Sudden rash of Error Type 110

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Level 10

411,193 points

Sudden rash of Error Type 110

I've been doing a lot of file copying (backup) recently on my G3 beige DT, OS 9.2.2. Currently I have a 120 GB internal, 120 GB Firewire external plus a 160 GB Firewire external plugged into my computer. I have 320 MB RAM and I probably don't have more than one or two small applications running when I am doing the copying so the OS can grab as much RAM as it wants. Sometimes I'll get a spate of "Error Type -110" messages saying the operation cannot be completed. The last time this happened I was just trying to bring different Finder windows to the front. I believe these are memory related (from my deciphering of error codese). So questions:

Am I getting these because I am probably putting a lot on the System in terms of handling 3 big drives at the same time, or could there be a hardware/software problem somewhere I should be investigating? I'll admit I sometimes have two separate copy commands going on at the same time, but I've done this all the time on Macs.

Are my copied files likely to have been affected or is the computer simply telling me, "Hey, give me a break, I'll get on with the copying in a second"? I do a directory scan after copying and the files seem to be there.

Oddly enough, when I took my 1GB stick drive (HFS+ formatted) and plugged it into a G3 imac (OS 9.2.2) I got the same error message when I tried to eject the drive after copying a bunch of files. I restarted the computer and then I could properly unmount the drive. Again, was I asking a lot of the 92 MB RAM G3 to handle a 1 GB stick drive?

In neither case is this a consistent problem (it may not happen for a long time but then it happened on two computers in one day!) but I am wondering if I need to worry about these occurrences or just continue working.

Thanks,

Brian

G3 beiges:DT, 9.2.2, 120GBide; DT, 9.2.2/OS X.3, 120GBide; MT, 8.6/9.2.2, 128MB,

Posted on Mar 14, 2006 8:30 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 18, 2006 8:00 AM in response to Limnos

Hi, Limnos -

Thanks for posting back with how you resolved the problem.

I often use TechTool Lite 3.0.4 to rebuild the desktop (saves me having to do multiple restarts), or is there some reason the OS startup method is better?

All ways are about the same - keyboard command at startup, TT Lite, FileBuddy, etc.

It does seem to work best, though, if extensions are turned off on the startup where the desktop file will be rebuilt. This can be done before restarting via Extensions Manager as the KBase article suggests; or (a way I find more convenient) by holding down Shift until the Extensions Off message is displayed.

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Answer 2

Mar 14, 2006 8:44 AM in response to Limnos

Hi, Limnos -

When copying a bunch of files, sometiems the OS gets behind in updating the desktop file ("desktop file" = the invisible files Desktop DB and Desktop DF) as well as the disk directory; it will protest if an action (such as umounting a supplemental drive) is attempted before it has completed that task.

As you've experienced, a routine restart will usually clear the issue.

What can also help is to rebuild the desktop file after a copying session. Note that every volume has its own desktop file - you need not rebuild all of them, only the one(s) on the destination volume(s).
Article #10182 - Rebuilding Desktop File and Icon Recovery

Rebuilding the desktop goes smoothest and fastest if you start up with Extensions Off in the process. To do this, restart - immediately hold down the Shift key until you get the "Extensions Off" message; then release Shift and hold down the Command and Option keys until you get the splash screen asking if you want to rebuild the desktop (you'll be asked individually if you want to rebuild the desktop on each mounted volume); click yes (or okay) for the volume(s) you do want to rebuild, no for the one(s) you do not. Once that's done, restart to turn your extensions back on.

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Answer 3

Mar 14, 2006 8:50 AM in response to Limnos

Hi, Limnos -

Additional info -

A -110 error is not a memory error. It is in the group tagged "Storage Allocation Error", and is defined in Apple KBase Article #9805 as -

-110 memAdrErr Address was odd, or out of range

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Answer 4

taerchen

Level 5

5,430 points

Mar 14, 2006 3:10 PM in response to Limnos

Useful URL, too, in general for error codes:

http://www.appleerrorcodes.com

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Answer 5

Limnos Author

Level 10

411,193 points

Mar 18, 2006 7:52 AM in response to Don Archibald

Thanks Don and Taerchen. I narrowed down the problem to my having the "calculate folder sizes" option selected in Views (usually I have this turned off but I was trying to figure out what best to remove to free up some space). I think my computer was then trying to keep up with folder size calculations on 160 + 120 + 120 = 400 GB all in transition due to ongoing file copying and this was too much. After I turned off that feature the messages didn't appear.

I often use TechTool Lite 3.0.4 to rebuild the desktop (saves me having to do multiple restarts), or is there some reason the OS startup method is better?

That doesn't really say what was happening when I was using the other computer with the stick drive, but oh well.

Brian

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