why can't I read a folder to copy it

  • Thread starter Thread starter LAF
  • Start date Start date
L

LAF

When trying to copy various folders from my basic hard drive to an external
hard drive, I could copy several folders without problem, but then I had
several when windows started to copy and then came up with an error message:

"Cannot read from the source file or disk" Try again or cancel. Then same
message when I try again. I have vista home premium.

What is going on and how can I correct it? The files are fine because I can
vew them but why can't I copy them
 
LAF said:
When trying to copy various folders from my basic hard drive to an
external
hard drive, I could copy several folders without problem, but then I had
several when windows started to copy and then came up with an error
message:

"Cannot read from the source file or disk" Try again or cancel. Then
same
message when I try again. I have vista home premium.

What is going on and how can I correct it? The files are fine because I
can
vew them but why can't I copy them
Click to expand...

Viewing and trying to copy them are two different things. It seems you have
some bad tracks on the disk where these files are located. You can run
Chkdsk /f for fix at the Command Prompt to see if that corrects your
problem.

And some folders on Vista are protected and you won't be able to copy the
folders.
 
Thanks, but I think the problem may be deeper. Vista says that I don't have
permitssion to run chkdsk /F. Yet I am the only user on the system and the
admiinistrator. Is there a way I can check permissions for copying or
running chkdsk.

LAF
 
LAF said:
Thanks, but I think the problem may be deeper. Vista says that I don't
have
permitssion to run chkdsk /F. Yet I am the only user on the system and
the
admiinistrator. Is there a way I can check permissions for copying or
running chkdsk.
Click to expand...

Even as an Admin on the Vista O/S, in some cases, the Admin user only has
Standard user rights. Your rights even as Admin must be escalated to do
certain things, which can be accomplished by using Run as Administrator.

Start Button/all programs/Accessories/Command Prompt and you right-click
the line go to Properties and select RAS. RAS can be set permanently if you
go to the Advanced button.
 
Start Button/all programs/Accessories/Command Prompt and you right-click
the line go to Properties and select RAS. RAS can be set permanently if you
go to the Advanced button.
Click to expand...

You need to be careful when making up your own acronyms. RAS is Remote
Access. To the OP, what you should be looking for on the context menu is
Run As Administrator, not anything called RAS.
 
Paul Adare said:
You need to be careful when making up your own acronyms. RAS is Remote
Access. To the OP, what you should be looking for on the context menu is
Run As Administrator, not anything called RAS.
Click to expand...

I am pretty sure the OP is smart enough to put 2 + 2 together based on my
previous communication with him.
Only a fool would not be able to put it together in direct context of our
conversation. . I can for sure tell that the RAS in not exclusive to Remote
Access Service.

I don't need anyone running around trying to give out tickets, playing
Internet Traffic Cop or ITC. :)
 
I am pretty sure the OP is smart enough to put 2 + 2 together based on my
previous communication with him.
Only a fool would not be able to put it together in direct context of our
conversation. . I can for sure tell that the RAS in not exclusive to Remote
Access Service.

I don't need anyone running around trying to give out tickets, playing
Internet Traffic Cop or ITC. :)
Click to expand...

My point was that RAS is simply a made up acronym and does not stand for
anything at all. There are others besides the OP who read these groups and
use the questions and answers to help solve their own problems. Making up
acronyms that are not even accurate don't help anyone at all.
 
Thank you Mr. Arnold and Paul,

I was able to run chkdsk following your instructions. There were no errors
but I noticed that chkdsk was verifying several large files. After running
it, I was able to copy the folder that was giving me problems before.

LAF
 
LAF,

One final suggestion, if chkdsk is finding bad areas on your hdd, its time
to back up and replace the drive asap. Trust me, waiting even a few reboots
can cause you to lose everything. I did not heed the warnings on one of my
desktops, and it crashed. Not a really big deal as my data is mostly stored
on seperate drives, but i had not made backup cds to re-install the unit and
had to wait until they were shipped to me so i could re-load.
 
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