Copying Error -36 and Permissions

Question

Hello, I recently purchased a new flash drive for myself. I had an old 2GB SanDisk Cruzer (FAT 16) for my PC and Mac; replacing it is a Lacie iamakey 32GB (also FAT16). When I attempt to move files from the SanDisk (not the MacHD) to the Lacie it gives me one of two error. If I try to take a lot of files and folders, it tells me that the folder 'A' already exists and stops the whole copying process. When I look on the Lacie, the folder now exists but only the first files in that folder show up to the point where the next folder is. In other worlds:
Copying:
Documents ->
File 1
File 2
Folder A
File 3
Lacie:
Documents ->
File 1
File 2
Everything up to Documents will be copied but then I'll get the error from the Finder telling me "The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “Documents” can’t be read or written.
(Error code -36)"
I have checked permission and I have read and write access. I have hundreds of files and can't go folder by folder to make this work. I have not problem with things coming from the Macintosh HD. Only if it is coming from the Sandisk. I have no problems taking files from the Sandisk and going to the Macintosh HD. No files are corrupt. I have tested dozens of them. It appears to be a problem from FAT 16 to FAT 16 (or 32) drives being copied through the Finder. I have even tried cloning the drive through Disk Utility and all I get is an error saying there isn't enough free space........ this is a 32GB drive getting the contents of a 2GB drive.
Lastly, while I need this to be PC compatible so I need the DOS formatting, I have tried formatting it as a MAC OS Extended drive and then copy the files. That works but then it tells me it is going to take 4 hours to transfer the data. No possible way this system and these drives should take that long.
I have done this in the past with no problems but it was on 10.5 not 10.6. No problems before. Please help!
Any thoughts? Thanks for your help!
EDIT: BTW, I do not have any files over 2GB in size.
Message was edited by: AdrianGalli

Answer 1

welcome to the forums adrian ^^
what i would do is take the NEW drive and reformat it on the pc as fat 32. making double sure that theres nothing on there. i would then copy the files from the 2gb one offa there and into an untitled folder on the desktop then moved them over to the new drive. best of luck and lemme know if it works or doesnt work please ^^