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Q73711: Backup/Restore of an Empty Directory

Article: Q73711
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 3.1, 3.2, 3.21, 3.3, 3.3a, 4.0, 4.01, 5.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

The BACKUP/RESTORE commands work only with files. The directory structure is
kept only if it is needed. Therefore, if a directory is empty, the
BACKUP/RESTORE commands ignore that particular directory.

MORE INFORMATION
================

For example, the listing of a directory is as follows

  .            <DIR>     02-05-91
  ..           <DIR>     02-05-91
  EMPTY        <DIR>     06-27-91
  FULL         <DIR>     06-27-91
  TEST     SYS      6458 06-27-91

where the directory called EMPTY, has no files in it and the FULL directory has
at least 1 file in it. When a BACKUP/RESTORE is completed, the same directory
listing is as follows:

   .            <DIR>     02-05-91
  ..           <DIR>     02-05-91
  FULL         <DIR>     06-27-91
  TEST     SYS      6458 06-27-91

The version 5.0 "Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide and Reference" defines BACKUP and
RESTORE as follows:

  BACKUP   Backs up one or more files from one disk to another.

  RESTORE  Restores files that were backed up by using the BACKUP
           command.

Additional query words: 3.20 3.21 3.30 3.30a 4.00 4.01 4.01a 5.00

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS321 kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS320 kbMSDOS330a kbMSDOS310 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS330 kbMSDOS401
Version           : MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.0

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