Drag and Drop vs. Copy and Paste in Windows Explorer

Question

Is there a difference between dragging and dropping a file vs. copying and pasting in Windows Explorer? I read on a forum that dragging is more reliable than copying. Is this true? Can copying create a file that is not bit-identical to the original?

Solution 1

There is no difference other than you have more options when you drag a file.

Holding

• Shift - force moves the file
• Control - force copies the file
• Alt - creates a shortcut to the original file

You can also drag using the Right Mouse button. This provides a menu after dropping giving you these options as well.

If you have installed custom handlers such as TeraCopy or NTFS Junction makers.

And as @jamason1983 says the Default action is different. (But can be forced via the Right click drag or pressing a Modifier Key - Shift, Ctrl, Alt)

Solution 2

Reliabilty has nothing do do with it. Dragging and dropping from one folder to another on the same logical partition (both folders reside on lets say the C:\ drive) is actualy a file move not a file copy, but when dragging and dropping a file from a folder in one logical partition to another folder on a diffrent logical partition (moving a file from C:\ => D:) drag and drop will perform a file copy proccess. while copying and pasting will alwyes be a copy and past proccess.

Comments

[RBerteig]

The only reliability I can see is the question of knowing reliably where you are going to drop the file. If your hands are steady, they are equivalent. If you have difficulty with releasing the mouse button without moving the mouse, you might occasionally drag and drop to a neighboring folder.... when that happens, remember that Ctrl+Z will undo the file move.

[afrazier]

In Vista and 7, files moved on the same partition will inherit the ACLs of their new parent directory if they were previously configured to inherit them from their old parent directory. This is a change in behavior from XP and older OSes.

[bohdan_trotsenko]

NTFS Junction maker displayed is "Link Shell Extension": schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/hardlinkshellext.html