Win 8 - Copy files - keep existing

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TwoSeven

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#119251 26-May-2013 10:40

Hi folks,
quick question, I'm trying to copy some files off of my digicam which tends to re-use filenames. In win 7 it would prompt for action when a duplicate filename was encountered (copy but keep existing) but in win 8 it only allows me to overwrite the files.

Does anyone know how to copy files and keep the existing files when duplicates are found (I do not want to import into a different directory).

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nathan

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#825478 26-May-2013 10:50

Try

ROBOCOPY /S

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#825482 26-May-2013 11:10

Use Teracopy - takes over all Windows copying duties and gives a lot more control (as well as queuing files)

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#825519 26-May-2013 12:24

I don't think Teracopy gives a rename option, does it?

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blackjack17

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#825521 26-May-2013 12:37

http://www.eightforums.com/general-support/17447-copy-but-keep-both-files-option.html

from the look of hit, compare and then select both

disclaimer I haven't used windows 8 before

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TwoSeven

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#825581 26-May-2013 15:17

Thanks folks, I was hoping not to have to install a third party utility to solve the problem.

Might be worth while making up a list of key features MS need to put back in windows and forwarding it on to them and see what they do (I don't mean new or wouldn't it be nice stuff, but features that were in Win 7 that are important).

I'm surprised from a usability perspective that any designer would only give a user the option to overwrite their existing data when a duplicate file is found. Can't imagine that going down well in an enterprise environment.

However to solve the problem I will take a look at some of those apps.

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blackjack17

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#825598 26-May-2013 15:43

TwoSeven: Thanks folks, I was hoping not to have to install a third party utility to solve the problem.

Might be worth while making up a list of key features MS need to put back in windows and forwarding it on to them and see what they do (I don't mean new or wouldn't it be nice stuff, but features that were in Win 7 that are important).

I'm surprised from a usability perspective that any designer would only give a user the option to overwrite their existing data when a duplicate file is found. Can't imagine that going down well in an enterprise environment.

However to solve the problem I will take a look at some of those apps.

Looks like you just have to select both copies to keep and it will rename them.

http://www.davescomputertips.com/2011/08/windows-8-copy-move-and-rename-improvements/

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TwoSeven

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#825608 26-May-2013 16:53

The thing with telemetry is that it will indicate that 10 people brought light bulbs and three people plugged them in. By that metric, it is possible to deduce that most people don't use lightbulbs. Hovever, actually talking to them might reveal that the remaining people just wanted some a spare bulb on hand.

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nathan

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#825621 26-May-2013 17:25

TwoSeven: Thanks folks, I was hoping not to have to install a third party utility to solve the problem.

Might be worth while making up a list of key features MS need to put back in windows and forwarding it on to them and see what they do (I don't mean new or wouldn't it be nice stuff, but features that were in Win 7 that are important).

I'm surprised from a usability perspective that any designer would only give a user the option to overwrite their existing data when a duplicate file is found. Can't imagine that going down well in an enterprise environment.

However to solve the problem I will take a look at some of those apps.

if you don't want to use ROBOCOPY which is built into the CMD line to automate this, as others have pointed out the functionality is still in the Windows 8 Explorer UI

When you copy, and the dialog box "replace or skip files" comes up, click "let me decide for each file"

then just tick the checkbox in both source and destination

the UI even says "if you select both versions, the copied file will have a number added to its name."