I'm Desperate. DOS Commands -> USB

[William-CL]

So Here is What i am Trying to do.

Copy files from my Desktop in C:\ to my Flash Drive in J:\
Because I have to reinstall Windows... Due to some massive screw up with windows. And I can't even save my data. Now all my programs woopty do I can get back in a couple hours. But i have very important Documents and Many of them. SO this is what I am Attempting.

J:\) xcopy C:\Users\Name\Desktop\Folder1\Folder2\*.* /a /e /k

And there error returned is.. cannot find file *.*
Basically, it needs to copy all those Files in the Folder2 Directory into J:\
Just until I reinstall windows. because I can't even boot my computer right now. And no a Windows.old folder will not be made because I have to Format->Install
So My Question IS.

Do I need to install something in the USB Flash to get this to work properly?

[NuclearSilo]

http://www.piriform.com/recuva
http://www.aumha.org/a/recover.php
http://undelete-plus.com/

[William-CL]

Umm.. After Formatting a harddrive?

[NuclearSilo]

Format is a process of unallocated all allocated addressable space, it doesn't reverse all the bits to 0. So yeah, it still works.

[William-CL]

Well luckily i don't have to risk it.
I was using a directory with a Space in it so I needed to wrap it in quotes

Doesn't Work
J:\) xcopy C:\Users\Name\Desktop\Folder 1\Folder 2\*.*
(there is a space in the actualy folder im copying to USB)

DOES Work
J:\) xcopy "C:\Users\Name\Desktop\Folder 1\Folder 2\*.*"

[aishsharma]

hmm why not install your new windows into another partition?... you wont have to bother then...

[William-CL]

Because It's not allowing me to. Since i can't startup windows and run it from there, it wil only let me run a clean install and no backups =\
I figured this out though. Saved all my documents/music/pictures etc.

[aishsharma]

i mean if u boot ur pc from ur windows CD you can then choose to install a new windows on another partition...well its what i do, but your way is good too i guess

[Azilius]

Because It's not allowing me to. Since i can't startup windows and run it from there, it wil only let me run a clean install and no backups =\
I figured this out though. Saved all my documents/music/pictures etc.

Don't need to be in windows to mess around with partitions. There are stand-alones you can burn to a cd or put on a flashdrive and boot from.

[William-CL]

Yea, but I didn't have anything to burn with and I was using my sisters laptop lol. Anyways.. I did RE-Install from the CD I got with my desktop, and I was informed specifically "You will not be able to save and of your Personal Data in you do a Clean Install"

And... it's a bunch of BULL!
I wasted Hours transferring files lol. And a window.old was made anyways when the re installation specifically said that data wouldn't be back up. I am actually glad this happened anyways, because now I am using like 300 Less Ram on start up than usual AND my processes are also slimmed down. This time I won't plaster my desktop with crap and install programs i don't really need lol. PLUS it FIXED these Errors.

• Windows Explorer Random Crashes (annoying as crap)
• Recycle Bin Empty Randomly Froze (even with a tiny document)
• Copying Files Freezing or slowed down (Copying over 1GB files is a Flash again)
• Drag and Drop Freezing

Idk what the hell even screwed that stuff up but I've always scanned and scanned for Viruses etc and came up with nothing