Solved The DOS prompt in Windows 8

Frank1

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I haven't done a DOS copy command for quite some time. I'mwondering if I have forgotten something or is it different using Windows 8 whichis my OS. Today I was trying to copy some files from the DOS prompt but gotmessages of either "wrong syntax", unable to "find file" or"could not find destination". Dose the command prompt work the samein Windows 8 as it always has or am I apparently doing something wrong?
 

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Press Win Key + X and find "Command Prompt (Admin)" and the Xcopy command is still in there, but it's not Xcoppy32 anymore, just Xcopy. Type "Xcopy /?" for the syntax
 

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Copy and xcopy are 2 different commands and as far as I know work the same in Win 8 as they did in DOS.

As XweAponX said, try copy /? or xcopy /? to see the help for either command.
 

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off topic .

I really like your signature quotes and links .
I think the country and community should help more with out children the results would be amazing .
,as in Denmark
"Who Cares for the Children? Denmark's Unique Public Child-Care Model" by Polakow, Valerie - Phi Delta Kappan, Vol. 78, Issue 8, April 1997 | Questia, Your Online Research Library

good luck with your issue
Thank you for your comments and for the link that you provided.Yes, I do believe that as we lift up our children along with lifting up the family unit, we are lifting up our society as well. Sorry, for being off topic; and as far as my issue with the copy command is concerned, I'll do a little brushing up on it. Before Windows when I just used DOS, I remembered all those things. But Windows has spoiled me a bit.
 

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I used to know every Dos command, but over the years, they have changed some, removed some, or changed the scope of some. I typed "Xcopy32" which is what I used to use in Windows 98, that was the last time I ever used that command. It told me "not a valid command" so I tried Xcopy, and that gave me the results. I use Teracopy now to move huge blocks of data, but they have improved the "Copy" and "Move" functions of Explorer in Windows 8.
 

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I done this method.It will be the wrong.
 

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Hello Frank1,

I just tested a variety of DOS commands and they all still work. The specific commands I test were:

cd (change directory)
dir (list contents of a directory)
copy (copy files)

So, here is an example of how I was able to copy an existing file to a new file with a different name:

Open a command prompt
CD .. (gets you back to the C: root directory)
CD / (lets you navigate to a specific directory)

Once there I used the following to copy an existing image to a new file name:
copy 100x100.jpg >xxx.jpg

All the commands are still there and they still work.

MS-DOS copy command help

Hope this helps.

PS - If you need any help constructing a specific copy command string, please post what you want to do (specifically) and I'll develop the exact command string to get the job done for you!
 

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If it's something that you do on a regular basis , use frefilesynch to automate it , it's fast and...free.....you can save the config of the folders you copy and automate/run a regular copy using windows task planner.

:D
 

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Here is an example of what is strange. I created a folder inSystem 32 called Temp stuff.
One of the files in System 32 is xpsfilt.dll. So I openCommand Prompt (admin), get into the System32 folder and type" copyxpsfilt.dll temp stuff" without the quotation marks. I get the message,"The syntax of the command is incorrect" I can even type in copy *.*and it still doesn't work. It's not necessary for me to use the copy command,but it's supposed to work and it's strange that it doesn't. The reason I amtrying it in System32 and not the root directory is because, when I try to lookat the files in the root, all I see is the folders and no files. That's strange,too. By the way I have my system set so that it shows hidden files. I don't understand why while viewing the files while in the command prompt, I can't see them in the root directory but I can while in system32 directory.

 

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You really shouldn't mess with the files in the System32 folder. The reason why your copy is not working is because you need to put quotes around "temp stuff" since there is a blank in the middle. Without the quotes, your copy command sees temp & stuff as separate parameters instead of a single parameter.
 

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Create a new target folder without the space in the name (ie, temptest)
Open an admin command prompt so you are in the correct directory
See below:

Screenshot (79).png
 

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You really shouldn't mess with the files in the System32 folder. The reason why your copy is not working is because you need to put quotes around "temp stuff" since there is a blank in the middle. Without the quotes, your copy command sees temp & stuff as separate parameters instead of a single parameter.

Even though I provided a solution, I completely agree with strollin!
 

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Here is an example of what is strange. I created a folder inSystem 32 called Temp stuff.
One of the files in System 32 is xpsfilt.dll. So I openCommand Prompt (admin), get into the System32 folder and type" copyxpsfilt.dll temp stuff" without the quotation marks. I get the message,"The syntax of the command is incorrect" I can even type in copy *.*and it still doesn't work. It's not necessary for me to use the copy command,but it's supposed to work and it's strange that it doesn't. The reason I amtrying it in System32 and not the root directory is because, when I try to lookat the files in the root, all I see is the folders and no files. That's strange,too. By the way I have my system set so that it shows hidden files. I don't understand why while viewing the files while in the command prompt, I can't see them in the root directory but I can while in system32 directory.


You would have to use the old dos 8+3 naming convention, also it's a name with a space in it, and Dos command can't hack spaces. If the folder name is "Temp Stuff" it would be put in as "Temp~1" - I think Program Files becomes "Progra~1" so try Temps~1 or Tempst~1 if Temp~1 don't work. Dos can't read folder names longer than 8 characters+3 characters.

I'm only referring to the CMD command, not Powershell, Powershell CAN hack full folder and file names. But the command prompt usually can't when it is being used for those old Dos commands.
 

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    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
You really shouldn't mess with the files in the System32 folder. The reason why your copy is not working is because you need to put quotes around "temp stuff" since there is a blank in the middle. Without the quotes, your copy command sees temp & stuff as separate parameters instead of a single parameter.

Oh yah - That should work too. But I used to have a helluva time making the copy command start cos it was looking for an 8+3 name. it they updated the command to allow the quotes, that would be the easiest way to do it, sorry, haven't used Copy or Xcopy for a few years.
 

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    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
Ok, I believe that you have answered my question. I'm finding out that I have to remember the old DOS restrictions as to file names.
Thanks
 

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Great! I knew that had something to do with it. I used to do a lot of copying like this, and I had to figure out the 8+3 name all the time. I think there used to be a DIR command that would show them, but Its been so long, I think Justatest or someone posted a link to Dos commands and their syntax.
 

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    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
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    Water Cooled
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    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
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    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
Ok, I believe that you have answered my question. I'm finding out that I have to remember the old DOS restrictions as to file names.
Thanks
If you put quotes around the names then you don't have to worry about those old DOS restrictions. That was the way it was in DOS but in Windows 8 you don't have those restrictions as long as you put quotes around names that contain blanks.

For instance, open a command prompt and try this:

md "we do not need to restrict ourselves to using only eight plus three file names" [ENTER]

Afterwards do a dir and you will see that a new folder was created with the long folder name.

Then try this:

notepad "i want to give this file a very long name.txt" [ENTER]

Notepad will open with the long file name, save it and exit.

The try this:

copy "i want to give this file a very long name.txt" "we do not need to restrict ourselves to using only eight plus three file names" [ENTER]

The result will be that the file with the long name will be copied to the folder with the long name.

You can choose to restrict yourself and do it the same way it was done in DOS or you can remove the restriction and use the current non-restrictive method. Why use a modern OS but hold yourself back with vintage OS restrictions?
 

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    AMD Radeon RX580, Intel Iris X Graphics, Intel Iris Plus Graphics G4
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    ATI High Definition Audio (Built-in to mobo)
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    Dual Samsung U32J59 32 inch monitors, 13.3" display, 12.3" display
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    500GB ssd boot drive with 2 & 10TB Data (Desktop), 512GB ssd (laptop), 128GB SSD (tablet)
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    Corsair CX 750M
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    Antec 100
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    Coolermaster CM 212+
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    IBM Model M - used continuously since 1986
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    Defender on all
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    Retired in 2015 after working in the tech industry for 41 years. First 10 years as a Technician, the rest as a programmer/software engineer. After 1 year of retirement, I was bored so went back to work as a Robotic Process Automation Consultant. Retired for 3rd (and final) time in 2019.
I'll use the quotation marks from now on as it does work.
 

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