April 2009
RichCopy is a powerful, multi-threaded alternative to the popular RoboCopy file copy utility. Take a look at how this free tool can significantly improve file copy performance.
RichCopy is a free utility that comes to us from Ken Tamaru of Microsoft. The tool was first developed in 2001 and has been updated regularly to keep pace with evolving needs. Trust me when I tell you, this is the answer to all your file copying needs. What you’ll find most striking the first time you take RichCopy out for a spin is that it’s a multithreaded copying tool. That means that rather than copying one file at a time in serial order, RichCopy can open multiple threads simultaneously, allowing many files to be copied in parallel and cutting the total time required to complete the operation several times over. You can also pause and resume file copy operations, so if you lose network connectivity at any point, you can just pick up where you left off.
For those of you who have not tried it out, this is a VERY cool tool. You can expect a write-up on this at groovyPost.com in the coming days.
For those of you who have not tried it out, this is a VERY cool tool. You can expect a write-up on this at groovyPost.com in the coming days.
It is not the anser to ALL my needs for copying – robocopy allows a look-only operation, which does not actually carry out the move. Richcopy appears to be missing this, and the trickle mode is not avaiable, whereas robocopy can set an IPG to stop the copy hogging network bandwidth.
It is not the anser to ALL my needs for copying – robocopy allows a look-only operation, which does not actually carry out the move. Richcopy appears to be missing this, and the trickle mode is not avaiable, whereas robocopy can set an IPG to stop the copy hogging network bandwidth.
@Hyseeker, I agree. Although I though Richcopy was going to be great, I ended up not using it all that much… For the time being, I’m sticking with Teracopy and Robocopy (command line)….
@Hyseeker, I agree. Although I though Richcopy was going to be great, I ended up not using it all that much… For the time being, I’m sticking with Teracopy and Robocopy (command line)….
I use this util to copy data across our network which contains offices throughout Austalia and Malaysia.
I can copy and verify 1GB of data from Austalian office to KL in about 4-5 hours. This was something I would never have dreamed of attempting using windows explorer.
I have to admit the syncronise functions are a little shaky and end up just re-copying all of the data.
I use this util to copy data across our network which contains offices throughout Austalia and Malaysia.
I can copy and verify 1GB of data from Austalian office to KL in about 4-5 hours. This was something I would never have dreamed of attempting using windows explorer.
I have to admit the syncronise functions are a little shaky and end up just re-copying all of the data.
@Alex,
Do you prefer RichCopy over the standard RoboCopy? Granted, I like the GUI of RichCopy I do prefer the stability and command line features of RoboCopy. I use it to mirror shares across WAN circuits as well. It’s always worked flawless.
@Alex,
Do you prefer RichCopy over the standard RoboCopy? Granted, I like the GUI of RichCopy I do prefer the stability and command line features of RoboCopy. I use it to mirror shares across WAN circuits as well. It’s always worked flawless.
I’m wondering of any of the tools mentioned above (Rich Copy, Robocopy, or Teracopy) will delete files from the target when they get deleted from the source. This would effectively deal with a file rename as well. What I really need a is a unidirectional file synchronization tool. I want all file changes on directory tree “A” to be replicated to directory tree “B” but changes on “B” should NEVER be replicated back to “A”. Any ideas?
I’m wondering of any of the tools mentioned above (Rich Copy, Robocopy, or Teracopy) will delete files from the target when they get deleted from the source. This would effectively deal with a file rename as well. What I really need a is a unidirectional file synchronization tool. I want all file changes on directory tree “A” to be replicated to directory tree “B” but changes on “B” should NEVER be replicated back to “A”. Any ideas?
@Dave,
What you want to use Robocopy /MIR
This will MIRROR all files from A to B. If you delete it in A then it will be deleted in B however not vice versa. I use it all the time to SYNC my music and photo collections at home.
For more questions, just use ROBOCOPY /? however /MIR is what you want.
@Dave,
What you want to use Robocopy /MIR
This will MIRROR all files from A to B. If you delete it in A then it will be deleted in B however not vice versa. I use it all the time to SYNC my music and photo collections at home.
For more questions, just use ROBOCOPY /? however /MIR is what you want.
Thanks! I’ll check it out.
Thanks! I’ll check it out.
Is there no mirror (/MIR) or equivalent capability in RichCopy ?
I currently use RoboCopy (as scheduled tasks running batch files) for a replication process to copy application standard resources from a central server out to regional office servers. That sometimes involves removing standard resources as the application tools change – and expecting that file to disappear from the regional servers.
Is there no mirror (/MIR) or equivalent capability in RichCopy ?
I currently use RoboCopy (as scheduled tasks running batch files) for a replication process to copy application standard resources from a central server out to regional office servers. That sometimes involves removing standard resources as the application tools change – and expecting that file to disappear from the regional servers.
@silent H,
Personally I would stick with Robocopy then. RichCopy is nice if you need a gui for Robycopy but for server admin tasks it sounds like your process is working.
Granted, now that SyncToy is working for network shares now perhaps that’s a good option as well. Here’s a link with Details:
http://groovypost.com/tiny/2260
@silent H,
Personally I would stick with Robocopy then. RichCopy is nice if you need a gui for Robycopy but for server admin tasks it sounds like your process is working.
Granted, now that SyncToy is working for network shares now perhaps that’s a good option as well. Here’s a link with Details:
http://groovypost.com/tiny/2260
@Dave and Silent H,
I’ve been using Richcopy for about a year now and the “purge” option does this mirror trick for me. I’m not a power user so I’m not sure why its called “purge” but it does the same thing as an rsync with the –delete option which is what I was looking for when I stumbled upon richcopy. Correct me if I’m the only one seeing this but you can try it out for yourself by creating a temp source folder with a bunch of files and copying the entire thing to a temp destination folder. Then delete a file from the source and do the rich copy with the purge option. On my windows XP, it deletes the file from the destination if it was delete from the source. Please make sure you experiment on this with a folder that has been duplicated from another source as I don’t want to be responsible if you lose data. Works for me.
@Dave and Silent H,
I’ve been using Richcopy for about a year now and the “purge” option does this mirror trick for me. I’m not a power user so I’m not sure why its called “purge” but it does the same thing as an rsync with the –delete option which is what I was looking for when I stumbled upon richcopy. Correct me if I’m the only one seeing this but you can try it out for yourself by creating a temp source folder with a bunch of files and copying the entire thing to a temp destination folder. Then delete a file from the source and do the rich copy with the purge option. On my windows XP, it deletes the file from the destination if it was delete from the source. Please make sure you experiment on this with a folder that has been duplicated from another source as I don’t want to be responsible if you lose data. Works for me.
Hi,
I have a special logging request. My company has been using a custom vbscript to copy a specific file to all users in our ActiveDirectory. Yet there is no logging of the events. My boss and I having been looking over Robocopy and RichCopy for extra logging functionality. We successfully utlized Robocopy to create a cmd line which copies a file from one location to another user’s computer during login. Though Robocopy has logging capabilities, it’s missing a piece of information. It doesn’t log the computer name that the file was copied to, just the source path and destination path. RichCopy has a nicer GUI, but still no computer name logging capability either. Are we asking too much of Robocopy or RichCopy to provide this type of information? Again, we want a log file that contains the users or computer names that successfully received a file. PS – Sorry for interrupting the forum with this question. I couldn’t find many places to post questions about Robocopy or RichCopy
Hi,
I have a special logging request. My company has been using a custom vbscript to copy a specific file to all users in our ActiveDirectory. Yet there is no logging of the events. My boss and I having been looking over Robocopy and RichCopy for extra logging functionality. We successfully utlized Robocopy to create a cmd line which copies a file from one location to another user’s computer during login. Though Robocopy has logging capabilities, it’s missing a piece of information. It doesn’t log the computer name that the file was copied to, just the source path and destination path. RichCopy has a nicer GUI, but still no computer name logging capability either. Are we asking too much of Robocopy or RichCopy to provide this type of information? Again, we want a log file that contains the users or computer names that successfully received a file. PS – Sorry for interrupting the forum with this question. I couldn’t find many places to post questions about Robocopy or RichCopy
I’ve seen richcopy just stop in the middle of coping 8GB and it seemed to be dead so I had to kill it. I would never trust this program with my data, there are far better more robust options out there.
Matt – what are the other options? If you’ve got some better tools, I’d like to hear about them. thanks.
Matt – what are the other options? If you’ve got some better tools, I’d like to hear about them. thanks.
I have a question for anyone who can help me, please. I have had security issues with our personal computers that persist for a long time. Same security issues on three computers. I had the computers clean installed several times, AV software running, but the fix only lasted for a few days. Yesterday, 1 March, between 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. EST, I had this computer up and running, downloaded Firefox browser, and set up the tools. Today is the first time I am able to use this computer and connect to the Internet.
The technician installed Windows 7 and AV AVG running. I am trying to create a restore point to this computer just in case something happens with the system again. The System Restore created restore points after scanning the computer. The last restore point was on 3/1/2010 5:06:30 PM EST, which describes Windows Critical Update. I clicked on the affected programs button and the System Restore window gave me a message saying “Programs and drivers that will be deleted: Ralink (Net) 05/25/2009 3.00.01.0000 Driver; Hotfix for Package_for_KB977617 (KB977617) Windows Update.
After googling the two items described, and reading the posts here, it seems to me this “Hotfix” should fix some vulnerability in the system, but why does my system tells me the driver and the update will be deleted? I am not a computer techi and do not understand this. This computer is a stand-alone personal computer and was just configured yesterday to connect to a homegroup network of three computers within my house using Airlink 101 Wireless USB Adapter.
Should I continue to create a restore point on the hard drive and let the system delete those two items described? There were also two personal picture folders that were saved on the desktop sometime last night, will those be deleted as well if I proceed to create this restore point? Please respond, and thanks so much for the help.
erlj
I have a question for anyone who can help me, please. I have had security issues with our personal computers that persist for a long time. Same security issues on three computers. I had the computers clean installed several times, AV software running, but the fix only lasted for a few days. Yesterday, 1 March, between 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. EST, I had this computer up and running, downloaded Firefox browser, and set up the tools. Today is the first time I am able to use this computer and connect to the Internet.
The technician installed Windows 7 and AV AVG running. I am trying to create a restore point to this computer just in case something happens with the system again. The System Restore created restore points after scanning the computer. The last restore point was on 3/1/2010 5:06:30 PM EST, which describes Windows Critical Update. I clicked on the affected programs button and the System Restore window gave me a message saying “Programs and drivers that will be deleted: Ralink (Net) 05/25/2009 3.00.01.0000 Driver; Hotfix for Package_for_KB977617 (KB977617) Windows Update.
After googling the two items described, and reading the posts here, it seems to me this “Hotfix” should fix some vulnerability in the system, but why does my system tells me the driver and the update will be deleted? I am not a computer techi and do not understand this. This computer is a stand-alone personal computer and was just configured yesterday to connect to a homegroup network of three computers within my house using Airlink 101 Wireless USB Adapter.
Should I continue to create a restore point on the hard drive and let the system delete those two items described? There were also two personal picture folders that were saved on the desktop sometime last night, will those be deleted as well if I proceed to create this restore point? Please respond, and thanks so much for the help.
erlj
@silent H,
Robocopy for one ;)
@silent H,
Robocopy for one ;)
Another one is the Microsoft SyncToy. The latest version also support network shares and it can be called with a script now so you can probably use it on a scheduled task:
http://www.groovypost.com/howto/freeware/microsoft-releases-synctoy-2-1-freeware-download/
Another one is the Microsoft SyncToy. The latest version also support network shares and it can be called with a script now so you can probably use it on a scheduled task:
http://www.groovypost.com/howto/freeware/microsoft-releases-synctoy-2-1-freeware-download/
Sounds like the issue for the Robocopy boys is that they just haven’t tried to use rich copies options properly. I have been using it for replication for over a year, copied up to 1.2 terabytes at a time, using it for mirroring, keeping ACL’s on the files, logging of the job. Robocopy is good, reliable, but slow. As the the pausing issue that Matt mentioned, it will do that when trying to read data correctly and the cache it uses gets full, it will pause to make sure it has correctly computed the data, and then move on. This can be dependent on file sizes. No one copy program is ever better than another on an individual basis, it come down to the person using the program, and how well they understand it.
Sounds like the issue for the Robocopy boys is that they just haven’t tried to use rich copies options properly. I have been using it for replication for over a year, copied up to 1.2 terabytes at a time, using it for mirroring, keeping ACL’s on the files, logging of the job. Robocopy is good, reliable, but slow. As the the pausing issue that Matt mentioned, it will do that when trying to read data correctly and the cache it uses gets full, it will pause to make sure it has correctly computed the data, and then move on. This can be dependent on file sizes. No one copy program is ever better than another on an individual basis, it come down to the person using the program, and how well they understand it.
@Hamish, Please do not make condescending comments that robocopy users have just not tried to use the richcopy options properly!
My comment was that there is NO option to trickle or throttle the file transfer, and no way to do a trial run without actually transferring the files. A file copy programme that runs faster may be better for some people, but maybe there are other users on the network who also need the bandwidth.
It does not always “come down to the person using the program, and how well they understand it” – it comes down to whether the programme supports my needs and I understand perfectly well that Richcopy just does not have the options I need – sorry!
@Hamish, Please do not make condescending comments that robocopy users have just not tried to use the richcopy options properly!
My comment was that there is NO option to trickle or throttle the file transfer, and no way to do a trial run without actually transferring the files. A file copy programme that runs faster may be better for some people, but maybe there are other users on the network who also need the bandwidth.
It does not always “come down to the person using the program, and how well they understand it” – it comes down to whether the programme supports my needs and I understand perfectly well that Richcopy just does not have the options I need – sorry!
why does robocopy or richcopy make this _http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/6206/tempqf.png ?
why does robocopy or richcopy make this _http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/6206/tempqf.png ?
Not sure I fully understand your question Claudio?
Hi all, how do you migrate say 30 users from one server to another without specifying every Destination path for every user,using RichCopy.
Migrating home folders?
Quick Question. Can RichCopy Batch and Rename files during the copy? I have 200K+ files to copy and rename. Would rich copy do this?