Powertoys: Queue files automatically on copy/move to same target

[olovsson]

Maybe I'm asking too much of PowerToys but I would really like to see a feature like this:

Make it possible to automatically queue files when copying different files to the same harddisk.

I just hate that Windows itself is just starting to copy everything simultaneously. This is ok if the targets are different devices. But if everything copied goes to the same target this causes performance issues.

I know there is tooling like "TeraCopy" out there which does exactly that. But I rather trust an open source tool managed by Microsoft than some tool from some guy.
In a perfect world this functionality would already be part of Windows 10, but my Feedback request didn't get any response yet.

[enricogior]

Hi @tabbed
I guess you are right when saying "Maybe I'm asking too much of PowerToys", I would also love to have this feature, but it's not something PowerToys can do, it has to be supported by Explorer.

[olovsson]

@enricogior here is my feedback hub suggestion if anyone wants to upvote it: https://aka.ms/AA89ys1
unfortunately it feels like feedbacks need hundreds of upvotes to even get considered... :(

[enricogior]

Upvoted ;)

[NickCraver]

I'd expand this to say it's not really just the same target, but in competing IO. This is how Teracopy operates. If a source or destination drive is in play let's say C -> D and another copy say C -> E is operating...that's a queue. However, E -> F would run in parallel, as those drives and their IO is not in competition.

So the rules are _slightly_ more complex but I'd also love to see this built into Windows. On machines that I'm doing more file copies like this across many drives, Teracopy functionality is huge - especially on spinny drives not handling concurrency well.

[KoalaBear84]

Yes please, I would like to add that it is absolutely great for performance. It will be finished much more quickly if it's not constantly switching between multiple actions, for CPU and for the disks. But also will help files get not get that fragmented which helps HDDs. Really 'waiting' for this for years, and yes, used TeraCopy around 10+ years ago, but don't anymore.

[olovsson]

@NickCraver I agree, anyway it's not too complex if you have all the APIs for that? Especially if you are Microsoft staff and have access to a lot more source code? But I'm just guessing / hoping ;)

If you copy multiple files at once in Windows File Explorer it already queues them. So the basic functionality is there already.
If I copy another one (same drives) while the queue is in progress it starts a simultaneous operation. We even have a pause button already. It would be enough (for my use cases) if there would be a windows setting to pause all new copy events by default and auto-start them if everything else before is finished.
@crutkas Maybe something to pass on / discuss with the file explorer team?