File copy problem

[Mr. Cheese]

I recently bought an external HD for use as an archive device. Copying
has stopped in a couple of places with the message:

"Cannot create or replace (filename): Cannot find the specified file.
Make sure you specifiy the correct path and filename."

The properties of these files show zero bytes. Is the data lost? Is
there a way to "erase" the file so copying can continue?

I've run chkdsk on the source drive and no errors are found.

 

[DL]

Are you copying data files only?
Is this a simple Explorer copy or?

 

[Malke]

I recently bought an external HD for use as an archive device. Copying
has stopped in a couple of places with the message:

"Cannot create or replace (filename): Cannot find the specified file.
Make sure you specifiy the correct path and filename."

The properties of these files show zero bytes. Is the data lost? Is
there a way to "erase" the file so copying can continue?

I've run chkdsk on the source drive and no errors are found.

Usually when this happens it indicates a bad hard drive and/or file
corruption. I would run a hard drive diagnostic - not Chkdsk - on *both*
drives, ignoring the fact that the external hard drive is new. If the
external hard drive is a branded appliance (like a Western Digital MyBook as
opposed to just an extra hard drive you bought and put in a drive
enclosure), contact the mftr.'s tech support for their diagnostic method.
For the source drive (and the external drive if it isn't a branded
appliance):

Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility downloaded from the drive
mftr.'s website or use Seagate's SeaTools For DOS. You will create a
bootable CD with the file you download. You will need third-party burning
software to do this such as Roxio, Nero, or the free ImgBurn. Burn as an
image, not as data.

http://www.imgburn.com

http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/seatools/seatooldreg
http://seagate.custkb.com/seagate/crm/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=201271
(how-to)

Boot with the CD you made and do a thorough test of the drive. If it fails
any physical tests, replace it. New hardware can, and often does, fail right
out of the box. If hardware is going to fail it will usually do so
immediately or quite soon, otherwise being viable for years.

Malke

 

[Mr. Cheese]

Are you copying data files only?
Is this a simple Explorer copy or?

Yes, I'm only copying data files using Explorer

 

[Mr. Cheese]

Usually when this happens it indicates a bad hard drive and/or file
corruption. I would run a hard drive diagnostic - not Chkdsk - on *both*
drives, ignoring the fact that the external hard drive is new. If the
external hard drive is a branded appliance (like a Western Digital MyBook as
opposed to just an extra hard drive you bought and put in a drive
enclosure), contact the mftr.'s tech support for their diagnostic method.
For the source drive (and the external drive if it isn't a branded
appliance):

Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility downloaded from the drive
mftr.'s website or use Seagate's SeaTools For DOS. You will create a
bootable CD with the file you download. You will need third-party burning
software to do this such as Roxio, Nero, or the free ImgBurn. Burn as an
image, not as data.

http://www.imgburn.com

http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/seatools/seatooldreg
http://seagate.custkb.com/seagate/crm/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=201271
(how-to)

Boot with the CD you made and do a thorough test of the drive. If it fails
any physical tests, replace it. New hardware can, and often does, fail right
out of the box. If hardware is going to fail it will usually do so
immediately or quite soon, otherwise being viable for years.

Malke

I have had this error messsage on a few files before I bought the
external drive. It occured when I was trying to rename a few file(s).
Other info I failed to include in my original msg... the files reside on
a PartitionMagic partition which I created 5 years ago. the drive is
compressed.
Thx for your detailed response. I'm curious, if the "drive" doesn't fail
any physical tests, what then? I have hundreds of files on the drive
which copied without incident. Only a few give me this message

 

[Richard Urban]

I have had this error messsage on a few files before I bought the external
drive. It occured when I was trying to rename a few file(s).
Other info I failed to include in my original msg... the files reside on a
PartitionMagic partition which I created 5 years ago. the drive is
compressed.
Thx for your detailed response. I'm curious, if the "drive" doesn't fail
any physical tests, what then? I have hundreds of files on the drive which
copied without incident. Only a few give me this message

It sounds like you have "data" corruption. If this corruption is within a
compressed file, containing many files, the corrupted files are likely gone
forever. Some backup programs will compress countless thousands of files
into 1 compressed file which you then need the original backup program to
access. If this type of backup becomes corrupted you may lose 1, or all, of
the backed up files.

If the files are not compressed running chkdsk with the /f option "may"
correct the problem.

This is one of the reasons that one should never compress files when backing
up important data. A straight copy process is most secure for your data.

 

[Mr. Cheese]

It sounds like you have "data" corruption. If this corruption is within
a compressed file, containing many files, the corrupted files are likely
gone forever. Some backup programs will compress countless thousands of
files into 1 compressed file which you then need the original backup
program to access. If this type of backup becomes corrupted you may lose
1, or all, of the backed up files.

If the files are not compressed running chkdsk with the /f option "may"
correct the problem.

This is one of the reasons that one should never compress files when
backing up important data. A straight copy process is most secure for
your data.

OK, here's more "specific" detail. The source files are contained in a
compressed folder in a partitioned drive which is not compressed. I'm
trying to copy to an external drive which is not compressed (WD
Passport). chkdsk /f says no errors in the drive partition.

 

[Mr. Cheese]

OK, here's more "specific" detail. The source files are contained in a
compressed folder in a partitioned drive which is not compressed. I'm
trying to copy to an external drive which is not compressed (WD
Passport). chkdsk /f says no errors in the drive partition.

OK, I've "moved" all my files except those which are corrupted. ("moved"
because these are music files that are managed by the Win Media Player)
I'm left with an empty partition except for those corrupted files/folders.
Can I format this partioned drive to get rid of the corrupted stuff?

Thx to all for your help...

 

[Richard Urban]

OK, I've "moved" all my files except those which are corrupted. ("moved"
because these are music files that are managed by the Win Media Player)
I'm left with an empty partition except for those corrupted files/folders.
Can I format this partioned drive to get rid of the corrupted stuff?

Thx to all for your help...

YES!

A format of the drive will leave you in a clean state - unless the partition
table of the drive has been corrupted. If this is the case you will have to
delete the old partition first. Then create a new partition. Then format the
new partition.

Some partitioning programs will create and format in the same step.

 

[Richard]

I recently bought an external HD for use as an archive device. Copying has
stopped in a couple of places with the message:

"Cannot create or replace (filename): Cannot find the specified file.
Make sure you specifiy the correct path and filename."

The properties of these files show zero bytes. Is the data lost?
Is there a way to "erase" the file so copying can continue?

I've run chkdsk on the source drive and no errors are found.


Yes, I'm only copying data files using Explorer


:
I have had this error messsage on a few files before I bought the external
drive. It occured when I was trying to rename a few file(s).
Other info I failed to include in my original msg... the files reside on a
PartitionMagic partition which I created 5 years ago. the drive is
compressed.
Thx for your detailed response. I'm curious, if the "drive" doesn't fail
any physical tests, what then? I have hundreds of files on the drive which
copied without incident. Only a few give me this message


:
OK, here's more "specific" detail. The source files are contained in a
compressed folder in a partitioned drive which is not compressed. I'm
trying to copy to an external drive which is not compressed (WD Passport).
chkdsk /f says no errors in the drive partition.

Hi "Mr. Cheese",

What is your complete Windows version, edition and service pack level?
(For instance, I'm using Windows XP Professional edition, SP3.)

In your 3rd message you said the drive was compressed, but now say the
files are in a compressed folder. Is the drive also compressed? Have you
tried moving the files out of the compressed folder into an ordinary one?

How much free space (megabytes and percent) on the source drive?

In your first message you said:

The properties of these files show zero bytes. Is the data lost?
Is there a way to "erase" the file so copying can continue?

Zero byte files have no data. Are you sure they originally had data? It is
normal for a lot of zero byte files to appear within one of the sub folders
of Temporary Internet Files.

Have you tried to "erase" the zero byte files? If you are using Explorer to
copy the files, by selecting numerous files at a time, simply hold Ctrl key
while you click, to deselect the bad files. Copy those still selected.

Did you run Windows XP Disk Defragmenter on the source drive yet?
(You need at least 15% free space before defragmenting the drive.)

What is the 3-letter file type extension of the files?

When you ran CHKDSK on the source drive, did you use /F or /R option?

HTH. (Hope This Helps.
--Richard