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xcopy error

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by brucelparsons

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OK, this is reaching back but we have a server that runs on ast dos 5.0 and Novell. Due to a failed tape drive, I am trying to back up the contents of g:\t12\1000 to c:\backup using the xcopy command.
I verified that the dos version is 5.0 with thever command.
The command xcopy g:\t12\1000\*.* c:\backup /e (or xcopy g:\t12\1000 *.* c:\backup /e)returns an error report telling me that there is an invalid switch used. When I tried it with the /s command it worked fine. Why do you suppose that it would not accept the /e command? I would prefer to copy the empty subdirectories as well.
When I navigate to the directory the dos 5.0 files are kept in and call up xcopy help, /e is listed as a valid switch (as it should be).
Thanks

7 replies

by sgt_shultz

I wonder if you are using the version of xcopy you think you are...
Is windows involved at all? if so, maybe this article will help?
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 288320
"Invalid Switch" Error Message When Attempting to Use "Xcopy" or "Xcopy32" in MS-DOS Mode
SYMPTOMS
When you use switches with the xcopy or xcopy32 commands in MS-DOS mode after having chosen Command Prompt Only at the boot menu, or at a command prompt while using the Windows Millennium Edition (Me) Emergency Boot Disk(EBD), you may receive the following error message
Invalid switch - - /x
where x is the switch used, such as /H
If this fits your symptoms, i'd say you need to be running xcopy from a dos boot disk or from the dos directory so you know you are using the version of xcopy you think you are? (search the hard disk for other versions?) hope this helps, good luck.

by brucelparsons

I tried the command from the dos 5.0 directory with the same results. Windows is not used anywhere on that network.

by maxwell edison

DOS - You gotta' love it.

I have a couple of suggestions for you.

First, you could try to run the command just as you illustrated, but run if from the target instead of from the source.

From C:\backup as your current drive/directory

xcopy g:\t12\1000\*.* /e

-OR-

you could try the same command, but with BOTH switches.

xcopy g:\t12\1000\*.* /s/e

Good luck

by brucelparsons

Thanks for the suggestion. I did run the command from the c:\backup directory however i did not try the /e and the /s switch together. I will try that next time for interest sake.

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