Solved What's the best way to copy flash drives?


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cheaterslick

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I need to copy/clone all files from one USB drive to another. That includes both hidden files, and files that have names that are too long to copy.

In other words, everything.

What's the best way to do this?

Thanks
 

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Create an image of the original USB drive and restore it to the other USB drive. Check that the image program is configured in the "normal" way, to process only the sectors that contain information (otherwise the size of the image will be the same as the size of the original USB). You can restore the image to a larger USB, but not to a smaller one.
 

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Yeah a image would be the best option. Rufus has a DD image copy mode I would use that. You can use disk manager or diskpart to extend the volume if the new USB drive is larger
 

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Well I was thinking of something that doesn't involve command lines. Also bear in mind we're only talking say 8GB, 16GB or 32GB. Standard size USB, not a large SSD system drive or anything.
 
Last edited:

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    Windows 11 Pro 23H2
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    Microsoft Surface Pro
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    32GB
  • Operating System
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    Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 3 Intel (14”) Mobile Workstation - Type 21AK
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    32GB
Rufus has a GUI, disk manager has a gui
 

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I think of Rufus, I think of a bootable flash drive that's used for system imaging on a greater scale than the sizes I listed.

How would this be done?
 

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  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2
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    Microsoft Surface Pro
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    32GB
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    Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 3 Intel (14”) Mobile Workstation - Type 21AK
    Memory
    32GB
cheaterslick said:
Well I was thinking of something that doesn't involve command lines. Also bear in mind we're only talking say 8GB, 16GB or 32GB. Standard size USB, not a large flash drive.
Click to expand...
Only 2 things to note, it's a limit of formatting in Windows of 32GB and a single-file size of 4GB when dealing with FAT32. The USB Thumb drives I have all came factory-formatted as FAT32, largest is 256GB. I have formatted larger HDDs of 1TB with 9 100GB partitions as FAT32 as a demonstration for couple clients but not using Windows. Windows can format larger drives as exFAT or NTFS and bypasses the 4GB file size limit.

For copying I use drag and drop between 2 instances of File Explorer showing on the desktop, just have to be careful not to let my fingers slip. At times I've had to use 2 USB-A drives or 1 USB-A to a USB-A in a USB-C port using an adapter, depends upon what the computer has.
 

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    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
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    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
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    12GB
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    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
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    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
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    Dell Vostro 5890
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The problem with using Rufus for this purpose, AFAIK, is that the process is rather slow and it creates a VHD, not compressed. Its size is equal to the size of the original USB.
 

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Yeah, all my flash drives (except the bootable ones) are exFAT. Seems to me the best option for something like PortableApps and what it contains.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro
    Memory
    32GB
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 3 Intel (14”) Mobile Workstation - Type 21AK
    Memory
    32GB
@Berton - Is there a way to copy so that the file ownership, permissions and original date and time stamps remain the same?
 

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    Intel® Core™ i7-8750H 8th Gen 2.2Ghz up to 4.1Ghz
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Anibor is correct the DD copy mode is a 1 for 1 sector copy of the drive and no compression. Personally I would just copy files and permissions with robocopy or Powershell
 

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    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 [rev. 4652]
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    Intel NUC12WSHi7
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    12th Gen Intel Core i7-1260P, 2100 MHz
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    Microsoft Defender
Hey what about, say?

cmd

robocopy d:\ e:\ /s

That looks simple enough...
 

My Computers

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  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2
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    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro
    Memory
    32GB
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 3 Intel (14”) Mobile Workstation - Type 21AK
    Memory
    32GB
Thanks all with the robocopy idea, is there a way to do it with File Explorer though?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP/7/8/8.1/10/11, Linux, Android, FreeBSD Unix
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i7-8750H 8th Gen 2.2Ghz up to 4.1Ghz
    Motherboard
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    Memory
    64GB using 2x32GB CL16 Mushkin redLine modules
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD 630 & NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 4GB DDR5
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC3266-CG
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" 4K Touch UltraHD 3840x2160 made by Sharp
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba KXG60ZNV1T02 NVMe 1TB SSD
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    Dell XPS 15 9570
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    Dell XPS 15 9570
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    Stock
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    Stock
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    Erica6
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Almighty1 said:
Thanks all with the robocopy idea, is there a way to do it with File Explorer though?
Click to expand...
By default, when you copy or move files to a new volume, the files inherit the permissions of the new parent folder. You used to be able to set a value called ForceCopyAclwithFile, as a DWORD, with a value of 1, in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer. I haven't done this in a long time, so I'm not sure if it still works on 11.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 [rev. 4652]
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Intel NUC12WSHi7
    CPU
    12th Gen Intel Core i7-1260P, 2100 MHz
    Motherboard
    NUC12WSBi7
    Memory
    64 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    built-in Realtek HD audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U3219Q
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160 @ 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 990 PRO 1TB
    Keyboard
    CODE 104-Key Mechanical with Cherry MX Clears
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
Almighty1 said:
@Berton - Is there a way to copy so that the file ownership, permissions and original date and time stamps remain the same?
Click to expand...
I've not delved into that, just copy the files. Sometimes a Move or Copy will pop up a note about not all things could be included but have not had a problem using that file.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
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    24" Dell
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    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
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Berton said:
I've not delved into that, just copy the files. Sometimes a Move or Copy will pop up a note about not all things could be included but have not had a problem using that file.
Click to expand...
My concern is not about using the file but more of trying to figure out the original details for the file when it has the copied date instead of the original date similar to when one extracts a archive, it will always be the current time/date instead of the original files time/date stamp. Using the file will work but sometimes one wants to know how old the files really are in reality.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP/7/8/8.1/10/11, Linux, Android, FreeBSD Unix
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i7-8750H 8th Gen 2.2Ghz up to 4.1Ghz
    Motherboard
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    Memory
    64GB using 2x32GB CL16 Mushkin redLine modules
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD 630 & NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 4GB DDR5
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC3266-CG
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" 4K Touch UltraHD 3840x2160 made by Sharp
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba KXG60ZNV1T02 NVMe 1TB SSD
    PSU
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    Case
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Stock
    Mouse
    SwitftPoint ProPoint
    Internet Speed
    Comcast/XFinity 1.44Gbps/42.5Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft EDGE (Chromium based) & Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender that came with Windows
On my Copy and Move the Folder will get the created date changed, that's normal as the Folder is first created on the new destination drive before the files in it which usually get into it. I've not seen the file dates as listed in File Explorer change. Same for other file managers I use for things File Explorer can't do.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
cheaterslick said:
I need to copy/clone all files from one USB drive to another. That includes both hidden files, and files that have names that are too long to copy.

In other words, everything.

What's the best way to do this?
Click to expand...

There's no magic formula that requires a deep dive and exotic procedures. A simple copy will do. Have done this quite a few times ;-)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 (Build 26100.4351)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom built
    CPU
    Intel Core 9 Ultra 285K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Aorus Z890 Xtreme AI Top
    Memory
    64G (4x16) DDR5 Corsair RGB Dominator Platinum (6400Mhz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon (XFX Mercury) RX 9070XT OC (with Magnetic Fans)
    Sound Card
    Onboard (DTS:X® Ultra Audio: ESS ES9280A DAC)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27-inch Eizo Color Edge - CG2700X
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    4 Samsung NVM 990 Pro drives: 1TB (OS), 2TB, 2 X 4TB.
    PSU
    Seasonic TX-1300 (1300 Watts)
    Case
    Cooler Master H500M
    Cooling
    Corsair Link Titan 280 RX RGB
    Keyboard
    Logitech Craft
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3S
    Internet Speed
    1TB Download. 512mb Upload
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge Chromium
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    Windows Security
    Other Info
    System used for gaming, photography, music, school.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 (Build 26100.4061)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom built
    CPU
    Intel Core i9-9900K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Xtreme
    Memory
    32gig (4 x 8) Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR4 3600Mhz (B-Die)
    Graphics card(s)
    Radeon XFX Merc 7900XT (20gig)
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24-Inch NEC PA242W
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 X NVME, 1 X SATA SSD
    PSU
    EVGA Super Nova 1000 P2 (1000 Watt)
    Case
    Phantek Enthoo Luxe
    Cooling
    Corsair H115i Elite AIO Cooler
    Keyboard
    Logitech Keys
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1TB Download. 512mb Upload
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge Chromium
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
    Other Info
    Backup System
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