Windows Volume Shadow Copy. These constraints reduce its effectiveness for backing up active system data.
Example
To create a new directory by copying all contents—including hidden and system files as well as empty folders—from an existing directory:
<syntaxhighlight lang="doscon"> >xcopy e:\existing e:\newcopy /e /i /h </syntaxhighlight>
When dealing with pathnames containing spaces, enclose them in quotation marks:
<syntaxhighlight lang="doscon"> >xcopy "D:\Documents and Settings\MY.USERNAME\My Documents\*" "E:\MYBACKUP\My Documents\" /D/E/C/Y </syntaxhighlight>
Copy an entire drive to a mapped network location while ignoring errors and using restartable mode:
<syntaxhighlight lang="doscon"> >xcopy *.* z:\Netmirror /E /V /C /F /H /Y /Z 1>out.txt 2>err.txt </syntaxhighlight>
Copy a single file without prompting whether the destination is a file or directory:
<syntaxhighlight lang="doscon"> >cmd /c echo F | xcopy "c:\directory 1\myfile" "c:\directory 2\myfile" </syntaxhighlight>
See also
Further reading
External links
- Overview of xcopy | Microsoft Documentation
- Comprehensive list of xcopy and xcopy32 switches for Windows 95, 98, Me
- Microsoft Windows XP: xcopy command details
- Article on resolving CRC errors using XCOPY by VariableGHz
- Discussion on using XCOPY in post-build events
- Troubleshooting XP_CMDSHELL compatibility issues with XCOPY
- Additional resource: Microsoft Product Documentation
- Guide to deploying ASP.NET web applications via Xcopy
- Guidance on choosing between Windows Installer and XCOPY for .NET development
- Visual C++ deployment strategies utilizing XCopy