Error Code -36

Question

Level 1

5 points

Error Code -36

I am trying to back up all of my music files and whilst most of them have copied successfully from one external hard drive to another, there are some which will not go. I get:

The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “Temp” can’t be read or written. (Error code -36)

I have managed to copy them to another partition on the drive they are coming from, and have managed to copy other files to the receiving drive, but these just won't go. I have reformatted the receiving drive, and have verified it and repaired it (even though it said it was ok) since all of the other files were copied onto it.

Help please......

Posted on Jan 30, 2012 6:15 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Dave B.

Level 4

2,080 points

Jan 30, 2012 8:18 AM in response to chachafrisk

According to this http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1618 it is an I/O error which means Input / Output as in writing data, but that's not real helpful, I know. One clue to me is that it was a Temp file that couldn't be copied properly - my guess is that since temp files by definition change a lot, at one instant in time during copying it couldn't verify something b/c it changed and returned an error. But I wouldn't worry about it too much precisely b/c it was temporary. Hopefully you got the necessary permanent data copied OK.

Just my guess, so remember when you get free advice you get what you pay for!

Reply

Answer 2

chachafrisk Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 30, 2012 8:28 AM in response to Dave B.

Thanks Dave. Sorry, the Temp label is a red herring, unfortunately. I have managed to copy all of my music with the exception of some Compilation CD's. Having tried loads of times to move them onto the WD drive from a Fujitsu Siemens one (that I also use for Time Machine backups), I thought I would try to copy them into a new file that I called Temp, within an other partition on the FS drive. They copied into there ok, but when I tried copying them back onto the WD drive, up comes Error -36 again!

Reply

Answer 3

Dave B.

Level 4

2,080 points

Jan 30, 2012 8:33 AM in response to chachafrisk

OK, makes sense. I wonder if repairing permissions on all disks would help.

Reply

Answer 4

chachafrisk Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 30, 2012 8:41 AM in response to Dave B.

I'll give it a go, it's weird how it will accept other files, it's just these for some reason.

Reply

Answer 5

Jan 30, 2012 9:13 AM in response to chachafrisk

Hello

my 2 cents , I/O error or error -36 is NEVER inocent

try check your hard drive carrefully , use HD utitity or fsck commande

best way to test is not difficult but verry verry time conssuming

1- backup entire disk ( clone is possible )

2- use install disk dvd or recover partition to zeroing entire disk at least 2 times

3- re-install / restore system and data

but be verry carrefull , this time I/O error locate on temp folder not realy a big deal ,

so the only safe way is BACKUP and BACKUP again and again

Pierre

Reply

Answer 6

chachafrisk Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 30, 2012 9:45 AM in response to chachafrisk

I can only do that on the Mac HD ...... maybe I should reformat the WD drive again and then try copying once more

Reply

Answer 7

chachafrisk Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 31, 2012 6:39 AM in response to chachafrisk

Thanks for your suggestions. I have now resolved this by erasing the disc again, doing verify & repair on it again, and then copying the music across in smaller chunks, A-B, C-D artists etc. All of my data has now been copied to the WD drive. Cheers, James

Reply