can't copy or move files on ext HD
Ok, i need some help. I have a Maxtor 1 touch 750 gB usb2 drive that will not let me move or copy any files or folders to any other place on any other drives . I have checked permissions, set ignore ownership, have verified/repaired (with no problems reported) and have thrown away .plists and even had a voodoo lady kill a chicken to try and resolve this issue. nothing has worked. Any help would be appreciated.
iMac g5 1.8 10.5.3 (did this with 10.5.2 also...)
the drive has always been connected to the imac usb port Thanks, Randy
iMac g5 1.8 10.5.3 (did this with 10.5.2 also...)
the drive has always been connected to the imac usb port Thanks, Randy
Comments
I sometimes get this kind of thing from a drive because the Finder isn't very good. If you hold alt and right-click the Finder and relaunch it, check if it will let you move stuff after that.
Have you used the drive before or is it a new drive?
What format is the drive? If you select the drive and do get info or check the info at the bottom of the window in Disk Utility, it will tell you.
I sometimes get this kind of thing from a drive because the Finder isn't very good. If you hold alt and right-click the Finder and relaunch it, check if it will let you move stuff after that.
Have you used the drive before or is it a new drive?
it is a new drive. I set the format for hfs+ extended with journal. I would wipe it clean and start again but i cant copy the file anywhere and they are all my multiimedia. I have most of my music on another back up but my pictures are on there... doh!
Have you repaired permissions with disk doctor and run Diskwarrior?
it is a new drive. I set the format for hfs+ extended with journal. I would wipe it clean and start again but i cant copy the file anywhere and they are all my multiimedia. I have most of my music on another back up but my pictures are on there... doh!
One other thing to check is if the checkbox for ignore ownership on this volume is checked in the get info box.
You can try doing a copy via the terminal and see if it's a Finder thing. Open /Applications/Utilities/terminal. Then type:
cp <drag a source file into the window> <drag a destination folder into the window> <hit return>
When you drag files onto the terminal window, it should show something like
cp /Volumes/stoopid_drive/file /some/folder/somewhere
If the copy fails, it should give you a more detailed error about why it didn't work.
One other thing to check is if the checkbox for ignore ownership on this volume is checked in the get info box.
You can try doing a copy via the terminal and see if it's a Finder thing. Open /Applications/Utilities/terminal. Then type:
cp <drag a source file into the window> <drag a destination folder into the window> <hit return>
When you drag files onto the terminal window, it should show something like
cp /Volumes/stoopid_drive/file /some/folder/somewhere
If the copy fails, it should give you a more detailed error about why it didn't work.
ok, terminal cp works fine. Thanks for the tip, now if I could find out why i can't do it any other way.
BTW, ignore ownership was checked before, i have tried it both ways at least 3 times, I have tried the "batchmod" utility. hmmmmm
ok, terminal cp works fine. Thanks for the tip, now if I could find out why i can't do it any other way.
Try one of the other OS X file managers:
http://www.cocoatech.com/pf4/
http://www.flypath.info/
http://rixstep.com/4/0/xfile/
http://www.ragesw.com/products/explorer.html
See if they do the same thing. If they are ok too, it's definitely limited to the Finder application, which is in /System/Library/CoreServices.
Try one of the other OS X file managers:
http://www.cocoatech.com/pf4/
http://www.flypath.info/
http://rixstep.com/4/0/xfile/
http://www.ragesw.com/products/explorer.html
See if they do the same thing. If they are ok too, it's definitely limited to the Finder application, which is in /System/Library/CoreServices.
ok, path finder works as expected. So should i reinstall 10.5.3 update. or can i fix the finder another way?
thanks so much for your help, Randy
update: i reinstalled 10.5.3 combo update and the issue persists. I am not sure how to proceed at this point.
Can you try booting in safe mode (hold shift-key down at startup) and see if the Finder works ok.
If it still has an issue, try deleting your Finder preferences and relaunch the Finder.
After that, try removing your .DS_Store files from the external drive using this app:
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/17926
Those files just store view prefs and I doubt they'd be the problem but there's no harm in trying.
Can you search your external drive via Spotlight? One thing you can try is put your drive in the privacy section of the Spotlight system pref - maybe some Spotlight activity is affecting the drive.
Can you try booting in safe mode (hold shift-key down at startup) and see if the Finder works ok.
If it still has an issue, try deleting your Finder preferences and relaunch the Finder.
After that, try removing your .DS_Store files from the external drive using this app:
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/17926
Those files just store view prefs and I doubt they'd be the problem but there's no harm in trying.
Can you search your external drive via Spotlight? One thing you can try is put your drive in the privacy section of the Spotlight system pref - maybe some Spotlight activity is affecting the drive.
safe mode, and finder prefs didn't help. I wasn't able to download the destore app, their server is down or something.
I am able to search and find everything on the drive though. I can select a file, copy, then when i try to paste I get a finder info window that says"The Items on the clipboard cannot be pasted to this location. one or more of the items may have been deleted or are no longer available."
I really appreciate your help with this, Randy
If it is, maybe try turning Time Machine off and unplugging, then plugging in the drive.
Which version of the OS allowed you to copy all your files onto the drive? 10.5.1? And did it stop working as soon as you updated to 10.5.2 or was it just while using 10.5.2?
Is this drive configured as a Time Machine drive? Also is Time Machine turned on?
If it is, maybe try turning Time Machine off and unplugging, then plugging in the drive.
Which version of the OS allowed you to copy all your files onto the drive? 10.5.1? And did it stop working as soon as you updated to 10.5.2 or was it just while using 10.5.2?
No, the drive is not a Time machine drive. But, if I terminal ls -a these are what's returned
.
..
.DS_Store
.Spotlight-V100
.TemporaryItems
.Trashes
.com.apple.timemachine.supported
.fseventsd
Desktop DB
Desktop DF
iTunes
xDrive250
And I didn't notice the copy problem until 10.5.3, I purchased the drive when I was using 10.5.2
I appreciate all the help. If anyone has any other ideas I am open to them. Randy
Well, archive and install with all teh bells and wistles and still same issue.
What version did you archive install back to?
If it was a version where it used to work then there is something on the drive itself the Finder alone isn't liking.
The DS Store files and meta data are really the only things I can think of because the other file browser apps won't use those.
Cocktail has an option to remove them, you can do it recursively:
http://www.maintain.se/cocktail/index.php
Would it be possible to copy all your stuff off the drive using say Path Finder, format the drive and copy it back on again (hopefully using the Finder)? Or do you not have enough space to put all the stuff temporarily?
thanks for all the help/advice especially you Marvin. Randy
update: the only way i made it work was to back up the disk then erase and move the files back. all is well now, but the disk permissions are the exact same as they were before the re-write. i cannot find anything changed. go figure
We have an acronym especially for this - FTFF (Fix The F*ing Finder).
It is used on many occasions for good reason.
Good to hear you got it working again.
I have just spent hours trying to copy so some files with the same problems as listed here. I have just re-launched finder and hey presto it worked. Many many thanks!!! What a great help!!! ONe happy girl!!!
hey man ,it's pretty good
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