4.9GB copy over network to Server 2003 usb drive - error "delayed write failed"

[nsouza]

When attempting to copy a ~ 4.9GB file from a Windows XP Pro system
with an NTFS drive to a Server 2003 Standard system with an external
Maxtor Onetouch II USB drive formatted NTFS I receive the error
"delayed write failed". The network is 100mb. This error occurs
regardless of if I run the backup locally and then try to copy the
file, or try to run the backup to a mapped drive on the server. All
other systems on the network have no issues.

From: Dell laptop 700m, 1GB ram, 60GB NTFS, Windows XP Pro sp2
To: Dell Dim. 4700c, 1GB ram, 160GB NTFS internal, 300GB NTFS usb
external, Server 2003 SP1
Network: 100mb full

Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Are you trying to copy the file to the external hard drive? Many have a 4gb
per file limit. Check your documentation on the hard drive. It may have
info on how to change it.

Tom

| When attempting to copy a ~ 4.9GB file from a Windows XP Pro system
| with an NTFS drive to a Server 2003 Standard system with an external
| Maxtor Onetouch II USB drive formatted NTFS I receive the error
| "delayed write failed". The network is 100mb. This error occurs
| regardless of if I run the backup locally and then try to copy the
| file, or try to run the backup to a mapped drive on the server. All
| other systems on the network have no issues.
|
| From: Dell laptop 700m, 1GB ram, 60GB NTFS, Windows XP Pro sp2
| To: Dell Dim. 4700c, 1GB ram, 160GB NTFS internal, 300GB NTFS usb
| external, Server 2003 SP1
| Network: 100mb full
|
| Any ideas?
|
| Thanks.
|

 

[Mike Williams]

When attempting to copy a ~ 4.9GB file from a Windows XP Pro system
with an NTFS drive to a Server 2003 Standard system with an external
Maxtor Onetouch II USB drive formatted NTFS I receive the error
"delayed write failed". The network is 100mb. This error occurs
regardless of if I run the backup locally and then try to copy the
file, or try to run the backup to a mapped drive on the server. All
other systems on the network have no issues.

The "delayed write failed" message seems to be a signature of Maxtor
external drives. I've owned 4 and they were all cursed with it
regardless of which machine they were hooked up to, and other brands
like Seagate have not been afflicted.

Using robocopy utility (NT resource kit) can sometimes prove more
effective with larger files, especially as it will keep retrying.

 

[nsouza]

If I am not mistaken the 4GB limit is based on the restrictions of
FAT32, not the drive itself. Since this drive is formatted NTFS that
shouldn't apply. I will verify with Maxtor anyhow.

Thanks.

 

[nsouza]

I currently have a scheduled job that backs up the laptop and then does
a
robocopy. Even with this it takes almost a full day!

 

[nsouza]

I found this on the Maxtor site...now I just need to decide whether I
want to try to call MS or not.


Symptom:
When you try to write data to a 1394 drive, you may experience one or
more of the following symptoms:

The External Storage drive stops responding
The External Storage drive disappears from My Computer
Have a yellow circle in Device Manager
Access light on drive stays on.
Delayed write failed error message

Cause:
This problem may occur on some computers that are running Microsoft
Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).

Resolution:
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only
intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only
apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This
hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not
severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the
next Windows XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support
Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product
Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs,
visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[LN];CNTACTMS

 

[Malke]

I found this on the Maxtor site...now I just need to decide whether I
want to try to call MS or not.


Symptom:
When you try to write data to a 1394 drive, you may experience one or
more of the following symptoms:

The External Storage drive stops responding
The External Storage drive disappears from My Computer
Have a yellow circle in Device Manager
Access light on drive stays on.
Delayed write failed error message

Cause:
This problem may occur on some computers that are running Microsoft
Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).

Resolution:
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only
intended to correct the problem that is described in this article.
Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.
This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not
severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the
next Windows XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support
Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft
Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support
costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[LN];CNTACTMS

Calling MS for a hotfix is actually very easy and worth doing. It can't
hurt to try the hotfix. If it works, your issue is solved. If it
doesn't, it will only cost you a little bit of time and no money. There
are no charges for hotfixes. Just tell the MS person that you have a
computer that has the symptoms of the KB article above and you need the
hotfix. They will send you an email with a download link and password
for the zipped file you download.

MS phone number for hot fixes in USA - 800-936-5700
MS International Support -
http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx

I did this for a client recently and the whole process took under 10
minutes, including downloading and installing the hotfix.

Malke

 

[nsouza]

I called them and got the hotfix. Very easy, but it did not fix my
issue.

I'm wondering if there is something wrong with my server and will test
this over the weekend.

 

[nsouza]

I've traced this down to the server. It occurs with all my Laptops and
with my desktop. The only commonality with the client systems is they
were all built from the Dell Windows build disk (most were a reinstall
by me from the Dell disk).

Still wondering.

 

[Malke]

I've traced this down to the server. It occurs with all my Laptops and
with my desktop. The only commonality with the client systems is they
were all built from the Dell Windows build disk (most were a reinstall
by me from the Dell disk).

Still wondering.

Do you have some sort of disk quota set on the server?

Malke

 

[nsouza]

Quotas were active on the external drive, but none were enforced. They
have since been deactivated. Backups also failed on the internal drive
and there were no quotas set there.

Thanks.

 

[Malke]

Quotas were active on the external drive, but none were enforced. They
have since been deactivated. Backups also failed on the internal drive
and there were no quotas set there.

Thanks.

Then I'm sorry, but I'm completely out of ideas. I know how to trace a
process that is failing in Linux (tail) but not in Windows. The only
suggestions I have left are:

1. Test the hardware on the server.
2. Test the networking hardware.
3. Try the transfer with the Maxtor attached to a different usb port and
with a different usb cable.
4. Try the transfer with a different external hard drive.

I'm sorry I was unable to help you. If you solve the issue, it would be
great to know what the solution was.

Good luck,

Malke

 

[nsouza]

So I replaced the onboard nic with a GigE nic and it's all working now.
Could be a bad nic driver or a bad nic. Either way, the problem is
solved and I'm running at GigE speeds now.