restore MS-DOS Command

Type: External (2.0 and later)

Syntax:

RESTORE d: [d:][path]filename [/P][/S][/B:mm-dd-yy] [/A:mm-dd-yy] [/E:hh:mm:ss] [/L:hh:mm:ss] [/M][/N][/D]

Purpose: Restores to standard disk storage format files previously stored using the BACKUP command. The DOS 6 RESTORE command can restore files that were backed up using the BACKUP command in DOS Versions 2.0 through 5.0.

Discussion

When using this command, the first path designation should be for the BACKUP disk where the backed up files are stored; the second path designation should be for the target disk. This command transfers files (that have been previously backed up using the BACKUP command) from the backup disk to the specified target disk. Files backed up using the BACKUP command cannot be read (or otherwise used) until they are transferred from the BACKUP disk to the target disk. If you do not specify a target path, files are placed in the current directory. If you do not specify filenames, backed up files from the specified path designation will be restored. You can use wild card characters to indicate groups of files to be restored.

Options

/P – The program prompts you before it restores files that have been changed since the last backup or files that are marked read-only. You can choose to continue the restoration of that file or not. /S – Backed up files from both the specified source directory and from subdirectories within that directory are transferred to the target path designation. /B – Only restores files that were modified on or BEFORE the date you enter. /A – Only restores files that were modified on or AFTER the date you enter. /E – Only restores files that were modified at or EARLIER than the time you enter. /L – Only restores files that were modified at or LATER than the given time. /M – Only restores files that have been modified since the last backup. /N – Only restores files that no longer exist on the destination disk.

/D – Displays a list of the files on the backup disk that match the names specified in filename without restoring any files.

Even though no files are being restored, you must specify the drive to which backed-up files will be restored when you use /D. ERRORLEVEL codes are set by the RESTORE command as follows: 0 – Normal completion 1 – No files found to restore 2 – Some files not restored due to file sharing conflicts 3 – Terminated by user (Ctrl Break or ESC) 4 – Terminated due to error

Examples

To restore all the files from drive B to the root directory of drive C (and all subdirectories within it), enter restore b: c:*.* /S To restore the file BACKUP from the backup disk in drive A to the NEW directory on drive C, enter restore a: c:\new\backup