How to copy hidden or system file?

[James2000]

Hello,

How do I copy a hidden or system file, using Windows XP cmd.exe ?

I have tried  copy hidden.txt backup.txt  and it says  "The system cannot find the file specified" ?

I have also tried  xcopy /I /H hidden.txt backup.txt  which is a step in the right direction, except it says  "Does backup.txt specify a file name or directory name on the target"  each time and I have to press "F" each time ?

Thanks alot,
James

[GuruGary]

You want to copy it to a different filename?  If you are copying a hidden file to a different directory (same filename) then your XCOPY /H should work.  If you want to copy it to a new filename, here some ways that should work:

• Pipe the 'D' to the xcopy command (echo d | xcopy /I /H hidden.txt backup.txt)
• Create a dummy file first (echo.>backup.txt&xcopy /I /H hidden.txt backup.txt)
• Remove attributes and then re-apply after copy (attrib -h hidden.txt&xcopy /I /H hidden.txt backup.txt&attrib +h hidden.txt)
• Redirect the hidden file to the new file (type hidden.txt>backup.txt)

[Fen_Li]

 
Maybe More Simply if using Type command:
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type hidden.txt>backup.txt
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it work with Hidden+System File