MORE INFORMATION

Example

If you want to restore the files backed up from the C:\DATA directory but don't want to mix them with the files currently in the C:\DATA directory, and you have another hard drive on your system, you can restore to drive D with the following command:

   restore a: d:\data\*.*

RESTORE would place all files backed up from the \DATA directory into the D:\DATA directory.

However, if you do not have another hard drive, you can use the following commands:

   md c:\old
   subst d: c:\old
   restore a: d:\data\*.*

RESTORE will place all files backed up from the \DATA directory into the D:\DATA directory, which is actually the C:\OLD\DATA directory.

Explanation

The MS-DOS BACKUP utility stores the full path of each file that is backed up (for example, \DATA\INFO.DAT). This allows RESTORE to recreate your entire subdirectory structure, if necessary.

When you specify "RESTORE A: D:\DATA\*.*", RESTORE searches for the files backed up from the \DATA directory, and copies them to the \DATA directory on drive D. Because the drive letter is not saved by BACKUP, RESTORE is able to place the file in a \DATA directory on any MS-DOS logical drive (but only in a the \DATA directory).

SUBST allows you (and many utilities, including RESTORE) to substitute a drive designator (such as D) for a directory path (such as C:\OLD).

NOTES

SUBST can be used to substitute any drive designator up to drive Z. However, if the drive you are "creating" with SUBST is F through Z, you will usually need to have a LASTDRIVE= command in your CONFIG.SYS file. For example, if you want to be able to use SUBST with drive M, add the following command to CONFIG.SYS: (Note: You can use any letter after M in the alphabet.)

It is recommended that you not add or delete any drives created with SUBST while running Microsoft Windows.