Powershell Copy-Item not copying

Question

I have to following directory structure:

fold1
 - file1
 - file2

fold2
 - file1

I am trying to test to see if the folders are identical, and if they arent, copy fold1 to fold2 and overwrite any different files. This is what I have tried:

$fold1 = Get-ChildItem -Recurse -path C:\fold1
$fold2 = Get-ChildItem -Recurse -path C:\fold2
$isDif = Compare-Object $fold1 $fold2
if ($isDif -eq $null) {
    Write-Host "Folders Are Identical"
}
else {
    Write-Host "Folders Are Different"
    Copy-Item -Path $fold1.FullName -Destination $fold2.FullName -Recurse -Force
}

But when I run it, it says the folders are different, but it doesn't copy anything over. No errors or anything, it just doesn't work.

Alan · Accepted Answer · 2016-10-31 14:20:48Z

6

I ended up using robocopy instead:

robocopy c:\fold1 c:\fold2 /s

answered Oct 31, 2016 at 14:20

Alan

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3 Comments

user736893 Over a year ago

I've spent so long trying to get copy-item to work that I'm starting to think this or xcopy really is the best answer...

Thomas Glaser Over a year ago

I found it hard to believe but yes - Copy-Item is actually unreliable...

djmoon13 Over a year ago

Seriously... I tried about 30 minutes to make Copy-Item work, but couldn't make it. Perhaps it's an issue with permission? But rocobopy worked staright away...

Esperento57 · Accepted Answer · 2016-10-31 20:16:00Z

2

i, just do it

 $path1 = "C:\temp2\*"
 $path2 = "C:\temp3"

 Copy-Item -Path $path1 -Destination $path2 -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction Continue

answered Oct 31, 2016 at 20:16

Esperento57

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4 Comments

jdwal Over a year ago

This is much more efficient than my answer. I just did not know if Alan wanted the check the folder contents before the copy.

Esperento57 Over a year ago

It is unnecessary to check. If the files exist, they will not be overwritten. :)

jdwal Over a year ago

I agree if you are going to override the files regardless.

Esperento57 Over a year ago

"Compare-Object $fold1 $fold2" compare only path difference, not content files difference ;) My code did the same thing

jdwal · Accepted Answer · 2016-10-31 19:33:04Z

1

This is how I would recommend doing the task in powerhsell. It makes it much easier if you create path variables, that way you are not trying to insert records into a directory object.

$path1 = "C:\fold1"
$path2 = "C:\fold2"
$fold1 = Get-ChildItem -Recurse -path $path1
$fold2 = Get-ChildItem -Recurse -path $path2
$isDif = Compare-Object $fold1 $fold2
if ($isDif -eq $null) {
    Write-Host "Folders Are Identical"
}
else 
{
    Write-Host "Folders Are Different"
    ForEach($file in $fold1)
    {
        if($fold2 -notcontains $file)
        {
            Copy-Item -Path $file.FullName -Destination $path2 -Recurse -Force
        }
    }
}

answered Oct 31, 2016 at 19:33

jdwal

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