Error message "Invalid Path, 0 files copied" Using XCOPY Command

When you type either of the following commands at a command prompt, you may receive an "Invalid Path, 0 Files Copied" error message:

• XCOPY \\<server>\<share>\<file(s)> <destination>
• XCOPY32 \\<server>\<share>\<file(s)> <destination>

This behavior can occur if the "Prevent MS-DOS-based programs from detecting Windows" check box is selected in the Advanced Program Settings dialog box in the properties for the .pif file for the command prompt you are using.

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the shortcut (.pif file) you use to start the command prompt, and then click Properties.
2. On the Program tab, click Advanced.
3. Click to clear the "Prevent MS-DOS-based programs from detecting Windows" check box, and then click OK.
4. Click OK.

If you do not want to clear the "Prevent MS-DOS-based programs from detecting Windows" check box (because you need this setting enabled), you may be able to use one of the following workarounds:

Method 1

Map a network drive pointing to the share you want to use by either:

• Browse to the share from which you want to copy files in Network Neighborhood, right-click the share, click Map Network Drive, click the drive letter you want to map to that share, and then click OK.
• Click Start, and then click Run. Type "\\<server>" (without quotation marks), where <server is the name of the server containing the share you want to use, and then click OK. In the window that opens, right- click the share you want to use, and then click Map Network Drive. Click the drive letter you want to use, and then click OK.

Then, use the XCOPY or XCOPY32 command with the driver letter of the mapped network drive.

Method 2

Use the COPY command instead the XCOPY or XCOPY32 command. When you use the COPY command, you can use Universal Naming Convention (UNC) paths to define the server you want to use. Note that the COPY command cannot copy folders within the selected folder.

This behavior occurs because Xcopy.exe and Xcopy32.exe are MS-DOS-based programs, but the network redirector needed to broadcast the UNC request is a Windows-based program. The network redirector cannot be accessed by the command prompt if the "Prevent MS-DOS-based programs from detecting Windows" setting is enabled.

The COPY command does work in this case because the COPY command is an internal Command.com command, instead of a program running on top of Command.com. Therefore, the COPY command can use the network redirector.