views:

1299

answers:

7

I want to move about 800gb of data from an NTFS storage device to a FAT32 device (both are external hard drives), on a Windows System.

What is the best way to achieve this?

  1. Simply using cut-paste?
  2. Using the command prompt ? (move)
  3. Writing a batch file to copy a small chunks of data on a given interval ?
  4. Use some specific application that does the job for me?
  5. Or any better idea...?

What is the most safe, efficient and fast way to achieve such a time consuming process?

+1  A: 

I would physically move the hard dsk if possible.

RedFilter
turn off the storage devices, unplug cables, remove hard drive, insert drive into new storage device, attach cables, turn back on...
RedFilter
A: 

Command Line: xcopy is probably your best bet

Command Reference: http://www.computerhope.com/xcopyhlp.htm

TJMonk15
+2  A: 

I've found fast copy to be quite good for this sort of thing. Its a gui tool ....

http://www.ipmsg.org/tools/fastcopy.html.en

benlumley
+11  A: 

Robocopy

You can restart the command and it'll resume. I use it all the time over the network. Works on large files as well.

Pyrolistical
Robocopy also includes a commandline switch to delay between packets, making it co-exist nicely with other traffic. My experience with Robocopy is that you end up around 2x the throughput of the Windows XP Explorer.
Bevan
Perfect...just what i needed! I am currently using robocopy for copying the data. Everyone, thanks for the input.
Andreas Grech
+2  A: 

If you have to move it over a network, you want to use FTP between the servers. The Windows File system will get bogged down with chatty protocols.

Kevin
+1  A: 

I've found Teracopy to be pretty fast and handy. Allegedly Fastcopy (as suggested by benlumley) is even faster, but I don't have any experience with it.

Arnout
A: 

Try using WinRar or a zipping tool. Big "files" are moved quicker than lots of small ones. Most zipping tools allow to split the archive(zip) files into multiple archives.

You might even reduce the size a bit when you turn on compression.

Johannes