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| DATE | Jan 13, 2008 |
| TICKET | #335628 |
| STATUS | Closed |
| SUBJECT | Cannot back-up due to: error code -36 |
| CAT | Computers, Operating Systems, Applications or Connected Devices |
| TYPE | Operating System Features, Bugs and Problems |
| DESC | Apple |
| DESC | 10.4.X (Tiger) |
| PLATFORM | Apple Macintosh (PowerPC G3,G4,G5) |
| MODEL | Apple |
| PROC | Dual 1 GHz |
| RAM | 768 |
| DRIVE | 80 GB |
| NAME | Frank |
| USERNAME | frankrod1 |
| TECHNICAL | Little Experience |
| ISSUE | Totally Lost |
Question Details
TICKET ARCHIVE -> Cannot back-up due to: error code -36
frankrod1 - Jan 13, 2008 - 9:56 am
For a few days now I've being trying to back-up my I-Photo Library (20 GB) to a LaCie drive (250 GB). It starts ok (even though it tells me that It will take 14 hours to do the chore) but after a while, or 300 or 400 MB later, it gives me the dreaded message: "The finder cannot complete the operation because some data in ...... could not be read or written. Error code -36".
This really has me worried, because, first, I cannot find an easy way to back-up all my data, and second, when I try to move something from one place to another, I get the error code 36.
Any suggestions?
Frank
This really has me worried, because, first, I cannot find an easy way to back-up all my data, and second, when I try to move something from one place to another, I get the error code 36.
Any suggestions?
Frank
ScottW - Jan 13, 2008 - 10:12 am
Frank,
How are you copying the data to the other drive? When you get the error, is ANY data moved at all? If so, how much of the 20GB does it move?
The error message is when you copy data to this LaCie drive only, or do you get it copying files otherwise?
Scott
How are you copying the data to the other drive? When you get the error, is ANY data moved at all? If so, how much of the 20GB does it move?
The error message is when you copy data to this LaCie drive only, or do you get it copying files otherwise?
Scott
frankrod1 - Jan 13, 2008 - 10:21 am
Scott,
Thank you for your quick response.
What I'm doing is just grabbing the I-Photo Library from one drive and dragging it to my external La-Cie. It copies about 300 or 400 MB of data (sometimes even less, it varies a lot, it is never the same size) and then it gives me the "error code -36" message.
I haven't tried another drive yet. I have another Tek120 that has aprox. 32 GB left. The I-Photo library is about 20 GB. I guess I can give that drive a try too.
Thank you for your quick response.
What I'm doing is just grabbing the I-Photo Library from one drive and dragging it to my external La-Cie. It copies about 300 or 400 MB of data (sometimes even less, it varies a lot, it is never the same size) and then it gives me the "error code -36" message.
I haven't tried another drive yet. I have another Tek120 that has aprox. 32 GB left. The I-Photo library is about 20 GB. I guess I can give that drive a try too.
ScottW - Jan 13, 2008 - 10:37 am
It could be a number of issues, from the drive spinning down, not enough power (if USB) and could be signs of a failing drive (on either drive).
It would be helpful if you can try the same thing with the other drive. That would help in pin-pointing this issue and rule out a few things.
Scott
It would be helpful if you can try the same thing with the other drive. That would help in pin-pointing this issue and rule out a few things.
Scott
frankrod1 - Jan 13, 2008 - 10:48 am
I just tried it on my Tek120 and it did exactly the same thing. After copying 481 MB of data, it gave me the same message.
ScottW - Jan 13, 2008 - 3:14 pm
This doesn't sound good (for your internal drive). How much space is left on that drive? Do you have any other files that are 1GB or range to see if those will copy? What about a 200MB file?
frankrod1 - Jan 13, 2008 - 4:00 pm
The drive is a 200 MB internal drive (my B drive, the other one is the one that came with the computer, 80 GB). It has 71.82 GB available.
I will try to copy other files in the range you mentioned. I'll post the results.
By the way, thanks for all your help.
I will try to copy other files in the range you mentioned. I'll post the results.
By the way, thanks for all your help.
frankrod1 - Jan 13, 2008 - 4:33 pm
It did copy a 1.01 GB file (QuickTime) with no problem whatsoever. At this point I'm not sure if it's something that got corrupted within I-Photo.
frankrod1 - Jan 14, 2008 - 10:33 am
Hi Scott,
After trying a couple more times, Ive decided to track the problematic file. It was a cache file that lived in a I-Pod Photo Cache folder within the I-Photo Library. Just because I didn't really need that folder (I don't keep pictures in my I-Pod anymore) and it took about 55 GB of space!, I trashed it. After that I tried yet again and it gave me new hope to see that it was copying with no problems, but error code -36 reared its ugly head again at 1.01 GB with another file, this time around, a JPEG file. At this point I'm really worried because my whole Photo Library lives in that drive. All my 3 year old pictures, in other words, everything. I'm not sure what else to do at this point.
After trying a couple more times, Ive decided to track the problematic file. It was a cache file that lived in a I-Pod Photo Cache folder within the I-Photo Library. Just because I didn't really need that folder (I don't keep pictures in my I-Pod anymore) and it took about 55 GB of space!, I trashed it. After that I tried yet again and it gave me new hope to see that it was copying with no problems, but error code -36 reared its ugly head again at 1.01 GB with another file, this time around, a JPEG file. At this point I'm really worried because my whole Photo Library lives in that drive. All my 3 year old pictures, in other words, everything. I'm not sure what else to do at this point.
ScottW - Jan 14, 2008 - 10:42 am
Okay. Yea, you may have some corruption or bad blocks on where that data is store on the drive. I would run a verify on the disk (Disk Utiltity) and see if it finds any issues that it can repair. If it doesn't find anything, or does and doesn't fix the issue - you may want to start coping data over in groups/sections and get as much data off as you can from the iPhoto Library. Then you will be able to narrow down where the problem is.
I had an external drive that started doing that on me. Some data would copy off, others wouldn't. It seemed to be with big fillters, but then small ones came up too, and it turned out to be a failing drive.
I would get ALL your important data off the drive (or a backup at least) first, then try to get a "duplicate" of the drive. If you have a large number of photos that individually won't move over... then we can talk what options would be available at that point.
Scott
I had an external drive that started doing that on me. Some data would copy off, others wouldn't. It seemed to be with big fillters, but then small ones came up too, and it turned out to be a failing drive.
I would get ALL your important data off the drive (or a backup at least) first, then try to get a "duplicate" of the drive. If you have a large number of photos that individually won't move over... then we can talk what options would be available at that point.
Scott
frankrod1 - Jan 14, 2008 - 10:51 am
Thanks.
I have ran disk utility and Drive Genius and both have given me an error message. SMART Failing (with Drive Genius) and "This drive has reported a fatal hardware error to Disk Utility" (with Disk Utility). Of course, at this point I'm sort of panicking because I cannot get my data out of the drive fast enough.
I have ran disk utility and Drive Genius and both have given me an error message. SMART Failing (with Drive Genius) and "This drive has reported a fatal hardware error to Disk Utility" (with Disk Utility). Of course, at this point I'm sort of panicking because I cannot get my data out of the drive fast enough.
ScottW - Jan 14, 2008 - 10:59 am
Don't panic - it results in decisions that may not be best for you recovering all your data. 
Move smaller chunks of data in sections. Try dragging a folder (whatever the size) and see if it goes fully. If not, then make a new folder on your backup drive and then go in and copy subfolders one at a time. Make a note of which ones don't copy. Then go back and start working on the folders that wouldn't copy in "bulk" and try moving over individual files or further subfolders.
You may not lose anything, you might lose a lot. But, before you panic and wonder what that will be... start the process of getting the data off, then depending on what is left... and how much, we can come up with an action plan.
Move smaller chunks of data in sections. Try dragging a folder (whatever the size) and see if it goes fully. If not, then make a new folder on your backup drive and then go in and copy subfolders one at a time. Make a note of which ones don't copy. Then go back and start working on the folders that wouldn't copy in "bulk" and try moving over individual files or further subfolders.
You may not lose anything, you might lose a lot. But, before you panic and wonder what that will be... start the process of getting the data off, then depending on what is left... and how much, we can come up with an action plan.
frankrod1 - Jan 14, 2008 - 11:13 am
I should clarify that a bit, I'm not panicking to the point of doing something foolish, I'm just worrying a little bit more than usual Anyway, that's exactly what I'm doing. I've started moving my I-Photo folders one by one, starting with the ones named: Originals. I figure I can always import all of the originals again. It gave me the error again, but I'm going in small increments, to see if I can transfer as much as I can before it goes Kaput.
Anyway, that's exactly what I'm doing. I've started moving my I-Photo folders one by one, starting with the ones named: Originals. I figure I can always import all of the originals again. It gave me the error again, but I'm going in small increments, to see if I can transfer as much as I can before it goes Kaput.
frankrod1 - Jan 15, 2008 - 11:24 am
I was finally able to transfer all of the contents of the faulty drive to DVD's and another drive. I did it little by little and it worked. Now I have everything backed up nicely! Thank you so much for all your guidance with this problem.
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