External Drive Transfer Error Code 0

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Level 1

8 points

External Drive Transfer Error Code 0

I'm trying to transfer some files from my internal HD to an USB external HD and with some files I get this message - The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code 0). Other files transfer just fine. I can't find a list of error codes under Help or on the Apple website. Size of the files don't seem to matter either. I have one drive formatted as a Mac drive and all my files transfer fine. The USB drive is formatted in Disk Utilities as MS-DOS since I need to take some of the files to PC units. It's the MS-DOS drive that I see this "occasional" error message on. Any thoughts on this?? Thanks

Mark

IMac 27" Quadcore I5, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jan 24, 2010 2:55 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 24, 2010 6:56 PM in response to B A Mess

The +MS-DOS (FAT)+ format (also called FAT32) is an older Windows format. I'm not sure what the +error code 0+ means specifically, but I can think of two potential causes.

One is that the maximum files size for +MS-DOS (FAT)+ is 4GB. So if any file being transferred exceeded 4GB in size, there would be an error.

The other is file naming convention. +MS-DOS (FAT)+ may not permit certain characters in file names that are allowed in +Mac OS Extended+. So if the files that failed to transfer have unusual file names, or perhaps file names that are particularly long, that could be the cause.

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Answer 2

B A Mess Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 24, 2010 8:08 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Thanks for the help and the info. It doesn't make sense to me that a file size for transferring to an external drive would be limited in size. Luckily, this doesn't happen to my other external drive that is Mac formatted. But, it's the MS-DOS formatted drive that I really need to transfer larger files on.

It's interesting you mentioned the name of the files could be a possibility. I have tried to change the names of the problem files to something shorter and I still have the issue.

I'm thinking of taking the one drive to a PC (sick work) and formatting the drive on that and see what happens. What do you think?

I'm a bit surprised though that Apple didn't update the MS-DOS format in disk utilities to keep up with technology. Is there a way that I can increase the size that is allowed to transfer? Some of these files are greater than 6 gigs.

Thanks again for the info and help.

Mark

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Answer 3

Jan 24, 2010 8:21 PM in response to B A Mess

The file size limitation of FAT32 has nothing to do with external drives or how Disk Utility did the formatting. It is a limitation of the older file format; if you use the Windows PC to reformat the drive using FAT32, Mac OS X would have the same problem. If you used +Mac OS Extended (Journaled)+, there is no file size limitation, but Windows cannot read or write the Mac format. If you used NTFS (the newer Windows format), it would have no problems on a Windows PC. Mac OS X can read NTFS, but it cannot write it.

Is there a way that I can increase the size that is allowed to transfer?

Not if you use FAT32 formatting on the drive. However...

There are third party drivers that can make NTFS read/write on Mac OS X. I have no experience, but you can search using Google on +NTFS Mac+. The reverse option is to use MacDrive on the Windows PC, which is supposed to make +Mac OS Extended (Journaled)+ read/write with Windows.

If the two computers are on the same local network, you can also do the transfer through File Sharing.

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Answer 4

B A Mess Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 25, 2010 3:52 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Thanks again for the insight. I would like to try that 3rd party software but then, I also need to take my external from time to time to Macs as well. I did Google for the NTSF info and found several downloads on of which is in on the Apple website.

Your info helps a lot and I thank you. I wish either Apple or Windows would decide to make this an easier world and help each other out on the formatting issue. One can only dream. Thanks again

Mark

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