Copying big amount data from HDD

CodeError · 2025-02-06T18:53:51+0000

When copying from internal HDD to external HDD can I just select all, copy and paste?

Files have more than 3TB. Will that amount of data in one push be too much for HDD?

DirtyDingusMcgee · 2025-02-06T18:59:27+0000

It will be fine. It will take a while, but it will be fine.

Can use FastCopy or TeraCopy if you like. Allows for a bit more control over the copy process.

nageme · 2025-02-06T20:48:21+0000

Doesn't matter how much you copy, but potentially notice:

* External enclosures with poor heatsinking or ventilation may heat up the HDD over time, especially 3.5" drives in plastic enclosures.
Just keep watch to see at what temperature it stabilizes. Up to 55-60°C should be okay, though it's high (check the specs).

* OS/boot partitions can't be copied that simply, because some system files and files in use aren't trivially copyable.

Chrispy_ · 2025-02-06T20:57:58+0000

I like to use Robocopy to do copies of large file sets because if a windows explorer copy fails for any reason, you have to manually work out exactly how far it got to resume the copy without creating duplicates, or you have to delete everything copied and start again.

I find the /MIR switch very very useful for anything that involves updating rather than pure copying, and robocopy is excellent at managing NTFS permissions and attributes via /DATSOU or /COPYALL switches.

Robocopy "Robust File Copy" - Windows CMD - SS64.com

ss64.com

Example:
Robocopy "c:\source folder" "d:\destination folder" /copyall /mir /log:c:\robocopy_log.txt /tee

This will copy everything from c:\source folder to d:\destination folder, making an exact copy of all subfolders, security permissions, hidden files, and all file attributes, while showing the output on screen and also dumping a log file to your c: drive. If it finishes while you're away and you want to see where it got to then just open up the logfile.

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Copying big amount data from HDD

CodeError

DirtyDingusMcgee

nageme

Chrispy_

Robocopy "Robust File Copy" - Windows CMD - SS64.com