Copy folders - possible to overwrite and not merge?

[asy1mpo]

Is there a way in Vista to stop it merging folders and overwrite instead - like is always has done in Windows??

E.g

I have the folder c:\test1\folder. It contains file called word.txt

and the folder c:\test2\folder. It contains file called image.txt

If I selected the folder in test1 and copy and pasted to test2, in Vista it says do you want to merge. If I say Yes, then the contents of c:\test2\folder would be both the word.txt file and image.txt file

In Windows .e.g XP, it would overwrite the folder and it would just have the word.txt file

There must be a way

Thanks

[+allan MVC]

You should see a dialog box as soon as one file is encountered with the same name as a file in the second folder. The options would be to replace, keep both, or keep the older file. You are also given the choice to repeat the procedure with all ensuing duplicate file names. Instead of copy and paste, just copy the folder to the same location as the other folder.

[asy1mpo]

that doesnt happen with my simple test

at the moment copying lots of folder/files to external hard drive in it did pop up asking if wanted to

copy and replace

dont copy - (keeps existing file)

rename file

this is only if it finds a file of the same name in both locations

if in folder1, if I delete a file and then backup to my external hard drive, the folder on the external drive will still have that deleted file!!!

there must be a way just to do a normal overwrite if the folder name is same!!!

Edited November 15, 2008 by asy1mpo

[Brandon Live Veteran]

Is there a way in Vista to stop it merging folders and overwrite instead - like is always has done in Windows??

You mean like has never, ever been done in Windows.

None that I am aware of. Why not just delete or rename the old directory first??

[Joel]

The word "merge" never appears in a Windows dialog box regarding file movement. Never. You're mistaken, and now I'm really curious what the problem you're trying to solve is.

[Kami-]

He's been taking drugs, Windows has NEVER had this "feature".

[Boeing 787]

[Joel]

Great; show how it was different in XP like the OP says it was.

[+Xinok Subscriber²]

XP doesn't say "merge", instead it says "replace". However, even though the wording is different, it still merges the folders.

[Joel]

No, it copies the files from the source folder to the destination folder, and overwrites any like-named files. Again; what's the difference between the way Vista does it (except for the ability to rename dupes) and the way XP does it?

[asy1mpo]

It has the word "merge" if you look at the image posted above.

Here is what I have done to test:

I have 2 folders on the desktop, called "Folder1" and "Folder2". Each one has a folder called "test" and inside each "test" folder is a file called file1.txt and file2.txt respectively

I then select the folder "test" inside "Folder1" and copy and paste inside "Folder2". I then see this prompt

If I select No, nothing happens. If I select Yes, then it merges the folder so not the "test" folder inside "folder2" has both file1.txt and file2.txt

In Windows XP if I did the same it would say the folder already exists, do you want to overwrite and then you then Yes, No, No to all , Yes to all option

[+BudMan MVC]

When duplicating your test on XP it does not overwrite folder contents.. As already stated it "merges" the documents -- only if there are files with the same name will it overwrite them.

[asy1mpo]

just tested it myself on virtual pc and you are indeed right.

seems like i got XP wrong!!

wonder if there is a way to overwrite a folder???....

anyway....

[+BudMan MVC]

Yeah delete the folder, and then put what you want ;)