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Omitting Directory Error

I am attempting to back up my data from my "USBDRIVE" which is /dev/sdc1.

I have a directory called "backup" on my Desktop and when I try to "cp", I get the following error and am not sure how to resolve.

Code:

cwilliams@tank:/media/USBDRIVE$ ls -l

total 192

-rwx------  1 cwilliams cwilliams    67 2007-02-01 18:08 apt.txt

drwx------  6 cwilliams cwilliams 32768 2007-03-15 19:06 cwilliams

drwx------  7 cwilliams cwilliams 32768 2007-03-15 18:43 ghost

-rwx------  1 cwilliams cwilliams  2511 2007-03-05 13:03 linux_commands.txt

drwx------ 41 cwilliams cwilliams 32768 2007-03-06 15:00 music

-rwx------  1 cwilliams cwilliams  235 2007-02-09 16:37 mysql.txt

cwilliams@tank:/media/USBDRIVE$ cp /media/USBDRIVE/* /home/cwilliams/Desktop/backup/

cp: omitting directory `/media/USBDRIVE/cwilliams'

cp: omitting directory `/media/USBDRIVE/ghost'

cp: omitting directory `/media/USBDRIVE/music'

Perhaps you need to specify the -r. Usually that error is indicating you're trying to copy over a directory that already exists in the destination.

I think you need to use the recursive switch with cp.

It appears you get the error if the directory you're trying to copy does not exist in the target directory as well. Anyways, the "-r" tag seemed to do the trick. Sorry I did not think of that and thanks for your help!

Thank you your anwser was right on the mark.

I love Linux and I want to really thank you guys for the time you put in to help us out. Again Thank you.