A Windows batch file to c:\*.pst and copy them to a network drive without files with a duplicate name overwriting each other

Question

My end users have Outlook pst files scattered all over their c drive. I came up with this batch file to find them and copy them to the end user's M drive.

rem **************************************************
@echo off
if not exist m:\migration mkdir m:\migration
if not exist m:\migration\pst mkdir m:\migration\pst
c:
dir /b c:\*.pst /s > m:\migration\pathdata.txt

pause

for /f "tokens=1 delims=" %%a in (m:\migration\pathdata.txt) do (copy "%%a" m:\migration\pst) 

pause

BUT this paltry solution can't handle if the files have the same name, which is to be expected (archive.pst)

I was hoping to use xcopy to copy them and create their directory structure on drive M, that way files with the same names wont overwrite each other. But I have failed.

Any ideas? Thank you for helping me with this

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 06 '12 at 07:38

2

I used this blog for help please check this one. It will search files and then copy to network location

http://tshootissues.blogspot.com

answered Dec 06 '12 at 07:38

Rajesh

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score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 24 '12 at 22:56

0

XCopy /-U c:\*.pst m:\migration\pst

The /U option will only copy files that already exist. The /-U should copy only those that do not already exist.

or

echo n|copy /-y c:\*.pst m:\migration\pst

source: http://www.dostips.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=537

answered Jul 24 '12 at 22:56

Joe DF

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thats good too but it isn't installed by default on systems running windows XP or older, but as long as it works :D – Joe DF Jul 24 '12 at 23:07
robocopy c:\ m:\pst *.pst /r: /s I just lucked into this and gave it a try. I did not know robocopy was part of Windows 7 or the windows 2003 resource pack. Thank you Joe DF!!!! I still might use that suggestion. You Rock!!! – John Barillo Jul 24 '12 at 23:08

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:50

There is something you should observe with dir /b c:\*.pst /s > m:\migration\pathdata.txt If you open your pathdata.txt or do for /f "tokens=1 delims=" %a in (m:\migration\pathdata.txt) do @echo %i you will notice you have paths like this:

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\FILENAME.pst
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\FILENAME.pst

And so on, but note it is actually the same file. This happens because dir /b c:\*.pst /s will go through folder shortcuts therefore you will have a .txt file with lots of path names pointing to the same .pst and when you xcopy you will copy the same file multiple times.

You can check this post which solves the problem then you can do the robocopy answer or modify it to your need.

Since you have multiple users and if your M drive is a network drive you could use m:\migration\%username%\pst to have it copied by user. That way if a user's pst have the same name as another user's pst you wont overwrite it and also you would be identifying them.

score 0 · Answer 4 · edited Sep 20 '13 at 05:17

0

It is a general caution that PST file may get vulnerable threat on network driver or server. This truth is also accepted by MVP and Microsoft. So, it can use only at local drive only to avoid any problematic situation.

edited Sep 20 '13 at 05:17

nhahtdh

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answered Sep 20 '13 at 04:57

Russell Smith

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A Windows batch file to c:\*.pst and copy them to a network drive without files with a duplicate name overwriting each other

4 Answers4