Copying Folders with No Files

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mcp6453

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I'm trying to make a copy of a folder on my XP SP3 data drive by
dragging it and dropping it onto a USB drive connected to the same
computer. For some reason that I don't understand, when Windows Explorer
encounters a folder with no files in it, it throws up an error and then
stops. If I kill the folder and try again, WE throws up on the next
folder with no files.

Sure, there is no downside in deleting all folders with no files in
them, but there are many, many folders on the drive. Please help me
understand why WE would choke on copying and folder with no files and
whether there is a solution for copying all of the folders (including
the zero-byte ones) with Windows Explorer. (I'm aware of utilities that
will copy such files and folders, but I'm hoping that there is a setting
or configuration with WE that will keep me from having to add another
utility.)
 
Re: Copying Folders with No Files

mcp6453 <mcp6453@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm trying to make a copy of a folder on my XP SP3 data drive by
> dragging it and dropping it onto a USB drive connected to the same
> computer. For some reason that I don't understand, when Windows
> Explorer encounters a folder with no files in it, it throws up an
> error and then stops. If I kill the folder and try again, WE throws
> up on the next folder with no files.
>
> Sure, there is no downside in deleting all folders with no files in
> them, but there are many, many folders on the drive. Please help me
> understand why WE would choke on copying and folder with no files and
> whether there is a solution for copying all of the folders (including
> the zero-byte ones) with Windows Explorer. (I'm aware of utilities
> that will copy such files and folders, but I'm hoping that there is a
> setting or configuration with WE that will keep me from having to add
> another utility.)

I don't use Windows Explorer to copy folders/files unless they're
tiny/simple. I use robocopy and it works like a champ. Install the windows
2003 resource kit - it has this and more - and then run robocopy /??? in a
command line to find all the parameters. Once you get it down, there's
nothing like it.
 
Re: Copying Folders with No Files


"mcp6453" <mcp6453@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:OjN1UxjIJHA.1304@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> I'm trying to make a copy of a folder on my XP SP3 data drive by dragging
> it and dropping it onto a USB drive connected to the same computer. For
> some reason that I don't understand, when Windows Explorer encounters a
> folder with no files in it, it throws up an error and then stops. If I
> kill the folder and try again, WE throws up on the next folder with no
> files.
>
> Sure, there is no downside in deleting all folders with no files in them,
> but there are many, many folders on the drive. Please help me understand
> why WE would choke on copying and folder with no files and whether there
> is a solution for copying all of the folders (including the zero-byte
> ones) with Windows Explorer. (I'm aware of utilities that will copy such
> files and folders, but I'm hoping that there is a setting or configuration
> with WE that will keep me from having to add another utility.)

The behaviour you observe is specific to your machine. Windows Explorer does
not normally behave like this. I suggest you try the same process in Safe
Mode. If the problem persists then quoting the exact error message you see
would be a good starting point. By the way, what's "WE" in "WE throws up"?
 
Re: Copying Folders with No Files

>By the way, what's "WE" in "WE throws up"?

Windows Explorer throws up?

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

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"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
news:%23YjcVSlIJHA.3708@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>
> "mcp6453" <mcp6453@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:OjN1UxjIJHA.1304@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> I'm trying to make a copy of a folder on my XP SP3 data drive by dragging
>> it and dropping it onto a USB drive connected to the same computer. For
>> some reason that I don't understand, when Windows Explorer encounters a
>> folder with no files in it, it throws up an error and then stops. If I
>> kill the folder and try again, WE throws up on the next folder with no
>> files.
>>
>> Sure, there is no downside in deleting all folders with no files in them,
>> but there are many, many folders on the drive. Please help me understand
>> why WE would choke on copying and folder with no files and whether there
>> is a solution for copying all of the folders (including the zero-byte
>> ones) with Windows Explorer. (I'm aware of utilities that will copy such
>> files and folders, but I'm hoping that there is a setting or
>> configuration with WE that will keep me from having to add another
>> utility.)
>
> The behaviour you observe is specific to your machine. Windows Explorer
> does not normally behave like this. I suggest you try the same process in
> Safe Mode. If the problem persists then quoting the exact error message
> you see would be a good starting point. By the way, what's "WE" in "WE
> throws up"?
>
 
Re: Copying Folders with No Files

Kelly wrote:
>> By the way, what's "WE" in "WE throws up"?
>
> Windows Explorer throws up?
>

Correct. "WE" == "Windows Explorer"
 
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