Thinkpads Forum

How do you move files from C:\ to E:\ partition?

When I drag and drop files from C:\ to E:\ partition of my hard drive, it just *copies* the file but don't delete the file from the original source partition.

I just want to drag and drop to move the file; not to copy it.

This problem never happened before when I had just one C:\ partition on my HDD...

Would appreciate everyone's help!



Background Info: After reading about claiming back the 5 GB of hard drive space used up by the pre-desktop partition (for product recovery purposes)...

I've partitioned it into C:\ and E:\ drives (the D:\ drive name was claimed by the CD-ROM...)

I know that it isn't the same as drag and drop, and it involves more steps, but I use the cut and paste method. I just use "ctrl X" and "ctrl v" so quickly that it is second nature.

The default action in Windows is to copy between partitions when dragging and dropping.

Hold down SHIFT key as you drop them and it will move the files rather than copying them.

but being a UNIX guy - I like to know my files go where I want them too. So I say use the command shell. It won't tie up you windows shell waiting for a move to finish - this will run in background and you can continue to work.

The first way is to use a shell (start -> run -> cmd)

then use the move command.

move c:\some_directory e:\some_directory

or the better way to move files is to use the xcopy command.


xcopy c:\some_directory e:\some_directory /s /e

which copies the entire directory tree.

then just do a rmdir c:\some_directory /q /s

which then deletes the directory and any files.

I just wrote a simple batch file. I call it moveit.cmd
start a cmd window (see above).

type in "cd c:\windows"
type in "copy con moveit.cmd"
paste the stuff below:


@echo off
echo Starting mass file move to %2
echo d | xcopy %1 %2 /s /e
echo Deleting old files from %1
rmdir %1 /q /s
echo Move Done!
pause

and then type control-z. should say 1 file written.

invoke it by (start -> run -> moveit c:\somedirectory e:\somedirectory)

it will ask you to hit a key once it's done to let you know it worked, then closes the window.


But if you want to move just a few files - then control-x and control-v are better for 1 file at a time.

Yet another method is to drag them with the right mouse button. When you let go, you can choose to copy or move the files.