copying folders - restricted access ?

[TC]

Hi

I usually back up my data by copying the entire My Documents folder to an
external drive on a daily basis.

Now when I try this, I get the usual 'preparing to copy' window, but then an
'Error copying file or folder' window with the message 'cannot copy file'.

Any ideas ? Is the file too big (about 32gb) or is it an access/ security
thing ?

Thanks

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I usually back up my data by copying the entire My Documents folder
to an external drive on a daily basis.

Now when I try this, I get the usual 'preparing to copy' window, but
then an 'Error copying file or folder' window with the message
'cannot copy file'.
Any ideas ? Is the file too big (about 32gb) or is it an access/
security thing ?

How is the external drive formatted? FAT32 or NTFS?

 

[Jason Tsang]

You may be running into file size limits.

If you have a single 32 gig file, and you are trying to copy it to a FAT32
partition, it will fail because FAT32 has a file size limitation of 4
gigs...

 

[TC]

Both drives are NTFS. In fact the system has been working fine until a
couple of weeks ago.

My gut feeling is that it is some sort of a access restriction. Is it
possible to reset the access controls for the root directory and clear every
other restriction for sub directorys (or is that what I am doing when I set
the my docs folder as sharable?)

Thanks

T


E-mail: (e-mail address removed)
Web: www.tobit-curteis-associates.com

 

[Jason Tsang]

Yes, you can reset your access controls.

Goto Start, Help and Support and type "file ownership" as your topic

Then select from the "Pick a task" section
"Taking Ownership of Files/Folders"

You may then need to give yourself permission to access the files

Instructions to do that task can be found via the same instructions as
above, but rather than the "Taking Ownership of Files/Folders", you'll want
the topic titled "To set, view, change, or remove special permissions for
files and folders"