How to Restore Backed-up Files to a Different Directory (86646)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.3
- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 4.0
- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 4.01
- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0
- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0a
- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.0
- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.2
- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.21
- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.22
This article was previously published under Q86646 SUMMARY
The MS-DOS RESTORE command will only place backed-up files into the
directory where they were backed up from. If you do not want to restore
the files you backed up with the MS-DOS BACKUP utility to the same
directory, you can either:
- RESTORE to a different drive.
-or-
- Fool RESTORE using the SUBST command.
NOTE: This information applies to MS-DOS Restore (RESTORE.EXE). It does not
apply to Microsoft Backup for MS-DOS (MSBACKUP.EXE) or Microsoft Backup for
Windows (MWBACKUP.EXE).
MORE INFORMATIONExample
If you want to restore the files backed up from the C:\DATA
directory but don't want to mix them with the files currently in the
C:\DATA directory, and you have another hard drive on your system, you can
restore to drive D with the following command:
restore a: d:\data\*.*
RESTORE would place all files backed up from the \DATA directory into
the D:\DATA directory.
However, if you do not have another hard drive, you can use the
following commands:
md c:\old
subst d: c:\old
restore a: d:\data\*.*
RESTORE will place all files backed up from the \DATA directory into
the D:\DATA directory, which is actually the C:\OLD\DATA directory.
Explanation
The MS-DOS BACKUP utility stores the full path of each file that is
backed up (for example, \DATA\INFO.DAT). This allows RESTORE to
recreate your entire subdirectory structure, if necessary.
When you specify "RESTORE A: D:\DATA\*.*", RESTORE searches for the
files backed up from the \DATA directory, and copies them to the \DATA
directory on drive D. Because the drive letter is not saved by BACKUP,
RESTORE is able to place the file in a \DATA directory on any MS-DOS
logical drive (but only in a the \DATA directory).
SUBST allows you (and many utilities, including RESTORE) to substitute
a drive designator (such as D) for a directory path (such as C:\OLD).
Notes
SUBST can be used to substitute any drive designator up to drive Z.
However, if the drive you are "creating" with SUBST is F through Z,
you will usually need to have a LASTDRIVE= command in your CONFIG.SYS
file. For example, if you want to be able to use SUBST with drive M,
add the following command to CONFIG.SYS:
(Note: You can use any letter after M in the alphabet.)
It is recommended that you not add or delete any drives created with
SUBST while running Microsoft Windows.
Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 5/10/2003 |
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Keywords: | KB86646 |
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