What is "Error Code 0"?

Question

gmcohen Author

Level 1

9 points

What is "Error Code 0"?

I recently purchased a software bundle, the largest element of which was 4 GB, too big to

meaningfully download over a less-than-broadband connection. It was taking in excess of

3 hours and would lose the connection, forcing me to start over. (No, it wouldn't pick up

where it left off.)

I used a friend's computer to accomplish the download. With a broadband connection, it

took only 45 minutes. My problem was that I needed to transfer it to my computer. I got

an alert indicating that an "error code 0" had occurred when I attempted to MOVE the file

either to my flash drive or my iDisk, both of which had more than sufficient space. I then

tested the file by starting an installation and the file would unpack and install. I cancelled

the installation. I retried the move operation and it again failed. However, I was able to

burn a DVD without difficulty. This I was able to install on my computer.

Is this some error the result of some form of copy protection? What would be the

difference between burning a DVD copy or moving the file to a flash drive, both of which

are removable media? Is a DVD the only sanctioned form of backup?

Is there an Apple Knowledgebase page which lists all the error codes and their associated

meanings? A number of years ago I had once seen such a listing, but I can no longer find

it. All roads now lead to these support communities.

Gary

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Dec 28, 2011 2:07 PM

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Answer 1

kurt188

Level 4

1,340 points

Dec 28, 2011 2:18 PM in response to gmcohen

That error code has nothing to do with copy protection. It occurs when you try to transfer files that are larger than 4 GB to a FAT32 hard drive, which is apparently what you're trying to do.

My advice: don't do that. If you're going to transfer large files, do it to and from Mac OS X hard drives, including flash drives.

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Answer 2

fane_j

Level 4

3,703 points

Dec 28, 2011 6:15 PM in response to gmcohen

gmcohen wrote:

Is this some error the result of some form of copy protection?

Is a DVD the only sanctioned form of backup?

No and no.

What would be the difference between burning a DVD copy or moving the file to a flash drive, both of which are removable media?

The file system. As kurt188 pointed out, flash drives are usually formatted as FAT32, and one of the limitations of this format is that it cannot have files bigger than 4GB (actually, it's 4GB - 1 byte). The file system on the DVD could have been HFS+ or UDF, or something else, depending on your choice; neither HFS+ nor UDF have the 4GB limitation.

Are you saying that Apple's iDisk servers are also FAT32?

No clue. Ask Apple.

All my flash drives are "universal formatted" and can be used with either Macs or PCs.

There's no such thing as "universal format". FAT32 is probably the most widely compatible format, but it has its limitations. If you don't like it, try the newer exFAT, which is supported by both Windows and Mac OS X (since v10.6.5); however, a good many devices (eg, media players, perhaps some Linux machines) cannot use it.

Is there an Apple Knowledgebase page which lists all the error codes and their associated meanings?

No. You can find some in Apple's KB, but by no means all. However, it's more complicated than that. You may actually have the answer on your own machine, but it's not easily accessible. Look in </System> for header files (file name extension .h) containing the string "Errors" in their names. They list error messages for various frameworks; but they're really for programmers, and I'd avise you not to waste time on it. If you really want to see what they're like, try ErrorCodes, a GUI app which parses the Carbon core error codes (so, again, by no means all Mac OS X error codes). I think you'll find that, in most cases, they're too abstruse for the casual user.

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Answer 3

gmcohen Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 28, 2011 2:35 PM in response to kurt188

Hi, Kurt!

Are you saying that Apple's iDisk servers are also FAT32? I couldn't move the file to my iDisk either.

All my flash drives are "universal formatted" and can be used with either Macs or PCs. Once reformatted for the Mac, they won't mount on a PC and I move in cross-platform circles. Unlike my terabyte external hard drives, the flash drives are not only portable, but pocket-sized. I wouldn't have guessed that the formatting was an issue. Does a 4 GB file straddle a sector or track bondary?

Gary

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Answer 4

kurt188

Level 4

1,340 points

Dec 28, 2011 2:46 PM in response to gmcohen

Are you saying that Apple's iDisk servers are also FAT32? I couldn't move the file to my iDisk either.

I would guess their MobileMe/iDisk servers are FAT32, since those services are also available to Windows users. It would make sense for that reason alone. FAT32 disks have that limitation, no matter what kind it is: flash, hard disk, etc.

Does a 4 GB file straddle a sector or track bondary?

Not sure about that; hard drives aren't my forté.

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