I moved an old photos library from my MacBook Pro to a Seagate external HDD some time ago and now want to move them off this drive to another. I have tried copying the Photos Library and pasting to the new HDD but I keep getting an error message that some photos cannot be read Error 36. Have tried using Terminal by entering dot_clean then a space but still getting the same error. So I tried moving the photos on the external HDD back to my MacBook Pro and same problem. Both drives are Mac Journaled formatted. Can anyone help? Thanks
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Cannot transfer Photos from External HDD back to another HDD
- Thread starter Carlos1602
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It sounds like -some- of the files (the ones that won't copy) are corrupted in some way.
Or, there could be a problem with the drive itself.
Can you narrow it down to WHICH files are giving you this error?
If you can, can you still OPEN those files in Photos?
Be aware that when you try to copy a group of files using finder, and if one or more of those files is corrupted, the finder may just stop the entire process and present you with an error.
However...
The backup utility named CarbonCopyCloner has the ability to clone/backup data to another drive, and if it encounters "bad files", it won't quit. Instead, it will copy all the good files and present you with a list of the "problem files" that wouldn't copy.
You might not want to clone an entire drive, but CCC ALSO offers you the option to "uncheck" files/folders you don't want copied.
So...
You could try using CCC. It's FREE to download and use for 30 days.
Set it to clone the drive with the Photos Library to another drive.
BUT...
Use the "some files" option and UNCHECK EVERYTHING except the Photos library.
CCC will then attempt to clone the Photos Library to the other drive (and nothing else).
IF CCC encounters bad files during the copy, it will give you a list of those files.
You can then go down the list and check each one individually.
IF the "corrupted" files will open in Photos, I'd "export" each one to a NEW file, with the hope the corruption will be "left behind" in the process.
No promises, but this might work.
Or, there could be a problem with the drive itself.
Can you narrow it down to WHICH files are giving you this error?
If you can, can you still OPEN those files in Photos?
Be aware that when you try to copy a group of files using finder, and if one or more of those files is corrupted, the finder may just stop the entire process and present you with an error.
However...
The backup utility named CarbonCopyCloner has the ability to clone/backup data to another drive, and if it encounters "bad files", it won't quit. Instead, it will copy all the good files and present you with a list of the "problem files" that wouldn't copy.
You might not want to clone an entire drive, but CCC ALSO offers you the option to "uncheck" files/folders you don't want copied.
So...
You could try using CCC. It's FREE to download and use for 30 days.
Set it to clone the drive with the Photos Library to another drive.
BUT...
Use the "some files" option and UNCHECK EVERYTHING except the Photos library.
CCC will then attempt to clone the Photos Library to the other drive (and nothing else).
IF CCC encounters bad files during the copy, it will give you a list of those files.
You can then go down the list and check each one individually.
IF the "corrupted" files will open in Photos, I'd "export" each one to a NEW file, with the hope the corruption will be "left behind" in the process.
No promises, but this might work.
Sorry I have to ask this, but after starting the "dot_clean" app did you actually use it? You need to drag the folder into the app.
Also, you can manually trash the ._DS files in the terminal. or again in the terminal ONLY copy the .jpg files you need leaving the ._DS files alone.
CCC is great, but most file sync tools can do this too. Nearly anything 3rd party is better at moving a large amount of files...and won't stop/hang on any problem files. CCC does have a free demo period last I checked, and not all options do.