Using DISKCOPY to Make Single-Pass Copies (105605)


The information in this article applies to:

  • 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 Q105605

SUMMARY

The MS-DOS 6.2 DISKCOPY command uses your hard disk as an interim storage area, which makes copying from one floppy disk to another faster and easier.

MORE INFORMATION

DISKCOPY stores its temporary data in the location specified by the SET TEMP= environment variable. It does not use expanded memory services (EMS) or extended memory specification (XMS) memory.

If there is no SET TEMP environment variable DISKCOPY writes the temporary data to the root directory of the hard disk drive. If the TEMP environment variable is set to a nonexistent directory, there is insufficient space on the hard disk drive, or your set TEMP environment variable points to a RAM drive with insufficient space, DISKCOPY reverts to its previous multiple- pass behavior after displaying the following message:
Error creating image file.
Diskcopy will revert to a multiple-pass copy.

Making Faster Single-Pass Copies with a RAM Drive

You can increase the single-pass copy speed by setting your TEMP environment variable to a RAM drive. For example, if your RAM drive is drive D, use SET TEMP=D:\.

NOTE: Make the RAM drive slightly larger than the largest media you will be copying. For example, to copy a 1.44-megabyte disk with a RAM drive, create a RAM drive of 1450 kilobytes.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/29/1999
Keywords:KB105605
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