After the database server migration, I am in need of copying 18G of (patient record) files from the old server to the new server. However, 15G of files had been copied previously. Is there any way to copy the remaining 3G of files using differential copy method in windows 2003 server, instead of starting all over again?

I have worked with a number of databases and your "migration" does not sound right. In a flat file system the patient records are stored in a number of files. There is never a file per patient. There maybe pointer files per patient in a flat file system but they don't contain the data. If a sql database you don't have individual files that make up a database vs a non-sql db which is what I refer to as a flat file system. Usually you export the database from the old system and import it into the new system. I don't believe copy has the functionality you are looking for. Xcopy does but you would have had to turn up all the A flags [archive bit] first and then used the /m switch for xcopy. Unfortunately copy does not turn down the a flag like xcopy /m does. Looks like you will have to copy them all again though you may find it takes less time to back them up and then do a restore. Liberal: broad-mindedness, person who favors a political philosophy of progress, reform & protection of civil liberties Neocon: labels others adversely. John Kerry, vietnam vet is a liberal

Rsync, unison, Jfilesync, deltacopy and other programs might do what you want. They only copy the difference. "Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, antivirus, anti-spyware, Live CD's, backups, are in my top 10

xcopy x:\src y:\dest\ /d/s ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

Might also see robocopy gui in nov 06 technet downloads. Could use robocopy from command line too. "Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, antivirus, anti-spyware, Live CD's, backups, are in my top 10

I think the advisors are missing the point. Copy does not have a way of marking what was copied and what now should not be copied. The proper xcopy commands are: attrib +a *.* when in the source folder xcopy *.* x:\distination folder /m /v /s You can stop coping and then relaunch xcopy with the /m switch and it will pick up where it left off. This is because the /m switch only copies those files with the +a attribute and turns down that flag when copied. Date does not come into play since we have to assume all of these files have different dates and are not one date range for the first copy and a second date range for the uncopied. Correct syntax is /d:m-d-y You have to install and use a copy program before you copy the files and then want to copy those not copied.

The /d means to copy only newer files, which is what's needed. ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2