Error -50 when trying to copy files to external hard drive.

When trying to copy files (itunes music folder) to an external hard drive, I get the following message: Copying music failed. An unknown error occurred (-50).
I have tried repairing disk permissions but still get the message. Any thoughts?

Gary,
A couple of posts referencing "error -50" seem to indicate that the error could result from a corrupted file.
One from Kappy follows:
Error -50 Post
One way you could save your music to the other drive would be to do it folder by folder (dragging each artist's folder, to the other drive). I suspect you won't have many (if any) errors doing that, and if you hit the corrupted file, you can come back to that folder and see which one is bad. You could also try to drag groups of artists folders to the drive if you had quite a few. One note: If you save your files this way, you won't be saving the library, which contains all the playlists you've created...you'll have to recreate them.
If you needed that music down the road, you could just do a File>Import from iTunes....
Hope this helps,
Bob

Similar Messages

  • Finder freezes when trying to move files to external hard drive

    Whenever I try to move files from internal hard drive to my external finder freezes it. I have over 5 TBs of free space on my external, so I know it's not a space issue. This happens no matter the size of the file. It starts the copy and then will freeze before it finishes. If I try to force quit and select relaunch it acts like it is relaunching but my icons never re-appear and the command bar at the top never returns. So I end up having to hard boot.
    I just reinstalled the 10.5.8 combo update and verified both hard disks, if any repairs came up I repaired and then did the same with disk permissions....it's still freezing on me. I am frustrated because there are some files I'd really like to move to my external raid hard drive but I'm not able to.
    The freezing happens if I'm trying to transfer files from a disc or an additional external HD. My internal HD is only so big and the external Raid drive is for my capture scratch on Final Cut Pro and I'm even having issues capturing to that drive. Everything wants to be on my internal HD and that doesn't work for me.
    Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Sean Dale1 wrote:
    Do you get any error messages and if so what are they? Do you have any problems copying files off the problem drive back to your Mac or do the freezes only occur when copying to the external?
    No I don't get any error messages, the finder just freezes and when I try to relaunch finder it doesn't relaunch properly..all icons are missing and I'm not able to access the the task bar to properly shut down so I have to hard boot.
    It happens only when trying to save files to the external, whether through drag and drop or within programs. I am able to access files on the external and copy files from there to my internal without problems.
    Have you tried attaching this drive to another Mac and if so do you get the same issues?
    I don't have another Mac to attach the drive to.
    How is this RAID attached, SCSI, FireWire, SATA or what? How was the RAID created, Disk Utility or third party software and have you verified the integrity of the RAID?
    The RAID is attached via SCSI. In an attempt to solve this finder issue I re-installed the drivers to the most current drivers available and in doing so updated any firmware....and there was no change. I was not the one who set up the RAID so I don't know how it was created. It's an Enhance UltraStore R16 and I've been using it without issues since January 2007 and this freezing thing has been intermittent for a few months now but now it's constant and annoying. I've verified the disk through disk utility but I don't have any software to check the integrity otherwise. Do you have any recommendations as to what software I could use to do this?
    Message was edited by: Emily80

  • White Prohibitory Sign When Trying To Move Files Off External Hard Drive

    Why am I getting the white prohibitory sign when trying to add a new file to an external hard drive? I have run Disk Utility and permissions repair.

    See Mac OS X: "Broken folder" icon, prohibitory sign, or kernel panic when computer starts
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106805
     Cheers, Tom

  • Error when trying to copy files to external drive

    When attempting to copy files to external hard drive I get a message " unable to copy some data, error code -36".
    How do I find out what that error code is tring to tell me?

    Sadly, I have had this issue as well. Last eyar Iit got to the point I couldn't copy at all. From what I recall, Apple told me it could be one of many things. A bad internal drive, bad permissions, a bad external drive, a bad firewire port, a bad cable, bad memory, and on and on. I never did figure it out, but I do know my hard drive did crash a month later. However, having said that, I own a new computer, and last week, it started again. Still have not figured out what is going on. Good luck.

  • I cannot get my iTunes library from my old computer to my new one. The old computer is so messed up that I cannot even get google to open. I tried to copy to an external hard drive and the music was there until I went to upload to the new computer.

    I cannot get my iTunes library/music from my old computer to my new one. The old computer is so messed up that I cannot even open a browser.I tried to copy to an external hard drive and the music was there until I went to upload to the new computer. I disconnected my old computer so I will have to reconnect it I am sure. thank you for any help. Last time I transferred I used a product I purchased. That was a long time ago.

    First of all make sure that you've definitely backed up the movies to your external hard disc.
    In iMovie click on any event you don't want, go to the file menu and select 'move event to trash'. Then do the same for any unwanted projects - 'move project to trash'. Quit out of iMovie and empty the trash.
    Hope that helps!

  • (Error code -36) Can't delete files from external hard drive

    So as I was copying files to my hard drive (Seagate Backup Plus Drive) my Macbook Pro went flat, and so the files obviously didn't get to finish copying. Now they're greyed out in my folder and when I try to move the files to the trash it comes up with this message:
    "The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “-----” can’t be read or written.
    (Error code -36)"
    Does anyone know how I can fix this? I've tried a couple of different things and nothing has worked, and I don't wanna stuff around too much in case I lose everything.

    Presumably you are using the Seagate as an external HD.
    "my Macbook Pro went flat" means the MBP shut down or powered off suddenly for some reason?
    If your Seagate was not properly ejected that would cause problems. You should run Disk Utility and Verify and Repair the Seagate, if needed. Then you should be able to deal with the uncompleted files.

  • Error message when trying to copy files from memory stick to MacBookPro

    Trying to copy files from my memory stick to my MacBookPro and have started to get a crazy error message - "Attempting to copy to the disk Macintosh HD failed. You do not have enough access privileges for this operation."
    I've never had a problem before today. Any help will be welcomed!

    Try this. When the stick is mounted on your desktop, right click "Get Info" and at the bottom choose "ignore ownership on this drive." See if that works.
    Bryan

  • I get error 8062 when trying to copy files from one external hard drive to another. It starts out copying files, but after 10 minutes or so it stops and I get the error 8062. The hard drive tech support says the problem is in my Macbook Air.

    I cannot copy my doc and photos and videos from one external hard drive to a second external hard drive -- both plugged in to my MacBook Air -- I get Error 8062 and the copying (which seemed to be going on for 10 minutes) stops and nothing gets copied.
    As any Macbook Air owner knows, there is SO LITTLE storage capacity on the computer that you have to back up big files onto an external hard drive to avoid getting the other annoying error that says you have no more memory/storage capacity/whatever the proper term is, and you cannot use the computer.
    Backstory: Before this error cropped up, I had backed up lots of files to an external drive and then removed them from my computer. But then the external hard drive got corrupted and I could not access my entire photo library. Had to pay $850 to Kroll Ontrack to recover those files. I have now bought 2 new external 1 Terrabyte  hard drives as protection against another such disaster. BUT I cannot copy the files from the first hard drive where all my reovered files now sit, to another backup hard drive.
    Feeling vulnerable. Please help.
    SusaninNY

    From the menu bar, select
     ▹ System Preferences ▹ Energy Saver ▹ Power Adapter
    and uncheck the box labeled Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible, if it's checked.
    If the drive has more than one interface (USB, FireWire, Thunderbolt, eSATA), try one of the other interfaces.
    Check that the data cable is securely inserted at both ends.
    Try a different cable.
    If you're connecting the drive through a hub, connect it directly to a built-in port on the Mac.
    If you're connecting it directly, try a different port.
    Disconnect all other devices on the bus, or as many as possible.
    Test the drive with another Mac. Test another drive with this Mac.
    If the drive is bus-powered, but has an AC adapter, connect the adapter.
    Start up in Safe Mode and test.
    If the drive doesn't work under any of the above conditions, and if another drive does work with the same Mac, then the drive has failed. You may be able to salvage the mechanism by removing it from the enclosure and installing it in another one, or in a drive dock.

  • Error code 36 when copying files to external hard drive!

    I keep getting this error when I try to copy files to my external hard drives. It is the same error no matter what drive I use. It says it cannot perform the operation because the data cannot be written - like there is a permissions problem, but I checked all the files, and there is no permission problems. The file sizes are small .iff and .jpg --- There is not more than 10 characters in the naming, so what is going on? I have folders inside of folders, and it will not copy - but if I go into the folders and copy each file one at a time, by itself, it works. I don't get it? Anybody have any thoughts?

    a very common issue caused by a bug in snow leopard finder when dealing with FAT formatted drives. see this link for details and a fix
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=11122044&#11122044

  • Permissions problem when copying files from external hard drive

    Hi.
    I have recently reinstalled leopard (wiped the hard drive clean) on my macbook pro. (10.5.4). I had used Time Machine so I have a complete backup. But I only wanted a few of the files so I didn't do a backup restore. I went into the file directory of the backup on my external hard drive and dragged the folders I wanted back over to my laptop.
    But I'm in permissions **** though! When I want to copy them over I get an alert saying you may not have privilege to do this and asks for my password. I enter my password and it copies fine. But every time I want to do anything with those files (like move them, or delete them) I have to re enter a password.
    So, inside of the terminal I do a "ls -al" command to see whats going on and find that everything is the same as a natively created folder except for a '@' on the permissions column. I do a "ls -al@' to see more details and I get this:
    drwxr-xr-x@ 6 xenition staff 204 Jul 20 17:08 Assets
    com.apple.metadata:_kTimeMachineNewestSnapshot 50
    com.apple.metadata:_kTimeMachineOldestSnapshot 50
    I did run repair permissions from Disk Utility and it didn't solve it. How can I resolve the permissions on these files?
    Message was edited by: risingtiger

    run ls -aleO on the copied files and see if there are any ACLs or flags.
    BTW, another (and possibly better) way to restore files from an old TM drive is via TM interface. control-click on TM in the dock and choose "browse other TM disks" select a disk to browse and go at it. when you try to restore something you'll be prompted for a location to restore it to and maybe a password.

  • Can't copy files to external hard drive

    I have had both my MacBook and external hard drive for over three years now, and have never had a problem. In the last week, my external hard drive stopped letting me copy files onto it. When you try to drag and drop it just comes up with the blocked symbol. I have tested this with other hard drives as well and keep getting the same error. I've read other forums where it seems the answer is just to reformat the hard drive to the correct format, but I've never had a problem before so it seems strange that the format would just suddenly change.
    All suggestions welcome!

    me to no problem until nowdays
    and the file is movies 1080 so is one file 7-8-9-10 gb
    the weird is i see the movie from memory stick
    but i cant copy
    i restared but i cant format the memory stick becouse i use it in windows
    helppppppppppppp

  • Lost iPod in fire and trying to restore files from external hard drive

    I've got a similar issue to folks who are trying to restore their Library from an external source, but with a new twist. We suffered a house fire, and my iPod was destroyed. Amazingly an external hard drive I had done some backups to survived (mostly) and I have several of my iTunes songs, but when I tried to import them into my new computer (and new license of iTunes) I can't get anything to work. I tried manually copying the files over to the iTunes folder and then "importing a file" into my Library but it doesn't do anything. any ideas?

    Thank you for the suggestion.  I was moving them in Finder, (just as the Genius showed me but obviously he wasn't quite a genius after all!)   However, even after moving a file onto the external drive within iMovie like you suggested,  it's still not working.  Trying to open the files from the external drive, they will only open in QuickTime Player, and also only as individual clips.  Any other suggestions would be very much welcomed!
    Thank you.

  • Error message when backing up with time on external hard drive

    I'm running 10.6.8 OSX & wondering why I get an error message when backing up with time machine onto an external hard drive. Please help! Error message states time machine could not back up & to try again later.

    Says "The back up was not performed because an error occurred while copying files to the backup disk.
    "The problem may be temoporary. Try again later to back up. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair back up disk."

  • Error message when moving iTunes music folder to External Hard Drive

    I have followed the instructions in Apple support to move my iTunes music folder to an external hard drive. During the consolidate library step, only half of my music is transferred before I get the error message "Copying music failed. The disk could not be read from or written to."
    Has anyone gotten the same message, and what was your experience correcting the issue?
    15" Powerbook G4   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

    In Windows, you go through File >> Library >> Organize Library. here you can choose to consolidate your library. this should do the job.. alternatively you could take a look at this blog..
    http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/19/how-to-keep-your-itunes-library-on-an-external-ha rd-drive/
    Even though its step by step on mac you should be able to figure it out from there.
    Message was edited by: MuldVarp3N

  • I can't copy files to External Hard Drive : Please help..

    Evening,
    I've just bought a Macbook and am just getting to grips with it. This is my first question on this forum...the first of many no doubt.
    Problem I've got is that I can copy file's from an external hard drive on to the MAC but I can't go back the other way and copy file's from the MAC on to the external hard drive - it says 'New Folder cannot be modified'.
    When I go into 'Ownership and Permission' of the external hard drive it says I can read only.
    The Hard Drive is a Octigen USB 2.0 drive if that helps..
    Any ideas?
    Thanks for your help
    R
    Macbook   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  
    Macbook   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

    How confident are you that MacFuse/ntfs-3g is a reliable option for ordinary humans? It is at version 0.2.2, not long out of beta, the FAQ mentions slow write performance and other rough edges (possibly fixed in the current version), and this is a comment by the author as of 1/11/07:
    "Small disclaimer: Please note that MacFUSE is a complex piece of software, and it is a work in progress. We believe in releasing early and often, so we're releasing it now so that the community can help us to make it more robust."
    I have no need for it whatsoever, but if I did, I would have concerns about using it for a backup drive.

Maybe you are looking for