Copy Files Often Receive error code -50

I have an external drive that is in fine working order. In fact 2 of these drives. I copy to them often without issues. But any time I try to do large amounts of files or large amounts of data I will often receive the error which seems like a memory issue with MacOs. This happens on either drive. Both are in fine working order as there is no hardware matter.

The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -50).

What is the issue? It seems like a human readable message with context would be a lot better than "PC Load Letter what does that mean?" Sort of error.

What do you recommend other than throwing away these costly drives or my computer?

MacBook is about a week old

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 15.2

Posted on Jan 10, 2025 8:29 PM

Top-ranking reply

rayborbon Author

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Jan 11, 2025 3:30 PM

There wasn't a parameter being used. It was simply drag and drop with the finder UI.

This is further evidenced to be a bug because I can use the terminal EVERY TIME without this matter

The error regarding a parameter would be a software bug in Apples side because they are creating parameters not me. Every thing I am doing is a drag and drop.

This is incredibly time consuming for people especially if they rely on the Finder UI because they have to then go in an undo the resumable copy settings after all the problems. I would guess that about 50 percent of the time I can reproduce this issue.

BUG

In fact windows & linux have been most reliable with copying using the UI and macbook is about as useless as wings on a donkey

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16 replies

rayborbon Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 11, 2025 9:38 AM in response to leroydouglas

This is a software issue.

These drives work fine accessing and copying on Linux and Windows. ALL THE TIME

Can we answer the original question on what the actual error means?

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Copy Files Often Receive error code -50