Whenever I try to copy an entire working copy using simple drag and drop between two computers (e.g. from an old computer to a new one, or from one VM to another) in order to avoid having to redownload the entire several GB set of code from our online repository I get an error as soon as I reach any of the hidden SVN-BASE files.
Is there a way to copy an entire working copy with these intact?
I'm using Vista x64.
I can't answer for Vista, but on XP you just copy the directory.
I guess that Vista has decided that the files are hidden and so do not need to be copied, or they're locked and not available for copying. In the former, make them un-hidden (with the global file options in explorer's Organise menu, under folder & Search options, view tab), in the latter, try stopping TortoiseSVN's cache which might be holding on to them.
or try Xcopy from a command prompt.