Cannot copy some files from my mac to any external disk whatever format the disk might be in

i sometimes face trouble copying some large movies for example to an external drive, i use a section of this drive for time machine and the other for back up... but at times some movies cannot be copied an error occurs and the operation stops... please somebody help me, ive checked everything the files arent locked or passwprd protected... i can cut and paste them around different part of the internal drive but when i try moving it to an externl drive thats when the error occurs...

The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code 0).
This is the message I get everytime I try copying some of the files and it always happens to these files only the rest I can copy without issue... So what do you think the problem is??? Thanks in advance

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How can I copy files from my Mac to my external HD?

I just bought a MacBook Air. Now I want to copy some files from my Mac to my external HD. And I cannot do it. Maybe the problem is on the authorization. How can I fix it?

what format is your external drive in? if it's on a NTFS format - it become read only.
format/erase your external drive to exFAT if you share this drive with a Windows PC.
If you're not sharing this drive with a PC - then format it to Mac OS extended journaled.
use disk utility to do this.
before you format your drive - make sure whatever files you have in it are backed up.

Can't copy some files from Windows 7 to Mac OSX over network

Hi,
I'm running the latest version of Max OSX v10.8.4 on a brand new Macbook Pro.
I have followed the setup instructions at http://www.7tutorials.com/how-change-workgroup-mac-os-x-easy-networking to access my Macbook from Windows, and http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/24950/how-to-share-a-folder-in-os-x-with-windows/ to share some folders from my Macbook to Windows.
I am now trying to copy some files from my Windows 7 Pro (SP1) computer to my Mac, and have hit the following problems:
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I cannot copy some files from Windows to my Macbook shared folders via Windows. There is nothing to distinguish these files from the hundereds of other files that I have successfully copied to my Macbook. They are pictures and music with no special characters in the filenames, not overly long filenames or folder paths, no access restrictions, or any other security restriction that I can see. However, every single attempt to copy these files to my Macbook results in WIndows reporting that access to the destination was denied.
I have tried both these above scenarios on WiFi and Ethernet, and the results are the same.
So:
Why am I unable to access my Macbook by it's computer name on the network? How can Windows see it, but not access it?
What are the limitations on transferring files over SMB that is (presumably) causing these specific files to fail?
Thanks for any help you can offer.

I have a fix for inability to copy files. I had the same problem moving a lot of old files across my LAN from a Windows XP machine to a Mac Mini running Mountain Lion. After confirming copy of some special file, I would get an error that terminated the copy operation, and info on the Mac side would show a locked folder.
I finally decided to eliminate all special files on the Windows side, before copying, by running
attrib -s -h -r /s /d [drive or folder]\*.*
in a command window. Running attrib /? tells what the arguments mean, but it doesn't explain that you need the *.* to make the command go through the hierarchy clearing the special attributes on all the files.
After I did that, and then used drag and drop between two Windows Explorer windows (one on the Windows drive, on on the target drive on the Mac), the whole move operation ran to completion without stopping either for error or to ask for confirmation.
I do not have a fix for the inability to access some computers by name rather than by IP address. I'm looking into the possibility of activating bind on the Mac but I haven't done anything yet.

I am new with iMac and I am trying to copy some file from my external HDD but it does not let me also I can't delete anything from this HDD using the finder. Can somebody help me , please?

I am new with iMac and I am trying to copy some file from my external HDD that a used with my PC but it does not let me also I can't delete anything from this HDD using the finder. Can somebody help me , please?

No, unfortunately, when you format a drive, it will erase all the contents. So you will need to find a temporary "storage" place to put the stuff using a PC so you have access to it. Then reformat using Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities). If only using with mac, format Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and use GUID Partition scheme under Partitions/Options. After formatting, you can drag the files back.

I am trying to copy some songs from my playlist to a CD but it changes the order of the songs during the conversion. I want the songs in alphabetical by name but iTunes arranges them alphabetically by artist.

I am trying to copy some songs from my playlist to a CD but it changes the order of the songs during the conversion. I want the songs in alphabetical by name but iTunes arranges them alphabetically by artist.

The apparent order of a burned CD may depend upon how you have iTunes display it - https://discussions.apple.com/message/17827921
iTunes 10 for Mac: Disc burning overview - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH1746
iTunes 10 for Mac: If you have trouble burning a CD - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH1751
iTunes 10 for Mac: Create your own MP3 CDs - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH1748
iTunes: How to set the play order of songs on an MP3 CD - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2455

I can't transfer files from my mac to an external hard drive. what can i do?

i have tried to transfer files from my mac to my external hard drive but i just couldn't.. help me

leemamacita wrote:
i have tried to transfer files from my mac to my external hard drive but i just couldn't.. help me
More information would help. How is the external connected? Does the external appear on your Desktop? Has the external been formatted for a Mac? What method do you use to transfer files? When you try to move a file to the external, what does happen?

Cannot copy mp3 files from CD

Hi All,
I've some cd's which contain mp3 files. These were burnt using a windows machine. When I try to copy these files into my mac, it gives an error 'Insufficient Privilege'.
I'm able to browse through the CD, but i'm not able to play any songs from it.
I checked the CD access rights, and its a 'read-only'. Will this be a problem for me to copy files? Is there any way that I could copy these files?
Your help is much appreciated.
Rgds
Bhargav

Hey PlanB77,
Here's why I know the problem is Apple and NOT a problem with the aftermarket cables.
I have a total of (6) aftermarket cables. These cables support several Apple devices (iPod Touch, iPod Classic, iPod Nano, and iPad)in different locations. All (6) of these aftermarket cables have worked just fine for many months. After the update to 4.3.1 on my iPod Touch, NONE of these cables work on my iPod Touch, but the original Apple iPod cable works fine. These aftermarket cables still work fine on my other Apple products that have not been updated.
It is beyond comprehension that all (6) aftermarket cables have failed only on my iPod Touch while working fine on all my other Apple devices. Hence my comment, Apple has become truly pathetic. They now demand your dollars for overpriced cables. As this change to the OS is without a public announcement and after I have purchased cables from other vendors I stand by my conclusion.
Oh, and Apple wants to charge for support to tell you why their OS 4.3.1 upgrade broke your product. That adds insult to injury.

Cannot copy (some) files to NAS

Hi,
I'm trying to copy some .potx-files (PowerPoint templates) to a NAS-server and get an error message (in danish) that says:
+"Handlingen kan ikke udføres, fordi du ikke har tilladelse til at få adgang til nogle af emnerne."+
Translated it sounds something like:
+"The action can not be completed because you do not have permission to access some of the files."+
- I can copy a .jpg-file to the same NAS-share without any problems.
- This error occurs once in a while for some files...
- I have read/write permission to the files and can copy/move them to any other location on the Mac.
- I have tried different shares on the NAS and the same error occurs ... but only for these files. Not the jpg, or any other file.

I have read other threads that indicate there is a Finder bug relating to NAS drives in 10.6.x
Have you tried using a third party utility like Chronosync?
Or,
If you are comfortable using Terminal, try the cp command:
http://ss64.com/osx/cp.html

Publish Error after copying domain file from one mac to another

Hello there,
so here is the problem: I have had iweb installed on a MBP, and a website up and running. Now that I just bought an iMac I wanted to transfer all the iWeb over to the iMac and make it the main machine. I was doing all the transfer work manually rather than using the migration assistant or time machine.
I have copied the domain file in the iWeb directory over to the iMac. iWeb starts and displays all the pages and sites normally, but when I try to publish I get the " Publish Error. An unknown error occurred" message.
On the MBP everything was/is working normally.
I have tried to copy the same file again, no change. I have deleted the preference file, no change.
I have tried publishing to a local folder, and get the same error message.
Does anybody have an idea how to get this fixed? I browsed through the discussions here but couldn't find anything regarding this specific issue.
cheers
grani

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Try the following:
1 - delete the iWeb preference file, com.apple.iWeb.plist, that resides in your User/Library/Preferences folder.
2 - go to your User/Library/Caches/com.apple.iWeb folder and delete the contents.
3 - reboot.
4 - launch iWeb and try to publish.
If that doesn't help continue:
5 - move the domain file from your User/Library/Application Support/iWeb folder to the Desktop.
6 - launch iWeb, create a new test site and save.
7 - go to the your User/Library/Application Support/iWeb folder and delete the new domain file.
8 - move your original domain file from the Desktop to the iWeb folder.
9 - launch iWeb and try again.
OT

How do i transfer my movie files from my mac to my external hard drive

i want to move some video files from my desktop to my external hardrive, never dont it before need help

What Mac OSX version?
Regardless, you open the folder containing the video files, then click/drag those files from their current location to the hard drive icon on your Desktop.
If your desktop does not show the external drive, post back for how to make it show up.

Can't copy some files from FileVault Sparsebundle in Time Machine backup

I've got filevault turned on for my mac Mac Mini (10.6.2). I'm using Time Machine to back up to a firewire drive. There's plenty of space - my Mini hd has 250 Gb of 500 used, and I'm backing up to a 750Gb partition on the external drive. The initial backup went OK, and when I logged out it backed up my filevault-protected home directory. When I logged back in, I was able to browse the Backups.backupdb on the external drive, go to the users directory, and open the sparsebundle that was my filevault-protected home directory (after entering the password). I can browse through this backup of my home directory. However, when I try copying files from the backup of the home directory, I get an error:
The Finder can't complete the operation because some data in "(filename)" can't be read or written. (Error code -36).
I get this error for some files, but not all of them. I've tried running BatChmod to reset permissions on all files in my home directory, and then erasing the backup drive and having Time Machine recreate the backup. However I'm still having this problem.
I have also tried restoring the entire hard drive (to a 3rd external HD) by booting from the 10.6 DVD and going through the full-restore process. All of my files are fine when I restore using this method.
Is there something I should do so that I can restore individual files from the backup of my filevault sparsebundle? It is extremly inconvenient to have to do a full hard drive restore if all I want is a file or two, and of course if the motherboard on my mini dies and I can't get a close enough replacement computer, then I could really be up a creek.
Thanks,
John F
New York

feinberj wrote:
I've got filevault turned on for my mac Mac Mini (10.6.2). I'm using Time Machine to back up to a firewire drive. There's plenty of space - my Mini hd has 250 Gb of 500 used, and I'm backing up to a 750Gb partition on the external drive. The initial backup went OK, and when I logged out it backed up my filevault-protected home directory. When I logged back in, I was able to browse the Backups.backupdb on the external drive, go to the users directory, and open the sparsebundle that was my filevault-protected home directory (after entering the password). I can browse through this backup of my home directory. However, when I try copying files from the backup of the home directory, I get an error:
The Finder can't complete the operation because some data in "(filename)" can't be read or written. (Error code -36).
I get this error for some files, but not all of them. I've tried running BatChmod to reset permissions on all files in my home directory, and then erasing the backup drive and having Time Machine recreate the backup. However I'm still having this problem.
I have also tried restoring the entire hard drive (to a 3rd external HD) by booting from the 10.6 DVD and going through the full-restore process. All of my files are fine when I restore using this method.
Is there something I should do so that I can restore individual files from the backup of my filevault sparsebundle?
Don't try to restore files individually by hand using finder. TM backups are protected by very restrictive ACLs and are not designed to be accessed that way.
you can restore the whole sparse bundle with the home directory from TM interface. you should be logged in as a different user when you do this. the easiest is to be logged in as root so as not to deal with any permissions issues.
another thing you might try is doing it from command line instead of finder. this is also not the designed way but might work where finder copy doesn't.
to do this run the following terminal command after you mount the sparse bundle with backups of the home directory
ditto --noacl path/to/source/file /path/to/target/directory
here path/to/source file is the path to the file in the sparse bundle you want to restore and path/to target directory is the path to the folder where you want to copy it to. an easy way to get the path to an item is to drag that item to the terminal window. make sure that you have all the spaces correctly in the command.
It is extremly inconvenient to have to do a full hard drive restore if all I want is a file or two, and of course if the motherboard on my mini dies and I can't get a close enough replacement computer, then I could really be up a creek.
Thanks,
John F
New York

I cannot copy large files from my hard drive

My MacBook Pro 15 is on OS X 10.8.5 (12F37) and I reformatted my external hard drive to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) but cannot copy my virtual machine 53GB file from my hard drive to the external drive.

iheartapple1970 wrote:
he wasn't real clear on exactly what virtual machine he was trying to move so i said that IF it's just a windows partition (not w/ parallels or VM fusion ) then he would need to reformat the drive to the format i suggested for it to move and still be used w/ the mac as well. but thanks for the additional information for those who may not have known it.
If it was a partition it would not be a VM file.
This is what you said:
if you are trying to copy a virtual windows machine
I see no mention of a Windows partition here.
As I said before you should test your suggestions to ensure that they are correct, and you should do that prior to suggesting them, and It would help if you understood the difference between a file and a partition.

I can't copy any files from my mac to my external hardware.

Hi,
I have iMac version OS X(10.6.8). I have a external hardware and when i want to copy my files into it, it won't let me. if someone can help I really appreciate it.
thanks

Hard drives that are going to used with a Mac must be initialized and reformatted for Macs using Mac OS X Disk Utility.
The format is HFS+ (journaled) format with a GUID partition scheme.
If you attempt to reformat your PC's external hard drive, you will be erasing all of your PC data from the HD.
If you want to have an external HD with your Mac, you will need to purchase one.
Preferrably an external drive that uses FireWire 800 or USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt connections.

Moving or copying files from my Mac to my external NTFS drive.

I use Boot-camp on my MacBook and use it as both a PC and a MAC. Because of space issues I need to use an external drive for storage and because a lot of my files are over 4g I can only use NTFS as a formatting option.
My problem is I can't copy or move anything from my Mac to the drive, which is really annoying. With Itunes for instance I read all my music from the drive (which works fine) but I can't download anything using Itunes now because it won't write to the drive.
Surely this is only a permission thing with Mac that be altered - Can anyone help?

Hi and welcome to Discussions,
it is not a permission issue you experience.
FAT32 is the only file system, that both OSX and Windows can read and write to without additional help.
NTFS is a modern file system for Windows, but OSX can only read from it.
For write access from OSX you can use either NTFS-3G http://www.ntfs-3g.org/ or buy Paragons NTFS for Mac http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/
OSX uses Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as file system, which Windows can't see nor use without the help of MacDrive http://www.mediafour.com/products/macdrive/
Since FAT32 is no option for you, because of the implemented singel-file size limitation of 4GB, I personally would propose NTFS in combination with NTFS-3G or Paragon.
Hope it helps
Stefan

Cannot copy/paste files from clone of Snow Leopard installation into clean Lion installation.

I cloned my hard drive onto an external USB drive using disk utility and then erased the internal drive to install Lion onto. 70% of anything I copied from the clone of my 10.6 installation into its new home in Lion just disappeared as soon as I copied it. For example, I copied my old documents folder into its corresponding place in Lion, and the size reduced from ~3.5GB to ~1GB. Does anyone know why this is?
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2009 with mountain lion isntalled
The original disc that came with the Mac won't work with Mountain Lion v10.8 installed. Disk repairs are done via the internet using OS X Recovery.
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Cannot copy some files from my mac to any external disk whatever format the disk might be in

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