ResearchDrive - Transferring Data with a Windows Computer

This document explains how to transfer data to ResearchDrive with a Windows computer.

There are several methods to transfer data from a Windows computer:

  1. Transferring data with File Explorer
  2. Transferring data from the command prompt
  3. Transferring data with robocopy
  4. Transferring data with Powershell
  5. Comparing files or folders with Treesize

Transferring data with File Explorer

Note: File Explorer was named Windows Explorer prior to Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016

  1. Connect to ResearchDrive from the Windows Computer
  2. Open File Explorer from the Start menu or use the Win + E keyboard shortcut
  3. Navigate to the source directory that you want to transfer data from.
  4. Open a second File Explorer window and navigate to the destination directory that you want to transfer data to.
  5. Select the files and/or folders you want to transfer in the source File Explorer window.
  6. Drag and drop the selected files and/or folders to copy them to the destination folder.

    copy files

    • To move the files rather than copy them, hold the right mouse button when dragging and dropping the data to the destination File Explorer window and then select move here

      right click menu

Transferring data from the command prompt

Note: replace references to [source path] and [destination path] with the folder locations you want to use such as C:\myfile or R:\myfolder

  1. Connect to ResearchDrive from the Windows Computer
  2. Open a Windows Command Prompt from the Start menu or use the Win + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run prompt and type cmd
  3. To copy data, use the command syntax:
    copy [source path] [destination path]

    Refer to the Microsoft copy command documentation for additional details.

  4. To move data, use the command syntax:
    move [source path] [destination path]

    Refer to the Microsoft move command documentation for additional details.

Transferring data with robocopy

Note: replace references to [source path], [destination path], and [log path] with the folder locations you want to use such as C:\myfile, or R:\myfolder, or C:\mydatatransferlog.txt

  1. Connect to ResearchDrive from the Windows Computer
  2. Open a Windows Command Prompt from the Start menu or use the Win + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run prompt and type cmd
  3. To copy data, use the command syntax:
    robocopy [source path] [destination path] [files to copy] [options]

    Refer to the Microsoft robocopy command documentation or SS64 - robocopy for additional details.

  4. Example: to perform a differential copy, where the directory contents from [source path] that do not exist in [destination path] use
    robocopy [source path] [destination path] /copyall /fft /r:3 /w:5 /s /mt:16 /LOG+:[log file path]
    /copyall = copy data, time, owner, security, and archive data
    /fft = allow upto a 2second time differance to allow for changes in file systems
    /r:3 = retry up to 3 times
    /w:5 = wait 5 seconds between retries
    /s = copy subfolders
    /mt:16 = multithread using 16 threads (this is helpful for lots of small files)
    /LOG+ = log the data transfer progress (append to the existing log file)
    	

Transferring data with Powershell

Note: replace references to [source path] and [destination path] with the folder locations you want to use such as C:\myfile or R:\myfolder

  1. Connect to ResearchDrive from the Windows Computer with Powershell
  2. Open Windows Powershell from the Start menu or use the Win + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run prompt and type powershell
  3. To copy data, use the command syntax:
    copy-item -path [source path] -destination [destination path] [options]

    Refer to the Microsoft Powershell copy-item command documentation for additional details.

  4. To move data, use the command syntax:
    move-item -path [source path] -destination [destination path] [options]

    Refer to the Microsoft Powershell move-item command documentation for additional details.

Comparing files or folders with Treesize Pro

Note: replace references to [source path] and [destination path] with the folder locations you want to use such as C:\myfile or R:\myfolder

TreeSize is a campus licensed software utility with advanced data management features.

  1. Login to the Campus Software Library and download Treesize under the Utility section at the bottom.
  2. Follow the installation instructions listed on the Treesize page to install the software.
  3. Open the Treesize application from the Start menu
  4. Navigate to the [source path] you want to compare or use the Select directory for scan button

    treesize select

  5. Click the Scan tab in Treesize and then click the Compare with path button.

    treesize compare

  6. Select the [destination path] in the Treesize Select Folder window then click the Select Folder button.


Keywordsresearch drive storage file folder transfer move copy transfer connect powershell cmd command prompt robocopy robo robust treesize tree size script   Doc ID96639
OwnerCasey S.GroupUW-Madison Research Data
Created2019-12-14 09:52:11Updated2023-10-16 12:52:31
SitesUW-Madison Research Data
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