Re: [Thinkpad] Can't copy some files from C: (mounted as USB external elsewhere)

[I hope it's okay to consolidate all the replies into one message. =aw]

Thank you everyone for the replies and suggestions. I've tried some, will try the others, but it looks to me like it the problem might actually be a memory problem, and the bad HD a symptom (which, yes, is what Bruce predicted ;)).

I copied everything I could from the HD (as N: on this desktop), but Documents & Settings shows about 45Gb total and it's short 40Gb of that. :( The "Andrew" folder has no "+" beside it. I haven't tried all the utilities that were suggested, but if anyone can suggest what would be good specifically for this problem, please let me know.

I'd also welcome any other suggestions based on the following answers.

goretsky@gmail.com:

>This could be due to a rights issue with the directory in question. One
>of the things about the NTFS file system (as opposed to the FAT file system)
>is that it maintains a complex set of permissions which state what sort of
>access rights a user or a group has to each object on the disk volume, called
>the Access Control List, or ACL for short.
>
>Typically, documents which are created by a specific user are owned by them
>and cannot be accessed by another user unless the permissions are changed
>on them.
>
>To get around this, you need to change ownership of the files. Microsoft
>provides a script called the Extended Change Access Control List which
>allows you to do this. More information, including a download link and
>usage instructions, can be found at:
>
> <http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=825751>
>
>on Microsoft's support web site.

I didn't get into the ECACL application, I _was_ able to copy files under Administrator (sibling of the Andrew folder). Does that change the likelihood of this working?

Matt <mwtech@ameritech.net>:

>I'd try remounting the drive in the original laptop, and booting to a
>utility cd such as PE Builder or Ultimate Boot CD for Windows.
>From there using Total Commander or similar file browser should allow access
>to all files and directories if all else is in order.

I fear that not all else is in order, though I'm not positive. I did put the drive back in the notebook and booted to a utility CD (not sure all the software on it is supposed to be shared but I only tried DFT and PC Doctor). In both cases the computer locked up, on DFT it was while launching it with PC Doctor it was part way through the second pass (2/5) on one of the start test suites. That's why I'm thinking it's memory but of course I could be wrong. I'll try your suggested CDs though. Would it work as well on the desktop with the drive as N:?

Keith Schawel <thinkpad@li.ath.cx>

>Sometimes when you use an NTFS external drive you may have to change the
>permissions for that folder. Just making a user with the same username will
>not fix it. If you have XP Pro, I recommend trying to take ownership of the
>folder and setting the same permissions on the child objects. This can be
>achieved by right clicking on the folder and going to properties then going
>to the advanced settings in permissions. This is off the top of my head. I
>will boot into windows and give you better instructions.

I right-clicked on the parent and looked at Properties. It said "some R/O" so I clicked to make all R/O then clicked again. Told it to do all subdirectories and files. It claimed to take it but was the same after.

Jonathan Berry <jberry@islandnet.com>

>My uneducated guess is that the problem is Windows identifying
>the offending folder on N:\ as a System Folder. I'd try
fiddling with Explorer to show all folders / files. Or I'd use
>a different file manager. I use xplorer2 free. If those don't
>work, before you do something that takes a lot of work, you
>might try booting your desktop to linux, using one of the many
>available CD-boot disks. My guess is that if linux can copy
>any of the files on N:\, then it can copy all of them.

I tried xplorer2lite and while I like the utility, it had the same problem with Andrew being inaccessible.

Also downloaded Ubuntu Live CD and while it booted on the desktop machine okay, and saw all the HDs (two internal, both external, and some flash media slots) and correctly identified the size of the actual HDs, all were listed as inaccessible (or something, don't remember the word). Documentation says it should be automatic but that I can explicitly make partitions accessible, but no sign of a button to do it. It did identify them as /dev/sr[whatever] which I remember from my days with SunOS (90s).

Rob Bell <RobDBell@mailworks.org>

>As Bruce noted, those original and subsequent symptoms could certainly
>be due to a failing hard drive. However, it could also be the external
>USB drive connector that is causing drive/access problems. I recently
>toasted a laptop harddrive by hooking it up to an external USB enclosure
>with a single USB connector (instead of the higher-powered dual
>connector). I thought it would just fail to spin up if it didn't have
>enough power, but no, it trashed the drive. Stupid me.

That's good to know, it never occurred to me. The connector I'm using isn't an enclosure, it's one of those USB-to-IDE cables and a trapezoid[?]-to-Molex[?] power connectors, with an exposured circuit board to use as an adapter for 2.5" drives. So it's got power (I know the 500mA issue but never realized it could toast the drive).

Bruce Markowitz <scosgt@worldnet.att.net>

>Really sounds like bad memory to me, but that could have corrupted the hard
>drive,

As I posted up-top, I think this is the problem. Now I need to focus on getting my data off the HD. I did do a backup last month before going on vacation but never quite got to it last weekend when I got back. And I'm not certain how comprehensive the backup is (usual stupidity: not testing the restore function). :(

Thanks again everyone, and any suggestions on accessing this data will be much appreciated!

=aw
_______________________________________________
Thinkpad mailing list
Thinkpad@stderr.org
http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad
Received on Sat Jan 20 12:33:08 2007