Hello, I have a question I am hoping someone can help me with. I use a batch file to back up data from our main server named "omics" to another server named "newserv". It has worked well for 5 or 6 days, however today when I came in to work there were a bunch of files that had been deleted or overwritten on the omics server, we basicaly lost a whole day of data. The data was also gone on the newserv. Here is the xcopy command I use in my batch file: e: xcopy \\omics\OMICS60\*.* OMICS60\*.* /e /Y /V /D My boss is concerned because he is afraid xcopy somehow deleted or overwrite the files in the omics/omics60 folder. I dont believe this is the case but I told him I would post on here to make sure. I use the /d switch to just copy over everything that has changed throughout the day. With the /d switch it shouldnt overwrite anything that is newer than the data being copied, correct? Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

You are correct. The xcopy command you're using should not have deleted anything in either the source or the destination. It sounds more like someone has deliberately done this. Double check that you don't have any other scheduled tasks or services that affect these folders.

Thank you, that is what I thought. My boss however is not convinced so he wanted me to ask if it were possible that if the destination folder had files newer than the source folder would xcopy then overwrite the source folder files with the newer destination folder files? I say no because I was under the assumption xcopy only copies files in one direction. Thanks again for any answeres.

Hi, You may enable auditing to check who delete the files in future. To enable file auditing, you will need to enable it in Group Policy and file system. For the detailed steps, please refer to the following Microsoft KB article: How to audit user access of files, folders, and printers in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310399 Regards, Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.