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Folder move

Anonymous
2019-06-28T20:38:08+00:00

Hi, I was moving a large folder to a different location on the same drive at work but had to leave for the weekend before it finished. I paused the operation and left my computer on but locked, thinking I would just resume it on monday. What would happen if someone turned the computer off?

Thanks!

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-06-28T22:33:37+00:00

    Ok thank you, unfortunately I will not be able to get anyone to log into my computer over the weekend. I will just have to hope that no one touches it! It will be fine if it is just hibernating right? The paused move operation will still be there when I log in on Monday? Like I said worst comes to worst those files will be backed up so I'm sure it will be fine. Just a little embarrassing if something goes wrong!

    Would the files that might be lost be the ones that were actually in the process of transferring when I paused the operation? The ones that have already moved should be in the destination folder and the ones that haven't yet been moved still in the original folder? At least that would also hopefully mean minimal loss! 

    Thanks!

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  2. DaveM121 879.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2019-06-28T21:34:40+00:00

    Hi Jg0407

    I am sorry, the move operation is not a copy operation and then delete - logically it should be and for safety sake, that is definitely the way it should happen, however from much experience, that is definitely not the case . . .

    Your best option would be to get someone to unlock your PC and un-pause that move operation, if you can . . .

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-06-28T20:56:46+00:00

    Hi DaveM121,

    Thanks for your reply. Oh no that is not good news. Odds are no one will turn it off but I'm worried now! The likelihood is that those files are backed up elsewhere so it is probably not the end of the world but still not ideal! 

    I thought that the move operation is basically a copy to the new destination first and then the files in the original location are deleted once the move is complete? Is this not the case?

    I wish I had just cancelled it now but I didn't want to lose the progress as it was taking a long time. 

    Thanks!

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  4. DaveM121 879.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2019-06-28T20:44:40+00:00

    Hi Jg0407

    I am sorry, if someone turns that PC off, the operation will be stopped and it is very likely some files may be lost . . .

    If that was a move operation, a copy operation would be okay, but a move operation can and most likely will result in data loss . . .

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