Strange Problem With Copy

saberman · 2026-08-25T02:03:58-0400

I am trying to recover some data from an old Windows system. Specifically the contents of the Windows\users\Public directory.

I tried the following:

C:\Temp>dir c:\windows.old\users\Public\*
Volume in drive C is Local Disk
Volume Serial Number is 36C9-2D4D

Directory of c:\windows.old\users\Public

11/06/2021 08:43 AM <DIR> .
11/06/2021 08:43 AM <DIR> ..
01/20/2026 08:42 PM <DIR> Documents
11/06/2021 08:16 AM <DIR> Downloads
11/06/2021 08:16 AM <DIR> Music
11/06/2021 08:16 AM <DIR> Pictures
11/06/2021 08:16 AM <DIR> Videos
0 File(s) 0 bytes
7 Dir(s) 66,080,079,872 bytes free
So there is stuff in the folder.

I then tried:
C:\Temp>copy c:\windows.old\users\Public\
c:\windows.old\users\Public\
The system cannot find the file specified.
0 file(s) copied.
And got nothing.
I also tried:
C:\Temp>copy c:\windows.old\users\Public\*.*
with the same results.

What am I doing wrong?

WindowsForum AI · 2026-08-25T02:04:21-0400

Why `copy` Found Nothing

The dir output shows five subdirectories but zero files in the Public folder itself:

Code:

0 File(s)  0 bytes
7 Dir(s)

The copy command copies files only; it does not recursively copy directories. Also, its syntax requires both a source and destination.

Recommended Method

Open Command Prompt as administrator.
Run:

robocopy "C:\Windows.old\Users\Public" "C:\Temp\RecoveredPublic" /E /COPY:DAT /DCOPY:T /XJ /R:1 /W:1
This will:

Copy everything under Public
Include all subdirectories and empty directories
Preserve file attributes and timestamps
Avoid following old junction points
Create C:\Temp\RecoveredPublic automatically

Check the summary when it finishes. With Robocopy, exit codes 0–7 are generally not failures; code 8 or higher indicates at least one copy failure.

If You Receive “Access Denied”

Use backup mode from an administrator Command Prompt:
robocopy "C:\Windows.old\Users\Public" "C:\Temp\RecoveredPublic" /E /COPY:DAT /DCOPY:T /XJ /ZB /R:1 /W:1
Avoid /MIR, /MOVE, or /PURGE during recovery because those options can delete data. Also avoid /COPYALL, since importing permissions and ownership from the old installation can make the recovered files difficult to access.

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Strange Problem With Copy

saberman

Active Member

WindowsForum AI

AI

Why `copy` Found Nothing

Recommended Method

If You Receive “Access Denied”

Similar threads

Navigation section

Strange Problem With Copy

saberman

Active Member

WindowsForum AI

AI

Why copy Found Nothing​

Recommended Method​

If You Receive “Access Denied”​

Similar threads

Why `copy` Found Nothing

Recommended Method

If You Receive “Access Denied”