USB flash drive won't let me write files to it
Arvo Jennings
weeks ago, it started behaving badly. It won't let me write new files
to it. When I attempt to copy a file to the drive I get the message
"Error Copying File.
Cannot copy [Name of file]. The directory or file cannot be created."
However, I just discovered that if I try to copy a file to it that has
the same name as one that is already on the USB drive, it asks me if I
want to replace the existing file with the new one, and then writes
the file!
It's just new files that it rejects.
Meanwhile, I am able to copy files from the USB drive to my hard
drive.
The drive is not write-protected. I am wondering if the problem could
be related to the fact that a few weeks ago a technician adjusted my
LAN settings so that I could be hooked up to a local internet LAN in
my building.
I haven't tried using the drive on another computer yet.
I might try reformatting the drive, but it has some valuable backups
on it, and I wanted to get your opinions first. Thanks for any help.
Bill Blanton
> I have a generic USB flash drive that I use with Windows 98SE. A few
> weeks ago, it started behaving badly. It won't let me write new files
> to it. When I attempt to copy a file to the drive I get the message
> "Error Copying File.
> Cannot copy [Name of file]. The directory or file cannot be created."
>
> Meanwhile, I am able to copy files from the USB drive to my hard
> drive.
>
> The drive is not write-protected. I am wondering if the problem could
> be related to the fact that a few weeks ago a technician adjusted my
> LAN settings so that I could be hooked up to a local internet LAN in
> my building.
>
> I haven't tried using the drive on another computer yet.
That would be a good test to check if it is a problem with the drive or
with the system.
> I might try reformatting the drive, but it has some valuable backups
> on it, and I wanted to get your opinions first.
You could also run Windows scandisk on the drive. Why not copy
the entire drive to the HD until you get it sorted out?
Jeff Richards
between saving a file in the root folder and saving a file to an existing
subfolder?
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
Rick Chauvin
adding & deleting files from them that eventually they do that whether
fully or partially erratic, and I've found by simply doing a reformat on
it when that happens straightens it all out. Of course if you have data
on it that you need then copy it off before you reformat; if you aren't
able to copy files from it normally then trying creative ways like you
did to get it, and more, hopefully will get them first.
Rick
Arvo Jennings
> Are you sure it's not just full? For instance, is there a difference
> between saving a file in the root folder and saving a file to an existing
> subfolder?
> --
> Jeff Richards
> MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
Bingo, Jeff! The drive is not anywhere near being full, it's not even
half full, but I just tried copying a file to a subfolder on the USB
drive and it worked! But then I tried copying it to the root folder
and I got the error message again.
Why is it doing this? What's the solution?
Thanks, Bill. I did copy it to my HD, but I'm using the USB drive as a
backup, so I thought I would rather preserve what's on it on the drive
itself until I can figure this out.
Bill in Co.
floppies, and I expect on this too). That limit has nothing to do with
the file size - it is just the number of files that is significant.
Alan Edwards
The solution is to use sub folders.
I suspect the limit for a flash drive may be similar to that of a zip
drive. Read here:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q39/9/27.asp
MS-DOS: Directory and Subdirectory Limitations
...Alan
--
Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
http://dts-l.org/index.html
In microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion, ar...@goggo.com.au (Arvo
Jeff Richards
the root directory. For large hard disks you are unlikely to notice the
limit, but floppies, ZIPs and RAMsticks could have a limit that you will run
into. Where possible, store files in subfolders. You can even create just
a single subfolder and store everything in that.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
Hugh Candlin
> > Are you sure it's not just full? For instance, is there a difference
> > between saving a file in the root folder and saving a file to an existing
> > subfolder?
> > --
> > Jeff Richards
> > MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
>
> Bingo, Jeff! The drive is not anywhere near being full, it's not even
> half full, but I just tried copying a file to a subfolder on the USB
> drive and it worked! But then I tried copying it to the root folder
> and I got the error message again.
>
> Why is it doing this? What's the solution?
The root directory of a FAT volume has a limit of 512 entries,
a simple consequence of the meager space allocated to the table.
However, to shoehorn the maximum number of files into the root directory,
your file names would have to conform to the old 8.3 format.
However, if you are using long file names, which you almost certainly are,
then you will use 2 or more entries for each file,
depending on the actual length of each file name.
The solution is simple, regardless of whether you are talking about
a flash drive or your primary desktop PC.
Keep files out of the root as a matter of principle. Use sub-directories.
Arvo Jennings
drama...but I don't see my post. So let me just say that you guys were
right, and using subdirectories fixed the problem.