Help, Lappy not transfering files to USB or CD

[astronobob]

Hi IIS'ers
Dang Computers, My Toshiba Lappy is not managing copying astro image files to a USB memory stick - It did it no worries a couple months back but for some reason, now, its just stalling on the 'copying files' part, it starts off at 3.5 Mb per sec for a couple of seconds then drops to 15kb per sec - hit the cancel button, get a ghosty screen, nothing else activates and I have to kill the switch to force a shutdown ? ?
Dang I dont need this drama, for three days Ive fluke transfering 3 darkframes and thats it, so to get the other 200 odd files - well, looking at least 6-8 months yeah, beauty, Grrr ! ! !
Tried perform a 'drag & drop' onto a CD, dropped into the CD, spun up at which I had high hopes, but yet again, it stopped spinning and now doing nothing much at all, same caper ! ! !
Ive done a complete Windows upgrade to no avail, System Serial USB Buses are all working fine, apparently.

Just thinking - It was very cold out Leyburn a couple of nights out of five, around -4, this I wouldnt think could damage the Lappy, quite a few of us use lappys in sub zero, it ws under shelter, so no dew on it ?

Where to go from here - I have no idea :confused2:
Appreciate help :thanx:

[Amaranthus]

Did you try an alternative flash drive? It sounds corrupt.

[Asterix2020]

Can you actually open the files on the laptop? If not then the hard drive might be the problem.

Have you tried copying them across your home network?

[astronobob]

I will try another flash drive, tho the Lappy isnt even wanting to write to a CD ?
I thinking of just sending some Jpgs as it might be having a problem with Fitts files, tho it did move them no worries two months back tho I have downloaded 'Fitts Liberater' since and have just uninstalled it, so Ill give thing another go ?
Thanx Barry :thumbsup:


Hi Paul, No I cant open the Fitts files, but I was able to move them onto a stick two months back and 6 months back, but as mentioned above, I have downloaded 'Fitts Leberator' to view them, but its pretty useless anyway, so I have un-installed it as it may be blocking something ? ?
Trying again now ?
Thanx :thumbsup:

[astronobob]

Ok, Im using another flash stick, I have just dragged and dropped a 15MB folder of JPG Moon images into the flash dr and it completed that in 4 seconds. too easy, though I have now dragged and dropped a 350MB folder of Fitts and it says its copying, but it not actually doing anything, as before ? There is a status bar there but no blue fill filling in it and its been 5 minutes, details havent even come up with 'estimated time' or 'speed' rate, tho it has detected 17 items ? but not doing anything else and if I click on anything now, I get a ghost white inactive screen and have to kill the on button to force a shut down ? but Im not going to at the moment ? ?

[astronobob]

BTW, I not PC litterate enough to a Network caper Paul :rolleyes:

[acropolite]

Bob, try microsoft fix it solution centre, fix it works quite well for correcting usb and cd read write problems. http://support.microsoft.com/fixit/

[astronobob]

OK thanx much Phil, Ill Kill the on button and start again with doing the Fixit thingo and try again, sounds feasible :thanx:

[Amaranthus]

Try copying over a smaller batch of the FITS first to test it is working on a file by file basis first.

[astronobob]

Ok

[astronobob]

Opened the folder, right clicked on a single image 21MB tiff file, - send to USB Drive, been 6-7mins now and nothing ? ? ?

[astronobob]

Could be a registry issue ?

[Asterix2020]

It sounds like to me your source files are corrupt. To test this, you need to open the FITS file on the hard drive. I think GIMP can open FITS files, google GIMP and download it (free) and see if you can open the files.

You could also do a chkdsk/scandisk on the drive. What version of Windows is it?

[Octane]

Are you able to copy /any/ files off the system? Copy a JPG into your FITS directory. Then, try copying (right click, copy) that JPG out of that directory and on to your USB stick.

Then, try copying the same JPG along with one FITS file, and see if either copy, or it gets stuck.

H

[astronobob]

Thanx again Paul. I did do a system accessaries disc check to no avail, not sure if exactly the same thing ? I also did a restore to point three months ago as I was able to copy the Fitts files then to a stick, but believe it or not, the system couldnt complete the restore to that point, Grrr I dont have points further back for some reason ??
Ive also done a complete Windows update (latest) which took about an hour in hope to overright anything currupt in the registry, but prob wrong application to do that ?

The other weird thing i tried was download RegCleaner and that didnt even complete the scan ? ?
As I believe the prob lies in the Registary because I once, and only once had an 'error' code pop up whilst attemping transfer/copy images to stick - so lucky I decided to do a screen snip of it to use if needed. I then googled it on this main PC and come up with these links below if you or anyone care to take a look as it kinda hit the problem right on the head !

http://www.wiki-errors.com/wiki-errors.php?wiki=0x8007045d

http://error-toolkit.com/errors.php?t=0X8007045D

Hence: doing a Scan disc check & downloading and run the Regcleaner, but havent been totally successful - yet - might try again tonight as was getting into the early hrs this morn and virtually had enough :rolleyes:
I also downloaded the Error Toolkit and ran that, but also wasnt successful, Im not real sure if I have that properly either, as when was completed I ran the Tolkit and when I hit 'fix Issues' it just kinda kept doing another scan and just kept going around in that circle ? Grrr, totally Computer illiterate me is :rolleyes:

I also came accross a utube video from the Google seach' on tackling the error from the Bios or Doss (notsure which it called) Configuration mode from hitting the 'F8' key on start-up, but was a bit difficult to match corresponding commands as was a bit lacking in instruction for my level - I got to the stage where it was suggested to unclick any USB corresponding progs that were/could have come up, but only had four things to 'uncheck'boxes and nothing in them I could recognise as being USB related ? ? so decided to play safe in that mode and leave it - for now ? ?



Cheers for that Humayan, funny I actually can move a jpg onto the stick and I can also move a Fitts File from one folder on the lappy to another folder on the lappy but not a Fitts to the stick ? I will try moving a Jpg and a fitts together to the stick tonight :thumbsup:
Please read above for update on last nights, or should I say early this morns capers mate - save me writting it twice :thumbsup:
Cheers for your input :thumbsup:

[Amaranthus]

If you have a cloud storage like DropBox or Google Drive (or a Network Share), you could try dropping some files in there and doing the transfer that way, if the root cause of the problem is I/O errors to external devices.

[Draco]

Hi Bob

another set of suggestions.
- do you have antivirus installed on your computer? If so then try disabling it and see if it makes any difference (remember to turn it back on once done)

- try zipping the offending files and then copying the zipped file to flash drive.

Hope you get it sorted mate.

As Barry as suggested, cloud storage would be another alternative, though will be slow, depending on your internet upload speed.

Niv

[Asterix2020]

Those errors are often seen with flakey hard drives. Flakely hard drives can cause all sorts of random errors.

You could try system file checker. Go to a admininstrator cmd prompt and type sfc /scannow. If any Windows files are corrupt it will prompt you for your Windows disc to replace them. If the bad hard drive is the problem this may let you get the FITS files off the hard drive but you will get other random errors after this.

[astronobob]

Thanx Barry, Niv & Paul , ,
I am slowely making progress as some files about 9 so far have been transfered to the stick. I have done a proper System drive check and didnt find any corrupted registery items, tho, what I am finding is that some of the Individual fitts files seem to be corrupted, namely the very 1st file and it would not go anywhere for a half hr, then a pop up showing error but relating it to that particular Fitt File - hence - selected the 2nd file onwards, about 13 in this set and the next nine went on in about a minute, no worries, but now it is 'Hung Up' on the 10th file :rolleyes: Tho it will eventually, (I hope) in 30 mins as before :confused2: give a Pop-Up of Error with option to skip it again .
If Only I knew which where currupted before selecting

Now Im thinking what may have caused the individual Fitts Files to be Corrupt, if this is the case ? Maybe Low Power ? Or 'Forcing' the Stop Capture in the Capturing Program :question: Probably due to Guide Star Loss which I do as no need to continue 5-10 mins on a bad sub !

Mmmm :screwy: Hope this is all it is ? Has anyone experienced or heard of this type of situation, Any further comment appreciated ...

[Amaranthus]

Try zipping them using 7zip and the store option (fast, since you have no need to compress the files). This will create a single (large) file that is effectively enclosed in a 'shell' (wrapper) as far as your OS is concerned. Then copy that over, and unzip. Might work.

[astronobob]

Thanx Barry, if the OS is Not concerned with what is in a zipped folder, then this could be good, tho wont it be a problem on the main PC ? Maybe the main PC will give me more options and to discern & erradicate the effected files ?
I have Not done a Zipped up caper before but willing to try anything once, I assume its a feature in windows that I have not come accross before or just overlooked it ?
Thanx

[astronobob]

In addition, Weird, Look at what is now on the USB Stick after them last 12-13 Fitts were put on as discribed above ? ? - A whole bunch of Carry-on folders - Trying to tell me something, , but I know Not this language ? ? ?

[Amaranthus]

Those are folders created by the Mac OS.

[astronobob]

As in Apple Mac ? How on earth I wonder they got on there ? ?

Anyway - - Heres the next Catch - The Dam USB Port AINT Working any more - Put anything in it, , NOOOOTTTHHHIIIIIINNNNGGGG :shrug:

Im Not doing anything more to it

NOOOOOOOOO I Cant shut it down Noww GRRRRRR

Pulled The Plugg :lol:

But Hey, I Really appreaciate everyones advice support and input etc, :thumbsup:

I now know the issue is a lot deeper & the Lappy needs to be started next time by someone trained so they can actually deal with this One on One, Man against Machine type thing Yeah :computer: someone who actually 'Likes' these things :screwy: before It goes real serriousely bad :thanx:

Ive got 5 nights of imaging on this thing over the last week in Sub zero temps out west, id hate to see that lossed :rolleyes:

Have done my dash for now :sadeyes:

Rgrds all

[Draco]

At this stage, I say store into something like dropbox or any other cloud storage.
Or email it to yourself, after you have zipped it.
Or if you can, copy it to your other computer via your home network.

[astronobob]

Cheers Barry, tho I am not going to do that. Not sure of currupted files in the zipped and what may happen when open on my main PC - Probably nothin, but Im leaning on the side of - 'cant be tooo carefull' - at this stage ! !

Cheers all the same tho mate :thumbsup:

[Draco]

Hey Bob, Barry is correct. Here is a link explaining those weird files https://discussions.apple.com/message/21539621

[ZeroID]

I am going with Pauls comment, I think you've got a flaky hard drive. Have you run a scan disk or check on the drive. Best way is to get into Diagnostics in the BIOS ( F12 at start up ) then run the diagnostics. If the drive is on it's last legs it's either time to replace it or the laptop. Better sooner than later, you can copy the files off using a USB cage but if you run the hard drive into the ground trying to get it to work it may fail completely and then it's really 'toast' time.

[astronobob]

Thanx again Niv, Brent & Paul, ,
I have had a mate look into the situation and has discovered that all is generally good with the hard drive, has done a Bios systems check and some other fancy Hard dr check with some prog, found quite a few unwanted registry files which are now gone - but all in all, nothing suspicious with the system.
The main problem is with 'currupted' Fitts Files from the QHY Astro Camera - what is causing this I am Not sure - yet ? but have some ideas ill mention directly, tho 1stly, The particular Currupted Fitts files will Not move anywhere, no matter how you choose to move them, My mate Marty tried to move them via network to his PC, also tried moving them from with-in the my lappy - they wont budge !!! I thought I could move them before, as I grabbed one and move it to another folder on the lappy - but is was not a currupted one - Corrupted ones Wont Budge ! !

Ive also come to a guess conclusion that the Mac files must of come from another mates Mac who recently put some Folk (music band) movies on the stick - only possible logical way going by Link Niv, cheers for that ! But doubt they are the problem because we have 'Dumped all of them and the Currupted Fitts Files 'Remain' a problem !

Any way, I will be (tomoro) moving file by file and making note of the ones that are currupt - unfortunately I will need to shut down and restart each time I come accross a currupted file as it freezes the lappy, Grrr ! going to a borring episode, but have to do it !
Also, I wont be deleting the currupted file until I have all the good files safely on the stick as deleting currupted file may also cause a freezing of the lappy, so will deal with that after !

So, why/how are these QHY Fitts files being currupted, I have a couple of suspisions but nothing concrete yet ?
A) Sometimes when capturing images via the EXYCAP QHY aquisition Prog that is set up to do x amount of images - because of bad seeing, sometimes the Guide Star will Drop Out, so there is and Option on the Image aquisition 'Planner' to 'Force Stop' I use as no need carrying on with the last 10 mins of a 12-15min sub if it has had the guide star drop out - just something I am thinking as the currupted files seem roughley match the amount and frequency of guide star drop-outs I had over them 5 nights. Not sure, tho might run a query on the QHY Forums ? ?

B) The only thin I did differently on the few nights was I had my DSLR doing widefields at the same time, piggy backed' and my lappy has only two USB ports and one is used for the mouse, so I have a four way USB Hub to run communication for the QHY10, the Guide Camera and this time, The DSLR as well and wondering if the QHY & DSLR may have coincidently be trying to upload/transfer images at the same time and whether this may have caused some 'Confusion' and produced this curruption ? ?
To tell the truth, Im only grabbing at straws, but may be worth considering ?

What are your thoughts ?

I have about 5-7% currupted so far and am about 1/5 of the way through from what we did earlier tonight. Ill have a better idea tomoro !

Cheers for your guidance, direction and input all, it has been helpfull !

[ZeroID]

I would not be to sure about the Mac not causing the problem. Macs can 'own' files preventing others accessing it. I've seen it on stuff at work occasionally.

[astronobob]

Interesting Thanx Brent, I might add that I had never opened the Movie files that were on there, didnt get the time, I had put that particular stick on my PC to see what was on it, the movies took up 3.5 gig on the 4gig stck so I needed space and deleted the only two files showing and i think what was left on it was what showing in the above snips (post #22)
So Im now not sure if they could have transfered them selves onto the lappy without any help ?
So, in knowing this - and what you have experienced at work, would there still be a chance of them causing problems ?
Appreciate your input as anything is possible with this stuff ? ?
Cheers ...

[ZeroID]

Not really a "Mac' person. I have just seen USB sticks with Mac files on that have had issues when the USB stick has been used in a PC.
eg Photo jpg files created on a Mac in Photoshop not being compatible on Photoshop in a PC. and access denials on some files. A Mac file may appear to be 'corrupted' to a PC. I haven't followed it up any further as I am only a PC support person, I leave Macs to others.
Sorry I can't be more specific or helpful.

[astronobob]

No worries mate - all things worth considering and appreciate your input :thumbsup: