Can't back up iphoto - error 36

Question

Trying to back up my iphoto library to an external hard drive. About halfway through I get an error message telling me one of the images can't be accessed, error 36.
I applied Terrence Devlin's advice found in this thread: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1179907.
I used the Batchmod to make sure this wasn't a permissions issue.
The backup still failed with the same error, same file.
I then located the file in question in my library but when I tried to delete the troublesome file, it completely froze my entire computer. After about 15 minutes of the hard drive whirling away, Finder finally crashed.
So how do I get around this file that is causing the backup to fail if I can't delete it?
Any suggestions appreciated.
Thanks!

Answer 1

Assuming you mean error -36, not 36, I' ve been having serious error -36 ugliness, also with my precious iPhoto Library. (:-(
It appears the -36 error (documented somewhere as "ioErr I/O error (bummers)"), at least in this context, means a corrupted file has been encountered. However it was allowed to get corrupted (OS, file system, hardware - whole other can of worms), apparently no GUI apps are robust enough to deal with it; all choke or even crash; IIRC:
iPhoto duplicating problem file fails: "unreadable files: 1/the following file could not be imported/import failed"
Finder copy fails on the first file - preventing any other files from being backed up - catastrophically bad!
Finder "create archive" chokes "an error occurred while archiving this file" - also very bad
Disk Utility verification passes; however…
Disk Utility can't make a new disk image containing the data - in case you thought this might be another way of backing up your data
Quick Time Player may display a black window on file open attempt
Preview crashes on file open attempt
Alas, no help from DiskWarrior or Drive Genius II, either, in dealing with the corrupt files. (:-(
Here's my strategy:
If you're Unix-savvy, use shell cp command (cp -rvf, I think; log standard error to a file); otherwise use Carbon Copy Cloner to make the backup.
Either way, the logged errors will show you the names (and paths) of problem files, e.g.:
cp: /Users/apple/Pictures/iPhoto Library//Originals/2008/Nov 16, 2008/IMG_4982.JPG: Input/output error
If the list of files is sufficiently short and you'd like to clean up the problem files in iPhoto, you could, using this error list, search for individual problem images, trash them, then empty the iPhoto Trash.
I believe that if you do this, you've at least cleaned up the mess so that you won't have to worry about corrupt file/error -36 - e.g. now be able to back up files using Finder Copy. I also think this orderly deletion of files in iPhoto is apt to be more reliable for iPhoto; I'm concerned that iPhoto may not be robust enough to recover from source files in its database - <poof> - just disappearing (for the years I've been using iPhoto, it's always seemed fragile).
As suggested in the referenced previous thread, if the drive is going south, it seems like you'd want to stop using it ASAP and safely get your data to a more reliable one - and also further backed up elsewhere.
Anyone dealing with error -36 hassles would likely benefit from any further comments on how best to deal with this calamity. I'd be very interested in hearing from experienced techs on the relationship between -36 errors and drive failure.
Posting tip: if replying, please quote only for context; no need to repeat entire message.