Windows 10 Robocopy

Do you know the latest version of Robocopy ?
If you are using Windows 10, you have already got it.
If your windows directory path is on C:, look at below path:
C:\Windows\System32
You will find the file --> Robocopy.exe, the version is 10.0.10586.0



If you use it before or in previous version you will love it.
It is goof to copy files in batch, use it to backup from drive to drive, path to path, it works on UNC path as well as DFS path. the source and destination can be defined by you as long as these paths are accessible with the correct permissions. Below is just an example how I use it to backup my local data drive (here is G:\) to a network drive folder  (X:\myfolder)


robocopy  G:\ X:\myfolder /dcopy:t /copyall /mt:32 /mir /NP /ZB /R:1 /W:3 /XD recycled "system volume information" /unilog:G2X.log


I add all the relevant options to suit my need, you can do the same. Below list the explanation of the available options. You can even make it as a batch file and schedule it to run everyday at specific time when you are off work.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   ROBOCOPY     ::     Robust File Copy for Windows
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Started : 30 July 2016 06:39:PM
              Usage :: ROBOCOPY source destination [file [file]...] [options]
             source :: Source Directory (drive:\path or \\server\share\path).
        destination :: Destination Dir  (drive:\path or \\server\share\path).
               file :: File(s) to copy  (names/wildcards: default is "*.*").
::
:: Copy options :
::
                 /S :: copy Subdirectories, but not empty ones.
                 /E :: copy subdirectories, including Empty ones.
             /LEV:n :: only copy the top n LEVels of the source directory tree.
                 /Z :: copy files in restartable mode.
                 /B :: copy files in Backup mode.
                /ZB :: use restartable mode; if access denied use Backup mode.
                 /J :: copy using unbuffered I/O (recommended for large files).
            /EFSRAW :: copy all encrypted files in EFS RAW mode.
  /COPY:copyflag[s] :: what to COPY for files (default is /COPY:DAT).
                       (copyflags : D=Data, A=Attributes, T=Timestamps).
                       (S=Security=NTFS ACLs, O=Owner info, U=aUditing info).

               /SEC :: copy files with SECurity (equivalent to /COPY:DATS).
           /COPYALL :: COPY ALL file info (equivalent to /COPY:DATSOU).
            /NOCOPY :: COPY NO file info (useful with /PURGE).
            /SECFIX :: FIX file SECurity on all files, even skipped files.
            /TIMFIX :: FIX file TIMes on all files, even skipped files.
             /PURGE :: delete dest files/dirs that no longer exist in source.
               /MIR :: MIRror a directory tree (equivalent to /E plus /PURGE).
               /MOV :: MOVe files (delete from source after copying).
              /MOVE :: MOVE files AND dirs (delete from source after copying).
     /A+:[RASHCNET] :: add the given Attributes to copied files.
     /A-:[RASHCNET] :: remove the given Attributes from copied files.
            /CREATE :: CREATE directory tree and zero-length files only.
               /FAT :: create destination files using 8.3 FAT file names only.
               /256 :: turn off very long path (> 256 characters) support.
             /MON:n :: MONitor source; run again when more than n changes seen.
             /MOT:m :: MOnitor source; run again in m minutes Time, if changed.
      /RH:hhmm-hhmm :: Run Hours - times when new copies may be started.
                /PF :: check run hours on a Per File (not per pass) basis.
             /IPG:n :: Inter-Packet Gap (ms), to free bandwidth on slow lines.
                /SL :: copy symbolic links versus the target.
            /MT[:n] :: Do multi-threaded copies with n threads (default 8).
                       n must be at least 1 and not greater than 128.
                       This option is incompatible with the /IPG and /EFSRAW options
                       Redirect output using /LOG option for better performance.
 /DCOPY:copyflag[s] :: what to COPY for directories (default is /DCOPY:DA).
                       (copyflags : D=Data, A=Attributes, T=Timestamps).
           /NODCOPY :: COPY NO directory info (by default /DCOPY:DA is done).
         /NOOFFLOAD :: copy files without using the Windows Copy Offload mechanism.
::
:: File Selection Options :
::
                 /A :: copy only files with the Archive attribute set.
                 /M :: copy only files with the Archive attribute and reset it.
    /IA:[RASHCNETO] :: Include only files with any of the given Attributes set.
    /XA:[RASHCNETO] :: eXclude files with any of the given Attributes set.
 /XF file [file]... :: eXclude Files matching given names/paths/wildcards.
 /XD dirs [dirs]... :: eXclude Directories matching given names/paths.
                /XC :: eXclude Changed files.
                /XN :: eXclude Newer files.
                /XO :: eXclude Older files.
                /XX :: eXclude eXtra files and directories.
                /XL :: eXclude Lonely files and directories.
                /IS :: Include Same files.
                /IT :: Include Tweaked files.
             /MAX:n :: MAXimum file size - exclude files bigger than n bytes.
             /MIN:n :: MINimum file size - exclude files smaller than n bytes.
          /MAXAGE:n :: MAXimum file AGE - exclude files older than n days/date.
          /MINAGE:n :: MINimum file AGE - exclude files newer than n days/date.
          /MAXLAD:n :: MAXimum Last Access Date - exclude files unused since n.
          /MINLAD:n :: MINimum Last Access Date - exclude files used since n.
                       (If n < 1900 then n = n days, else n = YYYYMMDD date).
                /XJ :: eXclude Junction points. (normally included by default).
               /FFT :: assume FAT File Times (2-second granularity).
               /DST :: compensate for one-hour DST time differences.
               /XJD :: eXclude Junction points for Directories.
               /XJF :: eXclude Junction points for Files.
::
:: Retry Options :
::
               /R:n :: number of Retries on failed copies: default 1 million.
               /W:n :: Wait time between retries: default is 30 seconds.
               /REG :: Save /R:n and /W:n in the Registry as default settings.
               /TBD :: wait for sharenames To Be Defined (retry error 67).
::
:: Logging Options :
::
                 /L :: List only - don't copy, timestamp or delete any files.
                 /X :: report all eXtra files, not just those selected.
                 /V :: produce Verbose output, showing skipped files.
                /TS :: include source file Time Stamps in the output.
                /FP :: include Full Pathname of files in the output.
             /BYTES :: Print sizes as bytes.
                /NS :: No Size - don't log file sizes.
                /NC :: No Class - don't log file classes.
               /NFL :: No File List - don't log file names.
               /NDL :: No Directory List - don't log directory names.
                /NP :: No Progress - don't display percentage copied.
               /ETA :: show Estimated Time of Arrival of copied files.
          /LOG:file :: output status to LOG file (overwrite existing log).
         /LOG+:file :: output status to LOG file (append to existing log).
       /UNILOG:file :: output status to LOG file as UNICODE (overwrite existing log)
      /UNILOG+:file :: output status to LOG file as UNICODE (append to existing log)
               /TEE :: output to console window, as well as the log file.
               /NJH :: No Job Header.
               /NJS :: No Job Summary.
           /UNICODE :: output status as UNICODE.
::
:: Job Options :
::
       /JOB:jobname :: take parameters from the named JOB file.
      /SAVE:jobname :: SAVE parameters to the named job file
              /QUIT :: QUIT after processing command line (to view parameters).
              /NOSD :: NO Source Directory is specified.
              /NODD :: NO Destination Directory is specified.
                /IF :: Include the following Files.
::
:: Remarks :
::
       Using /PURGE or /MIR on the root directory of the volume will
       cause robocopy to apply the requested operation on files inside
       the System Volume Information directory as well. If this is not
       intended then the /XD switch may be used to instruct robocopy
       to skip that directory.

Allergy and Allergens

I saw this advertisement in the Tube and I captured it.
No intention to infringe any copyright, just impressed with the way it describes the problem we face everyday.
I am not helping them to advertise their product, but the photo and annotation of the advertisement does have an insight to our day to day allergy causes.
It is not easy to read all characters from the picture, these allergens are;

• Sunflower pollen
• Houseflies
• Insecticides
• Pollen
• Bee stings
• Deodorants
• Cosmetics
• Insecticide
• Hire dye
• Mosquito bites
• Acrylic glue
• Moisturizer
• Milk
• Costume Jewellery
• Dry cleaning chemicals
• Latex
• Rubber
• Rats
• Meat
• Ants
• Mice
• Paint dye
• Hearing aid
• face paint
• Wasp stings
• Chewing gum
• Newspaper
• Avocados
• Kiwi fruit
• Grass pollen
• Apple
• Nail varnish
• Leathers
• Marrows
• Cabbages
• Lemons
• Carrots
• Perfume
• Gold
• Artificial fingernails
• Vegetables
• Glue
• Saliva
• Sandflies
• Pen ink
• Spices
• Sweat
• Adhesive tapes
• Cats
• Mould spores

Windows 10 Startup folder

As we know, the Startup folder contains all shortcuts to programs that will run automatically when you start up Windows.
In Windows 10, this has changed slightly which you cannot find the Startup folder from the start menu, you have 2 ways to do the same:

Method 1  
- find the Startup folder and put your shortcuts and batch file in below:

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Method 2 
- run from shell command:
hold down the Windows key, and type R
you will see below screen, then type shell:startup
click OK

 
then you will be going to exact same folder patch like methos 1 above

The above is showing the personal startup folder, this is per profile basis (i.e. per user login). If  you are administrator and wants to run the program for ALL USERS when windows startup. Again similar ways to do:

Method 1  
- find the Startup folder and put your shortcuts and batch file in below:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp

Method 2 
- run from shell command:
hold down the Windows key, and type R
you will see below screen, then type shell:common startup
click OK

Windows 10 Backup

When you have used Windows 10 for a while, you should consider backup you system (as well as your files).

Prepare for your backup:

1. ensure you have a second hard disk (it can be a USB external hard drive) and the size must be bigger than you system drive (normally the C:\)
2. if you have a lot of data store in the same drive C:\, this procedure will also back them up together with the system files because it basically backs up everthying under C:\ (including your personal folders, musics, movies, photos, albums ... etc)
3. if you want to speed up the backup time, it's a good practise to run a clean-up of your C:\ before running the backup so that all temp files and files in recycle bin are cleared unless you want to keep them

Backup Steps:

1. Goto Control Panel  (right click the window start icon at the bottom left corner and select Control Panel)
2. select and click "File History"
3. from the File History dialog box, select and click "System Image Backup" in the lower left corner, a new window pops-up
4. from the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) dialog box (yes, it shows "Windows 7"), click "Create a system image", a new window pops-up
5. it will search whether you have a second hard disk, if yes the drive letter will be showed under the first option "On a hard disk"
6. this is the recommended backup option because the other 2 options will write the backup to DVD or via network which normally takes longer time to complete
7. Click the drop down menu and select the drive you wnat backup to
8. Click the next button
9. in the new dialog box, it asks you to confirm your backup settings, it will tell you the backup location, how much space will be used for this backup and also what drive(s) will be backed up
10. If you agree with the settings, simply click the "Start backup" button

It  might take an hour or a few hours depends on the size and speed of your PC and hard drive. When the backup is completed, you wil be prompted if you want a "System Repair Disc", it is a good practise to do this too.

Put a blank CD to you DVD drive and proceed to create a System Repair Disc

Then you are done.

Windows 10 Internet Explorer 11 command options

Below are examples of command line options tested in Windows 10 when we start Internet Explorer 11 via command prompt of within a batch file.

These are useful commands especially for specific usage or troubleshooting.

-extoff

This will start Internet Explorer in No Add-Ons mode, you can use this to troubleshoot problems when running different browser add-ons.

e.g.

C:\>start iexplore -extoff "google.com"

-private

This will start Internet Explorer with InPrivate Browsing set to active.

e.g.

C:\>start iexplore -private "google.com"

‑nosessionmerging

Prevents Internet Explorer from merging tab processes and thus sharing session cookies across tabs. Even if you have the –framemerging feature turned on (which it is by default), specifying this option will isolate your tabs into separate processes and prevent session sharing, even if those tabs are associated with the same frame process. You can also set this option via registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER

   SOFTWARE

      Microsoft

         Internet Explorer

            Main

               SessionMerging

                  (DWORD) 00000000

e.g.

C:\>start iexplore -nosessionmerging "google.com"

‑sessionmerging

This enables Internet Explorer to opportunistically merge new tab processes into existing tab processes within a merged frame process. By default, this setting is turned on. However, if you set the SessionMerging registry key to zero (thus disabling session merging), you can use this command line option to override that setting.

-k

This will start Internet Explorer in kiosk mode. The browser opens in a maximized window that does not display the address bar, the navigation buttons, or the status bar.

e.g.

H:\>start iexplore -k "google.com"