Windows Delayed Write Failed

[Guest]

I am having a problem with my external hard drive.

I have a Lacie 80GB USB 2.0 external drive.

Lately - Windows XP Pro 2002 has been popping up the following error message:

"Windows Delayed Write Failed -

Windows was unable to save all the data for the file F:\$Mft.
The data has been lost.
This error may be caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network
connection.
Please try to save this data elsewhere."

Once this message pops up, I am no longer able to access certain files of
off the external drive, and programs that would access files from the drive
are no longer able to do so.

If I reboot the machine, everything goes back to normal, until the next
error message pops up.

Also, since I can't even find the file F:\$Mft, I have no idea how to save
it elsewhere or how to set my machine so that it would know where to find the
file.

Any ideas what the $Mft file is? What the problem might be? Suggestions as
to a fix?
Constant rebooting is getting tiresome.

Thank you

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi alanpp,

F:\$Mft is the Master File Table (Mft) for the external drive, it's not
something you can visually see. This issue occurs sometimes when write
caching is enabled, but the data transfer and cache purging is too slow. Go
to the control panel/system/hardware tab and click on device manager. Expand
the section where the USB drive is housed and double click the drive. Go to
the policies tab, uncheck the box to "enable write caching on the disk".

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Hi alanpp,

F:\$Mft is the Master File Table (Mft) for the external drive, it's not
something you can visually see. This issue occurs sometimes when write
caching is enabled, but the data transfer and cache purging is too slow. Go
to the control panel/system/hardware tab and click on device manager. Expand
the section where the USB drive is housed and double click the drive. Go to
the policies tab, uncheck the box to "enable write caching on the disk".

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

Wow,
Clear explanation and a simple solution. Who'd of thought it could happen?
I went in and reset the drive, now we'll see if it solves the problem.
Sounds reasonable though.
Thanks

 

[Al Gest]

I have the same problem but with a IEEE 1394 disk. Diabling write caching
has not helped. This problem occurred after installing SP2 but perhaps is
coincidence. Is my disk drive bad or failing? I also get "the request
could not be performed because of an i/o device error" when trying to access
files on the drive. Everything works well far a while after rebooting, then
suddenly stops. Also disk management through control panel is not accessible
for this drive.
Thanks.