Monday, July 20, 2009

The folly of Xcopy.exe

Problem: Xcopy.exe prompts me to ask me if what i'm copying is a file or directory?

Tech Details: I have 2 files I wish to copy. 1 file already exists in the destination(and is read only) and the 2nd may or may not exist in that location (pending who was upgraded)

Note: Since file 1 is read only, Copy.exe doesn't like to overwrite read only files

So
Xcopy c:\1.txt d:\temp\1.txt <-- this will work OK because its overwriting the existing file Xcopy c:\2.txt d:\temp\2.txt <-- doesn't work becuase it prompts the user is what i'm copying a file or a diretcory? (because file2.txt doesn't exist) Even if you put the /Q as an arguement on xcopy.exe it halts. It asks the user but just doesn't show the question... DUH WTF? Anyway the way I get around this is to use Copy.exe and not xcopy.exe. We just have to make sure we prepare the copy area first. I.E REM Prepare the copy area first del /F /Q "c:\temp\1.txt" del /F /Q "c:\temp\2.txt" <--- included for the people whom may have this file. REM Copy the files copy /F /Y c:\1.txt c:\temp1.txt copy /F /Y c:\2.txt c:\temp2.txt

This works for me and may be useful for others.

then of course there is Robocopy

Thursday, July 16, 2009

HP laserjet 'Scan to E-mail' slows my printer down (9050,9040,9000)

Problem: i've just configured my printer to use scan to e-mail and now the interface is slow and printing is slowed down.

Reason: If the you have your main server entered as DNS hostname or alais of that hostname it slows the printer down as it has to resolve the name to an IP address.. I heavn't exactly nutted out if this is a HP or DNS issue just yet.

Workaround:
Enter the 'Device's SMTP Gateway:' on the send mail tab of the digital sending area as the IP of your mail server and not the hostname

i.e If it was SMTPBLAHBLAH.JOEJOEINC.COM change that to the IP address of the mail server instead and click apply (no need to reboot the printer).

If you like this post and it helped you please leave me a comment!