TeraCopy beefs up Windows file copy operations

When installed, you can set TeraCopy to optionally take over as the default handler for file copy and move operations. For example, if you right click on a file and drag it somewhere, you'll receive "TeraCopy here" and "TeraMove here" as available actions. Note that the original copy and move actions handled by Explorer itself are still available in the file context menus, so if you ever need to fall back to those you won't have to change any program settings.

Attention sys admins! Looking for more tool ideas? Check out our systems management tools and utilities topical resource center

After you start a copy or move operation through TeraCopy, you'll see a list of all the files being processed by the program in a pop-up window, along with per-file and total-operation progress bars. If a given file can't be copied, it won't hang up the whole operation; you can retry it or skip it as need be. Failed files can also be retried after the rest of the files have already been copied over.

One of TeraCopy's biggest claims to fame is its use of dynamically-adjusted memory buffers to speed up copying operations. The size of the buffer can be set manually by the user anywhere from 64K to 20 MB. The default appears to vary depending on how much memory is installed on the system, but this can be changed during a copy operation. Larger buffers cause the GUI to respond slightly less often (although not to the point that the program ever becomes unusable).

The gains in performance you'll get from TeraCopy may vary between machines and editions of Windows. For instance, I tested TeraCopy on a Windows Vista machine that had been patched with some recently released fixes to repair a number of widely reported file copying issues. I found that while TeraCopy performed only marginally better on that machine, the TeraCopy dialog still listed much more detailed information about the file copying process than the one in Vista.

The basic version of TeraCopy is free for personal use. The professional version -- listed at $19.95 per license -- can automatically perform checksum testing on the copied files to ensure they have copied correctly. It also has more flexible file selection options and allows for better interactivity with the copying queue.

Serdar Yegulalp is editor of Windows Insight (formerly the Windows Power Users Newsletter), a blog site devoted to hints, tips, tricks and news for users and administrators of Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Vista. He has more than 12 years of experience working with Windows, and contributes regularly to SearchWinComputing.com and other TechTarget sites.

Rate this Tip To rate tips, you must be a member of SearchWinComputing.com. Register now to start rating these tips. Log in if you are already a member. Submit a Tip Digg This!     StumbleUpon     Del.icio.us    RELATED CONTENT Windows Systems Management and Administration Quick hits: Troubleshooting service account failure, batch job execution Case Study: Troubleshooting Windows service dependency failures Troubleshooting common Windows service failures How to format NTFS: More tricks to improve file system performance Key enhancements to SCCM give admins more control over assets, licensing Windows scripting secrets for disk quota management Optimizing NTFS file system performance The new Microsoft System Center: What happened to SMS and MOM? New Russinovich tool scans for open file references from command line Identify file extension types with TrID Windows Desktop Management Tools Using Vista's overhauled Windows Task Scheduler Making sense of Vista's Windows Experience Index Microsoft's Windows Task Manager: What's new in Vista? Vista tools provide Windows error reporting for the enterprise Free tools bring enterprise compatibility testing to Windows Vista More tips for troubleshooting Windows XP Device Manager error codes How to create a Windows Vista boot CD with WinPE Windows 2000 batch file command reference Advanced Group Policy for Windows Vista Advanced techniques for disabling Windows XP startup programs Windows File Management Windows registry hack improves offline file access for mobile users How to format NTFS: More tricks to improve file system performance Windows scripting secrets for disk quota management Optimizing NTFS file system performance How to receive automatic notification of file changes Identify file extension types with TrID Windows System File Checker helps stop system failures How to reverse NTFS object ownership from administrators to object's creator -- and why Use PageDefrag to defragment immovable system files Five Windows desktop tasks you should automate Windows File Management Research RELATED RESOURCES 2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary DISCLAIMER: Our Tips Exchange is a forum for you to share technical advice and expertise with your peers and to learn from other enterprise IT professionals. TechTarget provides the infrastructure to facilitate this sharing of information. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or validity of the material submitted. You agree that your use of the Ask The Expert services and your reliance on any questions, answers, information or other materials received through this Web site is at your own risk.