Copying to Network Drive Error code -36

Anyone else having any problem copying to a shared network drive on Snow Leopard?

Every time I copy to out corporate shared network drives, I get an Error -36

"The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “file name” can’t be read or written.
(Error code -36)"

Can anybody hep with this? It started ONLY AFTER upgrading to Snow Leopard.

MacPro 3.0 Xeon, MacBook Pro 17" C2D, MacBook Pro 15" LED C2D, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Sep 1, 2009 3:01 PM

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fakeollie

Level 1

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Posted on Jan 9, 2010 4:35 PM

I'm not sure if anyone have already posted this (long thread), but here's how I learned to remedy Error code -36 issues. The problem, I've found is when you copy files from non-apple formatted (HFS) devices (FAT32 windows drives, thumbdrives, smb or nsf network shares etc) into a Mac and then at some later point try to copy them back into those non-HFS devices.

It's something to do with the ._ files that get generated and then not properly restored. The solution I've found whenever an Error code -36 error appears is to open the troublesome folder (or folder containing the files) that Finder refuses to copy in a Terminal, run the command dot_clean and then try the copy again. It always works.

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199 replies

Fatjim

Level 1

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Sep 8, 2009 6:08 PM in response to MacUser4_20YRS

Same problem. 2 Netdisk network hard drives attached by ethernet to my wireless router. Accessed via SMB. Both drives mount fine. I can copy files from them wirelessly to my Macbook, but cannot access files directly in-situ (bizarrely I can access the preview in the get info dialogue). files are text, pdfs, pictures, mp3s and movies. I cannot write anything to them, instead getting -36 I/O errors.

Both drives still function as they did previously on my desktop G4 running 10.4 Both drives worked fine under Leopard.

After waiting 7 hours for time machine to back up my system onto a USB drive and the best part of an hour for the trash to empty, I'm now regretting the upgrade.

Fatjim

Level 1

0 points

Sep 9, 2009 5:42 PM in response to Fatjim

Further investigation:

I can load the files direct from the network drives into a program, but I cannot double click them to launch.

Sep 10 01:27:40 my-macbook kernel[0]: smb_maperr32: no direct map for 32 bit server error (0xc0000161)

I can quick preview the files.

Attempts to write to the drive file, but a file appears in finder with 0k filesize

herveyw

Level 1

10 points

Sep 10, 2009 10:36 AM in response to JWHardcastle

All drives in my setup are smaller than 1TB. It also does not seem to be directly related to file size - I have colleagues, along with myself, that can repro this with a wide variation of file sizes. I am going to attempt a packet sniff to try to understand what is happening at the SMB protocol layer.

Sep 10, 2009 6:06 PM in response to Ron Kaplan

So 10.6.1 is out already. It appears that Apple let Marketing take precedence over Engineering in their rush to get SL out before Windows 7 is released. We're now all Beta testers. Apple is getting more like Microsoft every day. Here's hoping 10.6.2 fixes our problems.

Sep 14, 2009 6:06 AM in response to gglockner

I have a Drobo connected to a Mac Mini accessible via an ethernet network.

When attempting to copy my iPhoto Library package from my Mac Pro to the Drobo attached to the Mac Mini over the network, I get that Error Code -36 after about 250 MB. My iPhoto Library is 220 GB.

However, when I open the iPhoto Library package and try to copy the "Originals" folder to the Mac Mini, it appears to be working. Curretly copied 9.61 GB of 181.29 GB with about 3 hours to go.

My Drobo has 4 x 1 TB drives installed. It is set to 16 TB (if you are familiar with Drobos, you set its storage to the maximum you will eventually upgrade to).

I have SL 10.6.1 on both machines.

Sep 16, 2009 2:05 PM in response to Apples_Rulez

Since upgrading to Snow Leopard, I've been unable to use any files stored on my NAS drive via my iMac. My "networkdrive" is visible in the side bar, I can connect to it via "Connect to Server" in Finder but when I try to access ANY content such as images, movies, music files etc I get a -36 error.

If I type in the URL for my NAS - "file:///Volumes/PUBLIC/" - in a web browser however, I can access the content perfectly via the browser but still not in Finder.. Massively frustrating.

gswd

Level 1

0 points

Sep 16, 2009 9:05 PM in response to MacUser4_20YRS

I am having the same problem while trying to access my .psd and .avi files. They are stored on a NexStar LX NAS enclosure which contains a 500 GB drive. This drive had been working in 10.4, and I can still access it from my Vista and Ubuntu machines.

I have tried accessing the files from Adobe Bridge and from Finder, with no luck.

One thing that I have noticed with this upgrade is that when I connected to the network drive under 10.4, I would get an external drive icon on my desktop that I would then use to open the drive again later if needed. Now I do not get that icon.

Sep 18, 2009 11:34 AM in response to Apples_Rulez

This should not be related at all.
This is a problem with net shares, and when accessing net shares you're not only not using, but you do not in fact need a filesystem driver.

P.S. I have the same issue, on two different machines. One of them is using nothing and the other is using Paragon NTFS.

herveyw

Level 1

10 points

Sep 18, 2009 8:00 PM in response to herveyw

More data:

Whilst setting Full Control on the Share seems to get the files across, I still occasionally get Error -36 when the copy completes. I also seem to have a side-effect in that now file deletes on the share take much, much longer to complete.

Sep 22, 2009 2:26 AM in response to MacSnow

Hi everybody! Have tried zipping a file but to no avail. Doc-type was .chm. Dragged and dropped file onto Windows share with full control in Finder. Got error -36 and unzipped file was damaged. Share connected to using CIFS. C'mon Apple...

Sep 25, 2009 2:22 AM in response to MacUser4_20YRS

Same problem with a SMB external drive.
As you mentioned the problem is in finder. I cannot copy, modify or just read my files on the external drive connected by ethernet to my router.
But if open the files directly with a program (quicktime for videos) or I just try the preview with spacebar everything works fine.

If U have any suggestion, please post a message. Thanks

MacSnow

Level 1

0 points

Oct 2, 2009 8:04 AM in response to lukeau

Unfortunately Apple seems to have less focus on fixing critical issues than MS does.... That's not the way to go if they want more people to go to or stay with Apple.. 😟 Apple fix these **** issues that was introduced with snow leopard and the 10.6.1 update.

And off topic about the battery issue - I agree. My battery lasted from 6 - 10 hours before snow leopard, and now after full charging of the battery, we may be talking about 6 - 7 hours when starting up the Mac. Nice going Apple. :/

asan

Level 1

0 points

Oct 5, 2009 9:04 AM in response to MakingItWork

MakingItWork summed up what we have encountered at our organization as well.

Assigning Full Permissions at both the share level and particularly at the folder level is not an option for us due to our file structures and security requirements.

This problem is really a showstopper for us in terms or rolling out 10.6 with new hardware and upgrading other systems to 10.6. It's also really frustrating and it makes me feel that Apple neither cares for nor adequately tests their software for use in a Windows-based corporate environment. I'm really disappointed in Apple and their support for businesses. We really need updates from Apple on what is going on to correct this issue.

gswd

Level 1

0 points

Oct 11, 2009 7:39 AM in response to MacUser4_20YRS

There might be hope that they are working on this issue.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/10/09/appleseeds_second_beta_of_mac_os_x_10_6_2_todevelopers.html

"The update also specifically targets WWAN support for mobile data services and enhances Exchange support, MobileMe and iDisk features, as well as NTFS and WebDAV file system support."

*fingers crossed*

Oct 22, 2009 8:26 PM in response to Ben_

I'm using zfs, and whether it's exported via cifs or smb makes no difference. My user acct has full extended permissions, too.
I haven't had a chance to try one of the previous recommendations aboout copying from the command line.

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Copying to Network Drive Error code -36