JTStally
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Q: "Error code -36" with Deleting Files from External HD

I had a DVD with .mov files on it.  My Mac doesn't have a CD/DVD internal drive, so I use an external that uses USB.  I dragged the files directly from that external to a Seagate external hard drive (also USB).  Once there, I realized they weren't the files that I needed, so I deleted them ... or tried to.  When I tried to drag the three files to the trash, I received this error message:

 

The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “**FILE NAME**” can’t be read or written.

(Error code -36)

 

It's worth noting that the videos play fine on the external without any noticeable corruption.  Additionally, if I drag the folder containing those same files to my desktop, I can delete that folder just fine, so the issue seems to be confined to the Seagate external.

 

For what it's worth, when I found the correct files, I pulled them to the desktop first, then to the external from there.  The issue was the same (deleted fine off the desktop, but gave the same error code on the external).

 

Any suggestions on how to override this code and get rid of these unnecessary files would be appreciated.  Thanks!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on May 11, 2016 11:23 AM

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Q: "Error code -36" with Deleting Files from External HD

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  • by jeffd55,

    jeffd55 jeffd55 May 12, 2016 1:21 PM in response to JTStally
    Community Specialists
    May 12, 2016 1:21 PM in response to JTStally

    Helllo JTStally,

     

    Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. 

     

    I see that you are getting an error code -36 when you try to delete a file. I have an article on common error codes and error code -36 for you to take a look at: 

    Common System Error Messages: What they Mean and What Might Help Resolve the Problem

    Type -36 error (I/O Errors (bummers)

    This file is having difficulty while either reading from the drive or writing to the drive. The file  
    may have been improperly written data to the drive or the hard drive or disk may be damaged.
    This is almost always indicative of a media error (hard error on the disk). Sometimes (rarely) it is transient.

    Solutions: Try copying the file to another drive. Use a disk recovery software, such as Disk First Aid to examine the disk. You can try rebooting with all extensions off. Once in a while this will allow you to read the data. The file in question should be restored from a backup that was stored on a different disk. Regular backups can reduce the time to recover from this error.

     

    Best regards.