Is there a way to move files fast from SharePoint site to local C drive

Question

Hello,

We are using Windows 10 and are migrating to Office 365 but we aren't on the client yet. Using the webmail version.

Each week there are 100 70k files that get placed on a SharePoint site. I have to COPY those files to our local hard drive and then update schedules using those.

Moving files from SharePoint site to local C drive using "library" and "open with explorer" is very slow. It takes 10 minutes or so to move 10 files. There is a timeout message that pops up and we click the try again button and a few more download to the c drive. Every now and then it will go fast (40 seconds for 25 files) but hardly ever this is the case. I was told to call my Internet service provider but they said speed I have for that type of thing, the files should download within a minute. However, I did try and switch channels on my router but that did nothing.

The message I get when copying and then pasting the files to my C drive is "problem accessing the site(name of site) and then it has 3 buttons of try again, skip, cancel. I click on try again and it continues and continues and continues until the message pops up again and then finally after 10 or so minutes it completes a transfer of 10 files.

The files are always placed to the same URL site. Sometimes I have VPN up but haven't been using it lately when downloading these files. There really wasn't any significant impact one way or another.

Was wondering if there was a way to download these files fast. It does so every now and then but again rarely.

Thanks

Answer 1

Which SharePoint version do you currently use?

Are you comfortable running PowerShell scripts?
There are also browser-based Apps that allow downloading of set of files / folders efficiently. e.g. Explorer

Using OneDrive For Business may help but it only works with a limited number of SharePoint versions.

Paul

Answer 2

Thanks Paul

How do I find out what version of SharePoint I have?

I use Internet explorer now to get to all these files clicking on "open with explorer" and that is what is getting me the files from where the files are located but unfortunately terribly slow.

I didn't even know about PowerShell scripts until recently.

My work laptop which I use to get these files has the sync option grayed out and can't get to it. I saw something where a drive could be mapped but if I remember that ha to do with syncing.

If there was a solution to get these files quickly using OPEN WITH EXPLORER I would just do that.

Just looking for a way to get these files from a location on what they say is SharePoint to my C drive so I can update with them.

Thoughts again?

Answer 3

SharePoint version: see https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/which-version-of-sharepoint-am-i-using-3575ff57-037f-48cf-9398-99080c34b25f

Open With Explorer only works in IE11 and also requires ActiveX to be enabled. It does not work in modern browsers like Chrome, Edge, FireFox, ..

Paul

Answer 4

Right and I have IE11 which again works but is woefully slow.

Is there a PowerShell script code that could be sent here and instructions on how to implement it?

Or...…. a way to speed up obtaining of those 75k or so of files using Open with explorer

Or... a way to zip the files quickly on the SharePoint site and download them...

Or...some other way to speed up getting those files downloaded to a C drive?

Answer 5

Hi, Hotmail,

As you are downloading large amount of files everyday, maybe you can contact with your IT for better Internet bandwidth.

If you are using SharePoint as a part of O365, then I will assume you are using SharePoint Online. If 

If that is not an option, using "Open with explorer" needs to read all the files on the site, which will cost time and performance. You mentioned that the "has the sync option grayed out". That is a bit different with mapping to you drive.

For making a SharePoint document library mapping network drive, you can follow this: https://www.clouddirect.net/knowledge-base/KB0011543/mapping-a-sharepoint-site-as-a-network-drive

And another option I will recommend is using OneDrive for business to sync library containing required files to your laptop.  As you are using O365, then you shall be able to go to OneDrive page via the App launcher. Download the Onedrive client, then login with your O365 account after starting OneDrive client. 

After you set OneDrive client up, use it to sync the SharePoint Library to your laptop . 

Last way will be using PowerShell. However the script will change depends on your SharePoint Version, I will provide the script for SharePoint Online: https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/office/documents-from-SharePoint-99e58875

Please Note: Since the web site is not hosted by Microsoft, the link may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this information.

If you are not familiar with PowerShell, this may not be a good approach for you.

Best Regards

Jerry

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Answer 6

Thanks Jerry

These are 52k, 25k type of files.

We aren't using O365 client. We are migrating to it. The only thing we have right now is OWA.

Tried using Map to a Network drive but this has been shut off in our organization.

Pulling small sized files off of SharePoint should seem more straightforward.

Any other suggestions?

Answer 7

Hi, Hotmail1,

If that is your scenario, I will suggest you to use OneDrive or PowerShell Script. You can always use OneDrive with SharePoint as this: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/sites/set-up-onedrive-for-business . 

And please check your SharePoint Version with this so we can provide more detailed help.

Best Regards

Jerry

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Answer 8

Thanks

We are on SharePoint 2010.

I checked around and our systems department has shut off OneDrive for now. that is why I couldn't open it even though it was on my computer.

When they open it up I'll give that a try.

Thanks for all your time spent on this!

Let me know if there is anything I need to do here besides voting with 1.

Thanks again

Answer 9

Hi, Hotmail1,

I have find a script here and it works pretty fine in my end. Have a try with it and do not forget to change the path. If you feel the reply helpful, please mark it as answer. It will help other community members to find the solution easily.

Best Regards

Jerry

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Answer 10

Hi,

 

This forum will be locked down, if you still have issues about this question, you can continue to post in here before 8/10/2020. Or, you can create a new question on Microsoft Q&A, we will continue to support you on the new home.

 

Best Regards

Jerry

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