Windows Explorer Unstable

[aramis7350]

Hi all,

I just got through fixing my backup problem but during the fix, I ran into a Windows Explorer instability problem.

I am backing up data to 2 separate 500 Gig external hard drives. One is a LaCie and the other is one I put together using a Western Digital 500 Gig internal hard drive and a Rocketfish external case. Both use USB connectors and are formatted as 'NTFS'. The LaCie is recognized in 'MyComputer' as 'F' drive and the name 'LaCie' is listed. The Rocketfish is recognized as a generic 'E' drive, with no name listed.

I loaded data onto the Rocketfish by copying files from the LaCie, which carried my data files that I had copied from 3 different Emachine hard drives. As a side note, after all of the backing up was completed, I did notice that there was a 2 Gig difference in free space between the LaCie and the Rocketfish, which surprised me since I was expecting them to be carrying the same number of files.

Anyway, here is the problem. When I open up a video file on the LaCie, it is stable and runs fine. However, when I open up the same file on the Rocketfish, it runs, but while running, I get an error message about Windows Explorer and Windows Explorer then shuts down. It happens with different video files, always on the Rocketfish, never on the LaCie.

Is the fact that the LaCie is the source of the Rocketfish files the problem? Is there a step I am missing during my setup process or is there something about Windows Explorer I am overlooking? Could the fact that I recently upgraded to SP3 have a connection to my problem?

Thanks

[Rick Johnston]

Copying from one drive to the other shouldn't be an issue.

I wonder if the extra used space on E: is due to disk errors?

Try running Check Disk:
Start/All Programs/Accessories/Command Prompt. In the window that appears, type chkdsk e: (one space between chkdsk and e) and press enter.

Let it run until it's finished. Make sure "Bad Sectors" is 0.

[aramis7350]

Hi Rick,

I did as you suggested and 'Bad Sectors' is 0.

Any other ideas?

The only thing I can think to do is to reformat and start over, but I suspect that will do no good.

Thanks

[toofer]

Here's my stab at it. Is there a possibility that the controller board on the generic external drive is maybe not as fast as the one on the Lacie thus providing some sort of lag in the video file causing it to crash windows?

Also, just for the fun of it, take the usb cable from the lacie and use it on the generic drive, see if that makes a difference.

[aramis7350]

Interesting idea, Toofer, though I can think of no way to figure out the specs for the controller board.

I may even disassemble the two externals and swap out the hard drives. That might be risky but it should narrow the possibilities.

[Rick Johnston]

Another thing to try: Make sure the jumper on the WD drive is set to Master and not Slave or Cable Select.

[ShadowWolf_87]

It may be possible that your video files copied incorrectly creating a "carbon copy" whose path isn't valid on the drive.

Try viewing the properties of the file to check and see if the path is correct. Do this once in the folder and once in the media program to see if they're both the same. If it is invalid, all that needs to be done is a proper copy from drive to drive.

If that is not the case, boot in one drive and play the file off the other and vice versa. If the Rocketfish continues this behavior, it needs further inspection.

Your drivers may need to be reinstalled. Check Rocketfish's website to see if there are any updates that you may want to download. If this still does not help reformat the drive and reinstall the drive.

If this still doesn't help, your hard drive is most likely defective and needs replacing.

Hope this helps

Respectfully yours.