Error code -36 when copying files

testpilot is right, it's a problem with the finder faulting over hash on some files. If you use the terminal cp -R command like he said all is well. I used it to copy 50gigs of pictures and music from a failed 10.5.8 to a usb drive so I could format the drive and attempt re-install. If you're not sure how to do this, open up terminal and open 2 finder windows, one with the folder you want copied(i.e.: Users/Christopher/) and drag the folder you want copied into the terminal after you type cp -R it will add the rest for you after you do that, then after the space put in a single " and then drag the folder or drive you want to be the destination into terminal and remove the space after what it puts in, then add another " at the end of it and press enter. Works like a charm. Thanks testpilot

I received a confirmation from Apple that this is a known issue and engineering is working on it. Hopefully we'll see a 10.6.2 update soon.

Solution for me:

I have this same problem and the problem is with the Directory Access tool in SL. I used likewise open to join to the domain and I can copy files with finder without any problems. Hopefully there is a fix from Apple because I would rather use the included tool to join the domain.

I don't have any issues when joined with the domain with Likewise but the problem is it stores the profile in a new directory so I need to copy all the old files from the old profile to the new location.

10.6.2 doesn't fix the problem for me.

Message was edited by: Luke Carbis 

10.6.2 does not fix it for me. this *****.

I have an update which I thought I would share with you all. Since 10.6.2 was supposed to fix error 36, I thought it was valid to call Apple.

The conversation started good. The support guy listened to my problem and even suggested that he would have a word with a colleague. To my surprise on his return, he had spoken to second line support who had never heard of a problem like that, considering that this issue is all over Apple Discussion boards.

After much frustration and time wasted on the phone I came to the conclusion that Apple Support do not take notice or read their own Discussion boards, naturally how can they help if they do not pay attention to this!

So I suggested that he should create an incident which he then refused to do so as this was a Microsoft issue according to them. This is clearly not a Microsoft issue. Apple should pull their socks up and fix it, showing that they are the world class leader in software and hardware.

Congratulations Apple. Working this way, you will not maintain your customers.

I'm having the same problem and we don't have a solution until now. Years have been passed without fixing this problem.

Yet another user suffering from the dreaded Error code -36. My symptoms can be found in this post http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=10551867#10551867

In case you hadn't already known, if you're suffering from this problem you might want to go here (http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html) and file a feedback form. I don't know if Apple monitors this any better than they do the forums, but sending in trouble reports from multiple sources might make them notice.

i face this problem after i updated to 10.6.2

it was fine before and i copy the same folder to my usb everyday!

but after 10.6.2, i cant copy the folder to usb any more!

it seems like:

if you copy any folder to an fat32 format usb or drive, you can copy the same folder back to mac with mac format, but then the folder could no longer copy to a fat32 drive, always -36 error!

anyone could test it for me?!

I've had similar problems and it appears to be a bug in 10.6.2 and it does not occur in 10.5.8. I started a new thread with all the details:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2231572&stqc=true

Hello all, I'm very new so sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong place. This is very frustrating! I opened my new Macbook Pro less than 2 hours ago and the first thing I did was start copying my music library which is stored on DVD's as m4a files. Well the very first DVD I put in I got the dreaded message: "The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “1-01 Storm_ Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Li.m4a” can’t be read or written. (Error code -36)". I've got 15 DVD's of music to get onto this machine. Can anyone help?!

Thanks,
Shannon

Is this still an outstanding issue without a fix? People were mentioning this months and months ago and still no fix... way to to Apple! The solution I have had to resort to is to either use the terminal copy command which most users should be in terminal, or copy the files on a file by file basis and then they work anything with directories (iTunes for sure) seem to bomb out. What a joke I have to boot into windows to copy files...

Yes, this is still an outstanding issue without any fixes.

I just started getting this error only 5 days ago. All I'm trying to do is copy files to my 4gb flash drive.
Some files will copy over, some will not -- they give me the error.

This is a major PITA, because I actually cannot get these files onto the computer I want to without some convoluted solution (like FTPing the files, d/ling the files on another Macbook and putting them on the flash drive from there).

HELP!