Fastest way to move files on a Windows System

Question

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?

Answer 1

I would physically move the hard dsk if possible.

Answer 2

Command Line: xcopy is probably your best bet

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

Answer 3

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

Answer 4

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.

Answer 5

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.

Answer 6

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.

Answer 7

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.