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Error when transferring file to external hard drive

X

xdefeatsy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 3, 2007
16
0
Columbus, Ohio
I have a USB 2.0 hard drive that I have been using to back up movie files. It has let me transfer files from my Macbook Pro HD to it hundreds of times without any problems.

I have this .mkv file that keeps giving me an error when I try to transfer it to my external. I get "Sorry, the operation could not be completed because an unexpected error occurred. (Error code 0)".

I have transferred plenty of .mkv files to my external with no problems. All other files work fine when I transfer them. It will let me move my .mkv file around my Macbook Pro's internal hard drive but it won't let me transfer it to the external.

Any ideas?
 
Is the file over 4GB? Is the USB drive formatted to FAT32? You can check the format in Disk Utility. If the format of the USB drive is FAT32, then it will not be able to deal with files over 4GB. You'll want to back up whatever data is on it and reformat it to Mac OS Extended. You can do that with the Erase command in Disk Utility.

Otherwise, if it's already Mac Extended, try the Disk Utility routine...

1. Open Disk Util (Applications->Utilities)
2. Verify both disks and disk permissions.
3. Run repairs where possible (you cannot repair the disk you're booted to, except for permissions).
 
*sigh* is there any way around having to format? I have a 4.01Gb file for Pro Tools 8, and I want to keep it in my FAT32 partition because the HFS+ is used for TM, and I need access to most of the FAT32 files from OS X and windows...:( I suppose I could run a TM backup, but that might result in the "backup" getting deleted (currently using a 90gb partition, and I have a 250gb HD :rolleyes:). I tried cp in terminal, which took longer to tell me that the file was too big, but at least started copying!
 
I haven't tried it, but there's a Windows program called MacDisk which claims to allow Windows to read and write to HFS formatted drives.
 
That's not really gonna work though, as I use it for transferring stuff between random PCs, not my own :( I guess I'll have to risk not having a backup of the installer - it is available on the website, but a 4GB download takes hours :eek:
 
The other option is to use MACFuse on your Mac, and install ntfs-3g. Then format the USB drive on the Windows machine at NTFS.

This way you can use random windows machines, your Mac will be able to read the USB drive as a Windows NTFS filesystem, and you can store 4GB+ files on it.
 
If you have access to Windows you can convert your FAT32 external drive to NTFS with no loss of data (ie no reformat needed) using the DOS convert command. Then like scaredpoet said, install MacFUSE and NTFS-3g on your Mac.
 
Same problem, but with Mac formatted frive

I'm also receiving this error when I try to transfer an 11 gb .dv file to my Mac formatted USB drive. I tried the disk utility fix, and repaired the disk, but I'm still getting the error.

Is anyone aware of there being a file size limitation when the USB drive is Mac formatted?

Thanks!
 
I always get this error every once in a while knowing full well that there's nothing wrong with the drive. For some reason, the second attempt to transfer the file a second time works.
 
0 Error with HD TV prob

I have been reading through these posts trying to find a solution to my (similar) predicament.

I have an 8GB thumbdrive and wanting to watch an HD video I shot on my HD LCD TV which has a USB data slot.

The movie (a friend's wedding) is 6.2GB, and like others returned the 0 error message when i tried to copy it over.

Taking the advice of the posts I reformatted the drive to OSX extended, copied the .avi no prob but now the TV and my BluRay player (also with USB port) states: Unsupported Format when i plug the drive in:confused:

Seems like it only reads Fat32 as i reformatted and a 400MB file worked fine!

What to do when i have video/movie files like this. I don't want to burn to DL DVD, a lot more time and less environmentally friendly...

HELP please :(
 
I already use Macfuse, NTFS for Mac from Paragon, NTFS-3G, and nothing really solved my problem, I had a 11.7G movie and I want it to copy it in my external drive, but it won't let me, so I used every program that I mention it, but nothing really works, so I really recommend you to use the Split&Concat solution, because there is NO other, this program will split your file, and then you can copy to your external HD and later you can put it together again, I'll tried and It worked!!, but there something weird, when I put the file together it shrinks from 11.7G to 4.29G, but it still looks in 1080p, you can try it, it worked for me, this is the link http://www.xs4all.nl/~loekjehe/Split&Concat/

I hope it works for you 2.
 
Problem saving avi files from imac to 4GB Kingston USB stick

I'm new to this and also not very tech savvy. Been having exasperating problems with my 4GB Kingston drive when trying to save movie files to my iMac. Am not sure what the problem is because the Kingston works well with all smaller files, so am wondering if its because the file size is too large (but the problems persists even with file size of 300MB), if the Kingston is not compatible with the Mac, or some other cryptic problem that I may not be able to understand? But it is strange because the transfer works perfectly with a smaller 1GB USB stick (non-Kingston). Can someone help?
 
Is the problem moving files to or from the 4GB drive? Or both? What exactly happens when you try to copy larger files?

What format is the drive using? You can find this by clicking on the drive and going to the File menu and choosing Get Info.
 
Sorry, I meant transfer FROM the iMAc to the Kingston.

Format - MS-DOS (FAT32)

Error message - The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data can’t be read or written.
(Error code -36)

And then it goes on to eject the USB without warning.

Have reformatted the USB stick many times, but to no avail. Initially thought that I got a faulty product, but I have 2 of the same and they both have the same problem.
 
When you format the drive in Disk Utility, open the Options on the partition screen, and make sure it is set to guid with HFS+ and not MBR.

I've had the same issue with kingston drives, and some work, some don't. But i know one of them, the problem was what I stated above.
 
MAC OS X (Version 10.6.6), and I'm trying to transfer a file. Seems that all movie files don't work.
 
I'm sort of stumped, but intrigued. I don't suppose your boot volume is formatted case sensitive, is it? You can find that out in Disk Utility.

Also, I'd be curious to see if you could do this booted in Safe mode. To do this, hold down the Shift key as you start up. Takes a bit longer to boot this way, but worth a shot.
 
Thank you!

yadmonkey said:
Is the file over 4GB? Is the USB drive formatted to FAT32? You can check the format in Disk Utility. If the format of the USB drive is FAT32, then it will not be able to deal with files over 4GB. You'll want to back up whatever data is on it and reformat it to Mac OS Extended. You can do that with the Erase command in Disk Utility.

Otherwise, if it's already Mac Extended, try the Disk Utility routine...

1. Open Disk Util (Applications->Utilities)
2. Verify both disks and disk permissions.
3. Run repairs where possible (you cannot repair the disk you're booted to, except for permissions).
Click to expand...

Thank you!
As a new mac user (just bought the latest 17" MBP) I was trying to copy a 6.6GB folder onto a 32GB FAT32 SD card and it said that it was too large. Your advice here worked perfectly.
Question: Can I still use this card in a digital camera or will I have to reformat it in the camera first?
 
baz1860 said:
Split & Concat is perfect for this exact problem

http://www.xs4all.nl/~loekjehe/Split&Concat/
Click to expand...

Well, my Mac will play the split .mkv files (after I remove the .001 extension which Split&Concat adds) but I can't my LG TV to play the file. I first get a message that audio is unsupported, but then I get a message saying the file is invalid.

Thoughts?

----------
mocho911 said:
I already use Macfuse, NTFS for Mac from Paragon, NTFS-3G, and nothing really solved my problem, I had a 11.7G movie and I want it to copy it in my external drive, but it won't let me, so I used every program that I mention it, but nothing really works, so I really recommend you to use the Split&Concat solution, because there is NO other, this program will split your file, and then you can copy to your external HD and later you can put it together again, I'll tried and It worked!!, but there something weird, when I put the file together it shrinks from 11.7G to 4.29G, but it still looks in 1080p, you can try it, it worked for me, this is the link http://www.xs4all.nl/~loekjehe/Split&Concat/

I hope it works for you 2.
Click to expand...


Mocho,

My Mac will play the split .mkv files (after I remove the .001 extension which Split&Concat adds) but I can't my LG TV to play the file. I first get a message that audio is unsupported, but then I get a message saying the file is invalid.

Thoughts?
 
For anyone having trouble with video files that can be opened in a program (.mov or .avi, etc) simply open the file in Quick Time or what have you, and save the file directly to your drive rather than copying and pasting. Simple, yet effective. Beats reformatting your entire drive.
 
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