Diskcopy Explained

diskcopy
Author:	Chris Peters
Developer:	Microsoft, IBM, Digital Research, Datalight, Novell, Toshiba, MetaComCo, Processor Technology, TSL, Imre Leber
Operating System:	MS-DOS, PC DOS, FlexOS, DR DOS, 4690 OS, TRIPOS, PTDOS, AmigaDOS, PC-MOS, ROM-DOS, PTS-DOS, SISNE plus, FreeDOS, OS/2, eComStation, ArcaOS, Windows
Platform:	Cross-platform
Genre:	Command
License:	MS-DOS: MIT FreeDOS: GNU GPL 2 PC-MOS: GNU GPL 3

In computing, diskcopy is a command used on a number of operating systems for copying the complete contents of a diskette to another diskette.^{[1] [2]}

Implementations

The command is available in MS-DOS, IBM PC DOS, DR FlexOS,^[3] IBM/Toshiba 4690 OS,^[4] MetaComCo TRIPOS,^[5] Processor Technology PTDOS,^[6] AmigaDOS, TSL PC-MOS,^[7] PTS-DOS,^[8] SISNE plus,^[9] FreeDOS,^[10] IBM OS/2,^[11] and Microsoft Windows.^[12]

The MS-DOS version was originally written in August 1982.It is available in MS-DOS versions 2 and later.^[13] Digital Research DR DOS 6.0^[14] and Datalight ROM-DOS^[15] also include an implementation of the command. The FreeDOS version was developed by Imre Leber and is licensed under the GNU GPL 2.^[16]

The command is not included in Windows 10.^[17]

The command is not included in Windows 11. xcopy is a like command

Example

• Copy the complete contents of the diskette in Drive A drive to the diskette in B drive.

>diskcopy a: b:

• If there is only have one diskette drive, diskcopy can be done by typing the source drive only. The disk copy program will prompt to insert the second (target) diskette once it finishes reading the complete contents of the first (source) diskette track by track into memory.

>diskcopy a:

• If only the first side of the diskette needs to be copied, even if the target diskette is double sided, the /1 switch can be used.

>diskcopy a: /1

• To make sure the contents are written reliably, the /V switch can be used, but it will cost more time to copy.

>diskcopy a: /V

• Force diskcopy to use only the conventional memory for temporary storage:

>diskcopy a: /M

Limitation

Diskcopy does not work with hard disk drives, CDs, network drives, Zip drives, or USB drives, etc. It also does not allow diskcopy from 3.5 inch drive to 5.25 inch drives, and vice versa. The source and target drive must be the same size.^[18]

Further reading

• Book: Cooper. Jim. Special Edition Using MS-DOS 6.22, Third Edition. 2001. Que Publishing. 978-0789725738.
• Book: Kathy Ivens. Brian Proffit. 1993. OS/2 Inside & Out. Osborne McGraw-Hill. 978-0078818714.
• Book: Frisch, Æleen. 2001. Windows 2000 Commands Pocket Reference. O'Reilly. 978-0-596-00148-3.

External links

• diskcopy | Microsoft Docs
• Open source DISKCOPY implementation that comes with MS-DOS v2.0
• DOS the Easy Way Guide to MS-DOS: DISKCOPY
• Computer Hope: Microsoft DOS diskcopy command

Notes and References

1. Web site: Microsoft Windows XP - Diskcopy . . 2012-07-09 . 2012-07-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120712212303/http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/diskcopy.mspx . dead .
2. Book: AmigaDOS quick reference. Hannes. Rügheimer. Christian. Spanik. September 14, 1988. Grand Rapids, Mi : Abacus. 9781557550491. Internet Archive.
3. Web site: FlexOS User's Guide . 1986 . www.bitsavers.org . 2020-09-14 . 2019-09-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190925131719/http://bitsavers.org/pdf/digitalResearch/flexos/1073-2003_FlexOS_Users_Guide_V1.3_Nov86.pdf . dead .
4. https://archive.org/details/4690OSV6r2UsersGuide/page/n169
5. Web site: Manual . www.pagetable.com . 2020-09-14.
6. http://www.trailingedge.com/cpm/SolHelios2.pdf Leaflet for the Helios II system and PTDOS
7. Web site: roelandjansen/pcmos386v501. GitHub. 10 October 2022 .
8. Web site: PTS-DOS 2000 Pro User Manual . . Buggingen, Germany . 1999 . 2018-05-12 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180512094512/http://download.paragon-software.com/doc/manual_dos_eng.pdf . 2018-05-12.
9. Web site: SISNE plus - Referência Sumária. May 14, 2015. Datassette.
10. Web site: ibiblio.org FreeDOS Group -- FreeDOS Base. www.ibiblio.org.
11. Web site: JaTomes Help - OS/2 Commands . 2019-07-27 . 2019-04-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414130029/http://www.jatomes.com/Help/Os2Cmd.php#DISKCOPY . dead .
12. Web site: Diskcopy. docs.microsoft.com. 11 September 2009 .
13. Book: Wolverton. Van. Running MS-DOS Version 6.22 (20th Anniversary Edition), 6th Revised edition. 2003. Microsoft Press. 0-7356-1812-7.
14. https://www.4corn.co.uk/archive/docs/DR%20DOS%206.0%20User%20Guide-opt.pdf DR DOS 6.0 User Guide Optimisation and Configuration Tips
15. Web site: Datalight ROM-DOS User's Guide. www.datalight.com.
16. Web site: ibiblio.org FreeDOS Package -- DiskCopy (FreeDOS Base). www.ibiblio.org.
17. Web site: diskcopy. docs.microsoft.com. 3 February 2023 .
18. Web site: ActiveWindows -- DOS Diskcopy Command. https://web.archive.org/web/20110707081411/http://www.activewin.com/tips/dos_tips_10.shtml. dead. July 7, 2011. www.activewin.com.