Copy large files using freeware TeraCopy (XP and Vista)

Posted on March 24, 2008 at 6:55 am

With iTunes libraries, photo collections, and video files taking up more and more space on our cheaper and cheaper disk drives, we can all use some better file copy tools than Windows provides out of the box. The freeware (yea!) TeraCopy application makes copying large files and large numbers of files a breeze for Windows users.

For power users and especially system administrators, a Pro version of the software adds some features for a small price. What does it do that File Explorer doesn’t? Have you ever left a large number of files to be copied to a USB drive perhaps to go do something else, only to find an annoying Explorer prompt for one file has stopped the entire copy?

Nice huh! Or, have you ever started a copy and then needed to do some work such as check email or run Word? Competing against a large copy can mean sacrificing the snappy response you need to get your real work done. TeraCopy to the rescue! Need these features? Yes, you do:

Pause and resume file copy. For me this pays for the trouble of installing an app that basically adds bells and whistles to what Windows already gives me.

Error recovery, continue file copy. TeraCopy can continue to copy files when one file has an issue. I don’t know about you but I often copy entire directories, and it’s annoying to have to sit and monitor the copy progress in case a file already exists on the target, and Windows wants to know what to do about it. Or as sometimes happens one of the files has a problem that prevents Explorer from reading it properly, which stops the entire group from being copied. TeraCopy can be set to handle these scenarios with one of several options, and can continue with the rest of the files.

Check target file accuracy. TeraCopy can run a check on the copied files against the source files to ensure accuracy.

Fast file copying. TeraCopy claims its technology can reduce copy times.

While TeraCopy has features to make large copy tasks a breeze, the application GUI itself, is no breeze for less experienced users. So below is a simple How-To for TeraCopying.

Let’s get started!

Download the freeware version here, and install it to your PC.

Now let’s assume you want to copy your iTunes music files to another drive. Using Windows File Explorer, navigate to the top level directory that you want to copy. For me this is called iTunes (simple huh?). Right click to drop down the context menu for Explorer and use the TeraCopy option.

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TeraCopy gives you several choices. Copy To will allow browsing to select a target for the source files and will start the copy immediately. Move To will do the same, and will remove the source files on completion.

Add is what we will use here as it gives us the ability to use some of the convenient features that we are looking for. Once you click Add, TeraCopy opens a little control window, shown below. To start, you see the number of files and disk storage to be copied. Remaining to be set are the target folder, the option for exception handling, and the optional action at end of this copy job.

To choose the option you want for these features, you click the black text label (not intuitive but it does work!). For instance to set the E: drive root folder as the target, I have clicked on No target folder, and TeraCopy gives me the option to choose from recent folders or browse for a new location.

An important option is the not intuitively named Always Ask label, which is really just the default value for exception handling. Click Always Ask to see the options and select the one which works for your copy job.

I use Overwrite Older in my copy job because I want newer files to replace older ones if a conflict is detected. The important thing about this feature is that TeraCopy keeps a list of files copied and flags any which had exceptions, and were skipped.

After setting your feature selections, which takes very little time, click Copy (or Move) to start your job. You can then Pause and Resume as needed, or Cancel the job.If you cancel the job though,TeraCopy does not remove already copied files for you. So if you don’t want them you need to remove them yourself.

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During the process, or after the copy job is completed you can click the More button to review the file copy list interactively, correct issues and complete any file copies which were skipped. No longer do you have your entire copy job held up or canceled by Windows File Explorer copy! During the copy and also the file test process if you use it, TeraCopy gives better information than Windows including a more accurate estimate of time remaining, and percent completion for individual files as well as the entire job.

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The interactive file list builds as copy progresses. This view can be accessed by the More button as mentioned, and can be hidden by the Less button. The Clean Up button deletes the list.

Status indicators as well as the Status column keep you informed. Scan the list to see if anything says something besides OK or CRC Match. OK means the copy went fine but the resulting new file has not been tested. CRC Match means the copied file tested out okay. If you are copying to make an archival copy or for backup, you should use the Test option. This will double the time the job takes to complete.

TeraCopy provides a command line interface for administrators that access these features as well. But for home users, this simple way to use TeraCopy is a nice example of freeware that complements Windows XP and Vista, providing features that you will use often.

Pete Kushmeider, Writer and blogger

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