Robocopy Sync Changes Only vs Easy Data Migration Software
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- Need help: Robocopy - only copy new/changed files
- Why copy only changed or new files with Robocopy?
- How do I use robocopy sync changes only without any obstacle?
- Easier way to copy only new or modified files
Need help: Robocopy - only copy new/changed files
I can't answer that. However, I can try to help you with that. Can you please provide more details about the problem you're experiencing with Robocopy and the Samba share? For example, have you tried any troubleshooting steps already?
Use Robocopy to copy files from D:\ to \\samba\share\, preserving timestamps and copying only data, attributes, and timestamps, while excluding the $RECYCLE.BIN and "System Volume Information" folders. The /e option enables the copying of empty directories, /z enables compression, /r:0 specifies 0 retries, and /w:0 specifies 0 wait time.
You can use Robocopy's `/mov` option to move files that are new or changed, and then copy the moved files, effectively copying only the changed files each time. Alternatively, you can use `rsync`, a more efficient and flexible tool for copying and synchronizing files, which can copy only the changed files and is widely used and well-maintained. Its `--update` option can achieve the same result as Robocopy's `/mov` option.
Why copy only changed or new files with Robocopy
Robocopy is a powerful tool that can copy files between computers over a network, mirror directories, or copy drives to another location. However, people often only want to use Robocopy to copy changed and newer files to the destination, and this is primarily due to two main reasons.
- Time-saving: To speed up the process, you can use the `/mov` option with Robocopy, which allows you to move files instead of copying them, reducing the time consumption as the number of files increases. This can be achieved by adding the `/mov` option to the Robocopy command, like so: `robocopy source destination /mov`. This will move files from the source to the destination, rather than copying them, saving time and resources.
- Disk space-saving: To avoid running out of disk storage space and having many duplicate files, it's better to copy only the changed or new files each time, rather than copying all the files.
How do I use robocopy sync changes only without any obstacle?
Step 1. To run the Command Prompt as an administrator, click Start and type cmd in the search box, then right-click Command Prompt from the list and select Run as administrator.
Step 2. In the command prompt, you can use the robocopy command with the syntax "robocopy source destination [file[file]...] [options]". To copy files older than a certain age, you can use the /XO parameter to exclude files older than a specified age, or the /maxage:n parameter to include files that are no older than n days.
To be specific:
robocopy source destination [file[file]...] /maxage: n
or
robocopy source destination [file[file]...] /XO /maxage: n
✎Notes:
The "/maxage" parameter indicates that files older than a specified date or modification time will not be copied. This parameter is used to exclude files that are too old from the copy operation.
The parameter "/XO" is used to exclude older files, and is typically used in conjunction with the "/maxage: n" parameter, where "n" is a number indicating the maximum age of files to include.
To copy only added or modified files from a specific time period (in this case, 7 days) from one folder to another, you can run a command that specifies the source and destination folders, as well as the time frame for the files to be copied. For instance, to copy files from folder1 on the D drive to folder2 on the E drive, within the last 7 days, you can use a command that targets the specified time period and folders.
robocopy D:\folder1 E:\folder2 / maxage:7
Also, you can type as:
robocopy D:\folder1 E:\folder2 /XO /maxage:7
When using robocopy to copy only newer files to the destination, you may use certain common parameters. If you need more parameters, you can type "robocopy /?" to learn and find the one you need.
- /XC :- eXclude Changed files.
- /XN :-eXclude Newer files.
- /XD dirs [dirs]: - eXlude directories mathcing given names and paths.
- /S: -Copy subdirectories, excluding empty ones
- /Z: - Restartable mode
- /fft: -make the modify time comparison more tolerant(2 seconds granularity)
- /Mir: Mirror a directory tree
Due to the complexity of the Robocopy command and the unfamiliarity of many users with the command line, using a user-friendly migration tool like Qiling Disk Master Professional can be a more straightforward and efficient way to copy files.
Easier way to copy only new or modified files
Qiling Disk Master Professional is a reliable data migration tool for Windows that helps sync changes only, with features like incremental and differential backup, and cheduled backup tasks.scheduled backup tasks.
But they still have some differences you may need to know, and below is a brief chart for reference only.
If your backup drive is small, an incremental backup is the best choice, as it requires the shortest backup time and least storage, making it ideal for small backup drives.
If your disk is large enough to hold all your files, you might choose a differential backup, which saves only changed or new files. This approach offers faster backup speeds and reduced storage needs, and each backup is self-contained, so even if a middle backup is damaged, you can still restore files from a previous backup.
To recover data from a corrupted Windows system, download and install Qiling Disk Master Professional, then launch it. Follow the detailed steps to copy changed or new files only using the software. Alternatively, if you're a Windows Server user, you can try Qiling Disk Master Server.
Step 1. To back up your data, click the "Backup" button, followed by "File Backup" and also consider using the "Cloud Backup" feature.
Step 2. To start a backup, click on the "Files" or "Folders" option to select the files or folders you want to back up, and then click "OK" to initiate the backup process.
Step 3. To copy files to a desired location, select the destination path from the provided drop-down list, which includes options such as cloud drive, shared folder, and NAS.
Step 4. To schedule a backup, click on "Schedule Backup" and then select the backup settings you want. You can enable the schedule backup feature and choose your preferred backup settings from the options provided.
Select Backup Scheme at the bottom, then choose Incremental Backup, which will create 6 incremental backups after a full backup. You can also enable automatic backup cleanup to regularly delete old backup images.
Step 5. 1. Review the list of tasks to be performed.
Summary
When using Robocopy to sync changes in Windows 11/10/8/7, it's essential to be cautious as incorrect operation can lead to serious consequences like data loss. If you're not familiar with Robocopy, consider using a GUI-based software like Qiling Disk Master Standard instead.
EaseUS Todo Backup is a user-friendly software that allows you to easily set up scheduled backup tasks, including incremental or differential backups. Its automatic file detection feature ensures that only changed or new files are backed up to your chosen destination, making it easy to recover your files in case of any issues. With its clear interface and simple design, you can quickly and efficiently set up a backup plan to protect your important data.
This software supports various backup options, including system backup, disk backup, partition backup, and cloud backup, with customizable schedules and schemes. It's available for download and can be tried immediately.
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