Can't copy files from external HD (FAT32) to internal (FAT32) partition

There's copy, and then there's copy by drag 'n drop. Evidently it is the latter that got broken for FAT32 drives with the 10.6.2 update. Try the copy by Control/Right Click on the folder and from the Contextual Menu select the Copy option, then go to the place on the destination drive and Control/Right click and select Paste from the Contextual Menu.

See KJK555's replies in this discussion:

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=10731013#10731013

This is the easiest work-around I've seen, and it might indeed work for all the various problems involving transferring folders to a FAT32 formatted drive. One can but try.
Francine


Francine
Schwieder

I've had this problem since i installed 10.6.2. i strongly belive this is a bug in the update. before i used to back up my iTunes folder which was in the Music in the home folder. i would drag and drop it onto the external drive (fat32) and it would ask me if i wanted to replace it. i would click replace and it transfered no problem. now it says error code -36 or i don't have permission to copy it over. but i can put the folder anywhere i want on the mac hard drive. it copys over the files in the folder but not all the files in the folder. when i try to copy it over it says its corrupted which is not true because i can open the songs and pictures up no problem. i even tried saving them under a different format with a new name and it still gives the me the error. i hope apple releases a fix for this in 10.6.3

Unfortunately I tried the copy'n'paste method just now, and I get the same error message as with drag'n'drop...

Wow I'm glad I found this thread.

I'm trying to copy a 9GB file from my MacBook Pro to a FAT32 HDD so that I can re-copy it to my PS3. Nothing is working so far, even with the copy trick.

Alright I just found a solution, I just downloaded Path Finder: http://www.cocoatech.com/

It's a paid program but there isn't seem to be a limitation within a 30 days time period. It's copying my 9GB file to my external HDD just fine right now.

Message was edited by: TheMainEvent

To TheMainEvent and others:

Just tried Path Finder and it DID NOT WORK for me.

It looked as if it was working and transferred files without bringing up an error, but upon comparing the file sizes - not all files were transferred.

Make sure you do a comparison in "Get Info" before trusting that all files are transferred correctly using Path Finder.

For now I am going back to using "Get Backup RE" which comes bundled with Toast Titanium software.

Also, not sure how you are copying a 9GB file to FAT32, as 4GB is the file size cap for FAT32.

In PathFinder, try dragging the file to the Drop Stack and then to the destination disk or folder. This seems to work when dragging directly from one volume to another doesn't.

Forklift solved the problem for me.

I've had this problem as well since 10.6.2. The only reason I'm posting this is to add my name to the list. I'm an instructor and I transfer a lot of files from my PC at work to my Mac at home and ever since this update I can't transfer files within folders. It gives me that same error message that everyone else gets and then tells me the files are corrupted. I went to the Apple store and had a Genius check it out before it was a known issue and they replaced my internal hard drive, twice. I wish there was a better way to let Apple know that what ever they did for 10.6.2 that the should undo it and fix the problem. Thanks.

I have also had this problem since 10.6.2 - I cannot transfer directory structures by any method to a fat32 drive (If I select only FILES, no problem then).

I use fat32 thumb drives to transfer development software to industrial computers, and my usually-rock-solid mac is now completely crippled for making these drive images...I have to resort to using WINDOWS! I can't change these things to flat directories!

Today's release of 10.6.3 may resolve the issue. It worked for me. You might move over to this thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2231287