How to copy locked or in-use files???

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From: Jack Sprat (jack_sprat_at_eat.no.fat.com)
Date: 05/18/04 

Date: Mon, 17 May 2004 20:34:02 -0400

I am trying to install a new HD (120 GB) and have loaded XP onto it and
begun reloading my programs.

What I want to do is copy all my files from the old HD (40 GB) now installed
as my D drive, into a directory on the new drive (C), for reference and
availability at a later date. By doing this, I can then format and remove
the old drive.

The first part of the operation seems fine.. ie, XP is loaded and boots from
the new drive. And, I can 'see' all my old files on the old drive. I
created a directory on the new drive called "my old system" and am now
trying to copy the old files over. However, when I attempt to copy the old
directory "My Documents and Settings", it starts the copy and goes fine for
a few minutes, then craps out with some failure that the file being copied
is locked or in use.

Then, it simply aborts the remainder of the copy operation!

Is there anyway to specify to copy the entire directory and all its sub
directories and files and IGNORE this type of error, and continue to copy
the remainder of the directory?

If not, do I need to use some sort of backup utility or Norton Ghost.. and
if so, can I specify the backup location to be a directory on another drive
instead of removable media? And can this be done such that the backup data
is 'readable' by the OS... ie, just as if the files were copied, and not
compressed by some proprietory algorithym of the backup utility?

Quite frankly, I can't understand why any of these files on the old D drive
would be locked or in use in the first place.. I am booting from the new
drive, and the old drive should simply be treated as raw data, not system
locked files.

Paul

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