copying files from windows cmd.exe [closed] - windows

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I am trying to make a backup of the files in a corrupted MySQL database before doing a clean install from a different backup file. I am on a windows 7 machine. Someone suggested the following, but the mv command does not work on windows:
mv /var/lib/mysql /var/lib/mysql.old
So instead, I am trying to use robocopy, but I am getting a range of different error messages with each attempt. Here is a screen shot of some of the error messages for my various attempts:
Here is a link to the complete suggested code in a related posting, if it helps anyone suggest the correct syntax: Click Here
I tried xcopy but am getting the following error result:
Then I tried move but got the following results, despite trying a few different ways of doing the slashes:
I added a C:\ProgramData\MySQL\bkup folder to my hard drive and tried the following:

Answer 1

why don't use this syntax ? :
xcopy /s SOURCEDIR DESTDIR
eg: xcopy /s C:\Users\Iman\Desktop\k C:\Users\Iman\Desktop\kk

Answer 2

Here's a possible approach, since the paths seem to be crossing you up:
MD C:\BackupDir
Subst G: c:\BackupDir
Cd C:\MypathtoMysql
G: (Switch to G drive)
Xcopy C:*.* /s /e
That way you're in the directory you want to copy so no need to specify it, and you're copying to a local location rather than a path location.

Answer 3

So, I've done this to prove what I tried to convey in the comments:
Created a directory called C:\ProgramData\directory 1\sub-directory a, and two files in it:
C:\>dir "C:\ProgramData\directory 1\sub-directory a"
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 303C-DB3D
Directory of C:\ProgramData\directory 1\sub-directory a
24/05/2014 22:35 <DIR> .
24/05/2014 22:35 <DIR> ..
24/05/2014 22:35 13 file 1
24/05/2014 22:35 13 file 2
2 File(s) 26 bytes
2 Dir(s) 1,076,169,957,376 bytes free
Created a directory C:\ProgramData\directory 2:
C:\>dir "C:\ProgramData\directory 2"
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 303C-DB3D
Directory of C:\ProgramData\directory 2
24/05/2014 22:35 <DIR> .
24/05/2014 22:35 <DIR> ..
0 File(s) 0 bytes
2 Dir(s) 1,076,169,957,376 bytes free
Used move to move sub-directory a to C:\ProgramData\directory 2 like so:
C:\>move "C:\ProgramData\directory 1\sub-directory a" "C:\ProgramData\directory 2\sub-directory a"
1 dir(s) moved.
Confirmed that the directory and its files are where they should:
C:\>dir "C:\ProgramData\directory 2\sub-directory a"
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 303C-DB3D
Directory of C:\ProgramData\directory 2\sub-directory a
24/05/2014 22:35 <DIR> .
24/05/2014 22:35 <DIR> ..
24/05/2014 22:35 13 file 1
24/05/2014 22:35 13 file 2
2 File(s) 26 bytes
2 Dir(s) 1,076,169,957,376 bytes free
In conclusion:
move can be said to be a renaming operation: The first argument, the source, is the path of the file right now, the second argument, the destination, is what you want it to be.
The parent directory of the destination should exist. E.g. if I move to C:\ProgramData\directory 2\sub-directory a there should already be a directory C:\ProgramData\directory 2.
Arguments that contain a space need to be quoted, like the directory arguments to move. Each argument should be quoted on its own.
Use relative paths when you're sure about what they should be, otherwise use absolute paths.

Answer 4

Is there a reason why you want this done via command line? Why not use a file-diff tool such as Beyond Compare? This tool gives you a visual overview of file differences, but can be used to copy files to another folder for backup as well. Full binary comparison of files in different folders is possible too. See a screenshot. There is a command line version included.
Perhaps this topic from SuperUser can help: https://superuser.com/questions/748069/how-do-i-compare-two-folders-recursively-and-generate-a-list-of-files-and-folder - look down the list of answers and there will be an entry on RoboCopy and its use for a somewhat similar purpose.