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Windows XP and DOS - Ask the COPY Command to Verify Overwriting Files

SUMMARY: Help prevent the DOS COPY command in Windows XP from accidentally overwriting files.

By default, in DOS batch files running under Windows XP, whenever the COPY command is executed, it will automatically overwrite existing files without a prompt.

For example, if you have two text files in a directory named 1.txt and 2.txt, if the following command was executed in a batch file, the contents of 2.txt would be overwritten by 1.txt:

copy 1.txt 2.txt

This can be dangerous, especially when testing new batch files or when running batch files in directories containing important information.

However, if you add the /-y parameter, the COPY command will prompt you when trying to overwrite existing files. For example, if the following line is run inside a batch file:

copy /-y 1.txt 2.txt

You will be prompted:

Overwrite 2.txt? (Yes/No/All):