An unexpected error occurred (error code -50) when saving to ext HD.

I'm also having this issue just recently with an HDD that I have installed in place of an optical drive on my Macbook Pro. I'm on Yosemite 10.10.1. I can't copy files or folders to this drive, but I can open anything that's already there.

When I attempt to eject the drive, I have to force eject after getting an error saying that the drive is being used. When I run Disk Utility, I can verify the disk but not repair it, getting an error that says it can't be unmounted for repair. If I force eject the drive I can run the repair, but it doesn't seem to fix the problem.

I've set the Energy Saver preferences as some have suggested (put hard disks to sleep when possible), but that doesn't seem to fix the issue. I haven't yet tried the copying method using the terminal, as I'd rather not do that workaround if possible.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'd really appreciate it!

Me too now. Seagate 3TB external drive. Intermittently will not write, or will not allow deletion.

It beggars belief that such a common error should not have been solved by collaboration between Apple and the drive manufacturers. "Hey guys, let's make our products compatible. That way we'll have happy customers." Come on Apple, get on with it.

Rant over. Has anyone actually solved this please?

Simon

Thanks, this worked for me as well:

I changed my energy saver mode to computer sleep 15 minutes (from never) and checked the box to have the hard sleep when possible.

I had to reboot for it to take effect. I didn't change my firewire cable.

I just installed a 2TB drive instead of my optical drive in MBP 15 mid 2010, the disk is Samsung/Seagate SpinPoint M9T.

The drive was working well... for a time, and after some time it's read-only sending Error -50 all the time.

I cannot format it, change partition table, unmount it... nothing. Only "Unexpected Error -50".

The trick with energy saving or reformatting did not help.

I'm so... xxxxx

I'm thinking of changing disk speed to 3Gbps or 1,5Gbps - did anyone tried that??

I get the same error code when trying to copy FCPX libraries out to an HP LTO-6 drive using LTFS, "The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -50)." OS-X 10.10.5 Super frustrating!

Same problem on a 32 GB SD card, none of the solutions worked form me 😠.

What is amazing is that this error has been showing up in OS X for more than three years and is still not solved.

I don't disbelieve the various solutions shared here, but the fact that some solutions don't work for some people and some people try them all and none work indicates that at the very least, this is a VERY POOR error code. Improving the error code would be very useful to help people really get to the source of the problem.

Seagate 2TB problems on a Mac iso 10.8.5

I have another Seagate 4TB thats fine. I swapped the leads over and its made no difference.

Ive swapped the ports over still no difference.

Trying to put files onto it gets this error

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

Trying to eject gets this error

The disk “Downing” wasn’t ejected because one or more programs may be using it.

Trying to delete gets this error

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

In disc utility, trying to erase gets this error

Volume Erase failed with the error:

Couldn’t unmount disk.

*** heeelllllllp

Open Activity Monitor, Show:>All Processes, see of fsck is running.

I looked in A monitor and its not there

disclaimer: i won't use any techy words.

i had a similar problem... used my external hard drive at home & at school before, never had a problem.

i try & copy a catalog from lightroom & it freeaked out. wouldn't even let me delete the copied lightroom catalogs or even open lightroom from the computer.

simple fix: i tried turning it off & then back on. wow. that actually works!

ejected the hard drive. plugged it back in. deleted the catalog that was previously copied to it (which made it freak out). re-added the catalogs & then poof! it worked.

I also have this same problem, However my energy saver has always had the "Put hard disks to sleep when possible" checked, and the computer sleep is enabled. I am using a Drobo with four drives totaling 16 terabytes attached on a usb3. It makes me nervous that other folks have had this problem but only in 2012, no here I am in 2016.

Help

I have been having the same problem too in 2016. It doesn't give me much hope that I will find a solution after searching the internet and the communities postings :-/.

I have an error:-50 when rendering a movie from imovie10 😟 tried writing to another disk, but got the same error. Sometimes she renders 12 minuted, in other cases 46 or 30 minutes..

anybody an idea?