I need a batch file to backup 5 shared drives and send that to a 6th drive creating a date named folder with the contents of the other drives all within this folder.

Drives: J, K, L ,M ,N and the Backup drive is S.

It's been a long time since I've had to make batch files and have done some quick testing that looks like it will work.
I want all files including empty folders and hidden files to copy into the newly created backup folder.

What parameters should I be using for "xcopy" to accomplish this task?  I read that Win 7 upgraded parameters with xcopy.  I will be running the batch file on a Win 8.1 system.

TIA xcopy guru's.

Add what I'm working on currently:
@echo off
::variables
set backupcmd=xcopy /s /c /d /e /h /i /r /y
set dirname="%date:~10,4%_%date:~4,2%_%date:~7,2%_backup"
mkdir S:\%dirname%

echo ### Backing up drive1 Documents...
%backupcmd% "J:\*.*" "S:\%dirname%\drive1"
echo ### Backing up drive2 Documents...
%backupcmd% "K:\*.*" "S:\%dirname%\drive2"
echo ### Backing up drive3 Documents...
%backupcmd% "L:\*.*" "S:\%dirname%\drive3"
echo ### Backing up drive4 Documents...
%backupcmd% "M:\*.*" "S:\%dirname%\drive4"
echo ### Backing up drive5 Documents...
%backupcmd% "N:\*.*" "S:\%dirname%\drive5"

echo Backup Complete!
@pause

Why batch and not powershell?  Also why not any of the bajillion pieces of software that will do this for free without scripting?

#System Variable for backup Procedure



 $date = Get-Date -Format d.MMMM.yyyy

 New-PSDrive -Name "Backup" -PSProvider Filesystem -Root "\\BackupServer\Backups"

 $source = "D:\Data\"

 $destination = "backup:\$date"

 $path = test-Path $destination

 

#Email Variables



 $smtp = "Exchange-server"

 $from = "Backup <[email protected]>"

 $to = "The User <[email protected]>"

 $body = "Log File of backup is attached, backup happens on of Date: $date"

 $subject = "Backup on $date"

 

# Backup Process started



 if ($path -eq $true) {

    write-Host "Directory Already exists"

    Remove-PSDrive "Backup"  

    } elseif ($path -eq $false) {

            cd backup:

            mkdir $date

            copy-Item  -Recurse $source -Destination $destination

            $backup_log = Dir -Recurse $destination | out-File "$destination\backup_log.txt"

            $attachment = "$destination\backup_log.txt"

#Send an Email to User 

            send-MailMessage -SmtpServer $smtp -From $from -To $to -Subject $subject -Attachments $attachment -Body $body -BodyAsHtml

            write-host "Backup Sucessfull"

            cd c:

 

 Remove-PSDrive "Backup"  

 }

I remembered writing batch files for backing up files in the Win 95, 98 and NT days.  Over the years I've gotten soft on scripting not having to use it at all for daily operations.  Funny what a little hardware failure gets you to give a try out of the comfort zone.

I ran the batch file and things are working.  It should complete sometime in the next 4 hours.  One thing I noticed some of the folder properties are pulling the current date not carrying their original creation date.

Does this mean you're not going to use my powershell script?

I saw the same Powershell script you posted in the first link on a Google search "Powershell backup".  As stated on that page, it was never tested in Win 8 (the OS I'm running the batch file on) nor had it covered basically anything I was asking about.

Still looking for suggestions regarding the Win 7+ xcopy parameters.

Command Prompt is going to be depreciated.  Best start learning PowerShell now.

The xcopy params look OK.

I learned something new with the substring notation.

They can have my command prompt when they pry my cold, dead fingers from it.

Try FreeFileSync,  We use it for all kinds of stuff.  Excellent tool to have.

Why? PowerShell is soooooooo much better.

This, however I am just learning, it can do so much but there is a pretty good learning curve.



 

Old habits. Actually, I've never so much as looked at PS. Most of what I could conceive using it for is most likely something I'd do in Linux or Cygwin.

robocopy > xcopy

Listen to this man. He knows what he speaks. He speaks words of iron.

Looking into it more, I'm definitely going to change out using xcopy to robocopy for my scheduled tasks.  Backups have been going smooth so far.  I had been adjusting the script date-name folder format and found that is dependent on your system's short date format setting.  If you change your short date setting it can mess with the date-name output of the backup folder.

The suggestion for FreeFileSync looks like a great addition to the software toolbox.  Thanks

This is my 4th backup system in use now for my servers. I've burned out a tape backup system and two separate DVD/RW systems with backup software.  Yesterday I got authorization to order new servers to replace the old servers, yeah.  They are a little long in the legs running since 2003 on Linux.  I've recorded uptimes at just over 750 days and for a 24/7 use operation that's pretty good.