How to Copy File and Folder permissions but not folders and files?

Question

I have two copies of same folder in windows. but the permissions of one of them are missing. How can I copy permissions of the original source to other? I know I can use the xcopy command but the data is big and if I use xcopy I should waste much time. whats your advise?

Answer 1

You could use icacls to first enumerate all permissions and then re-apply them:

To save:

icacls [your_source_path]\* /save aclfile /t

To restore (re-apply)

icacls [your_destination_path]\ /restore aclfile

Reference, examples taken and modified from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753525.aspx

Answer 2

I think just use windows explorer (the graphical interface) to delete, then cut and paste to make the new copy. Then go do something else while you wait. Let the computer do the work for you.

By the way, when you do the delete it will ask you to permanently delete because of the large size of what you are requesting to delete. Answer yes. (If you delete and it goes to your garbage can it is much slower.)

Messing around with the old xcopy is not what I would be doing if I were you.