Diskcopy

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Command that makes a copy of a diskette

title: "Diskcopy" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["external-dos-commands", "microsoft-free-software", "msx-dos-commands", "os/2-commands"] description: "Command that makes a copy of a diskette" topic_path: "general/external-dos-commands" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diskcopy" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Command that makes a copy of a diskette ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox software"]

FieldValue
namediskcopy
authorChris Peters
developerMicrosoft, IBM, Digital Research, Datalight, Novell, Toshiba, MetaComCo, Processor Technology, TSL, Imre Leber
released
operating systemMS-DOS, PC DOS, FlexOS, DR DOS, 4690 OS, TRIPOS, PTDOS, AmigaDOS, PC-MOS, ROM-DOS, PTS-DOS, SISNE plus, FreeDOS, OS/2, eComStation, ArcaOS, Windows
platformCross-platform
genreCommand
licenseMS-DOS: MIT
FreeDOS: GNU GPL 2
PC-MOS: GNU GPL 3
::

| name = diskcopy | logo = | screenshot = | screenshot size = | caption = | author = Chris Peters | developer = Microsoft, IBM, Digital Research, Datalight, Novell, Toshiba, MetaComCo, Processor Technology, TSL, Imre Leber | released = | latest release version = | latest release date = | operating system = MS-DOS, PC DOS, FlexOS, DR DOS, 4690 OS, TRIPOS, PTDOS, AmigaDOS, PC-MOS, ROM-DOS, PTS-DOS, SISNE plus, FreeDOS, OS/2, eComStation, ArcaOS, Windows | platform = Cross-platform | genre = Command | license = MS-DOS: MIT FreeDOS: GNU GPL 2 PC-MOS: GNU GPL 3 | website = In computing, diskcopy is a command used on a number of operating systems for copying the complete contents of a diskette to another diskette.

Implementations

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/IBM_PC_DOS_1.0_screenshot.png" caption="DISKCOPY.COM (among other commands) in [[IBM PC DOS]] 1.0."] ::

The command is available in MS-DOS, IBM PC DOS, DR FlexOS, IBM/Toshiba 4690 OS, MetaComCo TRIPOS, Processor Technology PTDOS, AmigaDOS, TSL PC-MOS, PTS-DOS, SISNE plus, FreeDOS, IBM OS/2, and Microsoft Windows.

The MS-DOS version was originally written in August 1982. It is available in MS-DOS versions 2 and later. Digital Research DR DOS 6.0 and Datalight ROM-DOS also include an implementation of the command. The FreeDOS version was developed by Imre Leber and is licensed under the GNU GPL 2.

The command is not included in Windows 10.

The command is not included in Windows 11. xcopy is a like command

Example

  • Copy the complete contents of the diskette in Drive A drive to the diskette in B drive.

::code[lang=doscon]

diskcopy a: b: ::

  • If there is only have one diskette drive, diskcopy can be done by typing the source drive only. The disk copy program will prompt to insert the second (target) diskette once it finishes reading the complete contents of the first (source) diskette track by track into memory.

::code[lang=doscon]

diskcopy a: ::

  • If only the first side of the diskette needs to be copied, even if the target diskette is double sided, the /1 switch can be used. ::code[lang=doscon]

diskcopy a: /1 ::

  • To make sure the contents are written reliably, the /V switch can be used, but it will cost more time to copy. ::code[lang=doscon]

diskcopy a: /V ::

  • Force diskcopy to use only the conventional memory for temporary storage: ::code[lang=doscon]

diskcopy a: /M ::

Limitation

Diskcopy does not work with hard disk drives, CDs, network drives, Zip drives, or USB drives, etc. It also does not allow diskcopy from 3.5 inch drive to 5.25 inch drives, and vice versa. The source and target drive must be the same size.

References

References

  1. "Microsoft Windows XP - Diskcopy".
  2. (September 14, 1988). "AmigaDOS quick reference". Grand Rapids, Mi : Abacus.
  3. (1986). "FlexOS User's Guide".
  4. [https://archive.org/details/4690OSV6r2UsersGuide/page/n169]{{dead link. (September 2020)
  5. "Manual".
  6. [http://www.trailingedge.com/cpm/SolHelios2.pdf Leaflet for the Helios II system and PTDOS]
  7. (10 October 2022). "roelandjansen/pcmos386v501".
  8. (May 14, 2015). "SISNE plus - Referência Sumária".
  9. "ibiblio.org FreeDOS Group -- FreeDOS Base".
  10. "JaTomes Help - OS/2 Commands".
  11. (11 September 2009). "Diskcopy".
  12. (2003). "Running MS-DOS Version 6.22 (20th Anniversary Edition), 6th Revised edition". [[Microsoft Press]].
  13. [https://www.4corn.co.uk/archive/docs/DR%20DOS%206.0%20User%20Guide-opt.pdf DR DOS 6.0 User Guide Optimisation and Configuration Tips]
  14. "Datalight ROM-DOS User's Guide".
  15. "ibiblio.org FreeDOS Package -- DiskCopy (FreeDOS Base)".
  16. (3 February 2023). "diskcopy".
  17. "ActiveWindows -- DOS Diskcopy Command".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

external-dos-commandsmicrosoft-free-softwaremsx-dos-commandsos/2-commands