Question

Using a .bat file to copy files/folders from AppData folder?

Asked by: boegmunken

Hi

I want to run a .bat file from my USB drive that copies files or a folder from the AppData folder from the current user with the same destination as the .bat file is executed from.

Example:
XCOPY C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Example

I have also tried some different tags like /H but I can't get it to work. I have successfully copied files from different locations, like C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Desktop\Example and the file(s) appear on the USB drive. Why can't I copy files from AppData? Thanks in advance.

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Asked On
2009-08-15 at 10:15:51ID24655396
Tags

bat

,

batch

,

copy

,

xcopy

Topics

MS DOS

,

Windows Vista

Participating Experts
2
Points
125
Comments
3

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Answers

 

by: PriceDPosted on 2009-08-15 at 10:22:38ID: 25106142

It may be due to files being used in the directory.  Are you logged in when you are trying to copy the folder.  Log in as a differnt user and then run the file from that user account, assume the that user has full access to the profile in question.

Another way to see if the problem is file being in use.  Try to just copy the folder manually and see if it stop due to file being in use.

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2009-08-15 at 10:39:25ID: 25106201

Does any of the path include long file names (including spaces)?  You may need to include quotes surrounding the path.

 

by: boegmunkenPosted on 2009-08-15 at 11:28:27ID: 25106379

I managed to solve it!

I launched the command prompt and manually navigated myself to the USB drive:
cd I:
Then I ran the XCOPY command and this happened:

File creation error - The parameter is incorrect.

Unable to create directory - I:\
0 File(s) copied

I solved this by launching the .bat file from a directory on the I: drive, like I:\example.
I didn't have to use the /H tag because the files I wanted to copy were not hidden. AppData is a hidden folder by default, but it doesn't matter if it's just a part of the path it seems.
I had to use the quote marks (" ") around the source path because it had spaces.
To clarify, it should look like this:
XCOPY "C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Folder With Spaces"
This could not be run from the root of the USB drive. Put the .bat file in a folder.

Thanks a lot PriceD and MASQUERAID for early replies and good suggestions.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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