Frustrating problem trying to copy files from Win7 to XP

I've had a Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit) computer for over a year
now. SP1 has been applied. I also have an XP Home SP3 32 bit machine
that I've had for years with both wired to a Netgear router.

The problem I'm having is an inability to copy large files from Win7
to XP. Win7 sees the XP machine (and vice versa). On 7, I can browse
the shared folder on XP and on XP I can browse the shared folder on 7.
But when I try to copy large files (50MB or more?) from 7 to XP
(either using 7 to copy them to XP or using XP to copy them from 7),
it seems to start fine, but the speed keeps dropping until it times
out after a few minutes without copying anything. Copying files from
XP to 7 is no problem., no matter which machine is doing the copying
or the file size. I also have an Ubuntu 10.04 machine that's rarely
on, but it can see both machines, too. Sharing a network printer has
not been a problem, either. I've switched router ports around and
even tried a temporary replacement router with no improvement.

Everything is set up with the same workgroup name. I'm not using
Homegroups. I used to have a 98SE machine connected to the network
(that's the one that now has Ubuntu) and never had any problems with
sharing and copying with it. Internet connection is rock solid on
all machines.

As an aside, I'm also having the same problem copying large files
from Win7 to an external USB drive. Works fine when I hook the drive
up using eSATA. I initially thought this was strictly a networking
issue, but with essentially the same problem cropping up with a USB
drive connected to the 7 machine, I think the problem is in 7.

FWIW, my Win7 network settings are:

Work network
Network discovery: On
File & Printer sharing: On
Public folder sharing: On
Media sharing: On
File sharing connections: 128 bit
Password protect sharing: On
Homegroup connections; Allow Windows to manage...

Any advice as to what needs to be checked/changed?

Thanks!

Michael wrote:

> I've had a Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit) computer for over a year
> now. SP1 has been applied. I also have an XP Home SP3 32 bit machine
> that I've had for years with both wired to a Netgear router.
>
> The problem I'm having is an inability to copy large files from Win7
> to XP. Win7 sees the XP machine (and vice versa). On 7, I can browse
> the shared folder on XP and on XP I can browse the shared folder on 7.
> But when I try to copy large files (50MB or more?) from 7 to XP
> (either using 7 to copy them to XP or using XP to copy them from 7),
> it seems to start fine, but the speed keeps dropping until it times
> out after a few minutes without copying anything. Copying files from
> XP to 7 is no problem., no matter which machine is doing the copying
> or the file size. I also have an Ubuntu 10.04 machine that's rarely
> on, but it can see both machines, too. Sharing a network printer has
> not been a problem, either. I've switched router ports around and
> even tried a temporary replacement router with no improvement.
>
> Everything is set up with the same workgroup name. I'm not using
> Homegroups. I used to have a 98SE machine connected to the network
> (that's the one that now has Ubuntu) and never had any problems with
> sharing and copying with it. Internet connection is rock solid on
> all machines.
>
> As an aside, I'm also having the same problem copying large files
> from Win7 to an external USB drive. Works fine when I hook the drive
> up using eSATA. I initially thought this was strictly a networking
> issue, but with essentially the same problem cropping up with a USB
> drive connected to the 7 machine, I think the problem is in 7.
>
> FWIW, my Win7 network settings are:
>
> Work network
> Network discovery: On
> File & Printer sharing: On
> Public folder sharing: On
> Media sharing: On
> File sharing connections: 128 bit
> Password protect sharing: On
> Homegroup connections; Allow Windows to manage...
>
> Any advice as to what needs to be checked/changed?
>
> Thanks!

Disable your anti-virus program or any other software installed on
either host that interrogates your network traffic or the creation or
modification of files. Then retest.

On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 12:26:05 -0500, VanguardLH <> wrote:

>Michael wrote:
>
>> I've had a Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit) computer for over a year
>> now. SP1 has been applied. I also have an XP Home SP3 32 bit machine
>> that I've had for years with both wired to a Netgear router.
>>
>> The problem I'm having is an inability to copy large files from Win7
>> to XP. Win7 sees the XP machine (and vice versa). On 7, I can browse
>> the shared folder on XP and on XP I can browse the shared folder on 7.
>> But when I try to copy large files (50MB or more?) from 7 to XP
>> (either using 7 to copy them to XP or using XP to copy them from 7),
>> it seems to start fine, but the speed keeps dropping until it times
>> out after a few minutes without copying anything. Copying files from
>> XP to 7 is no problem., no matter which machine is doing the copying
>> or the file size. I also have an Ubuntu 10.04 machine that's rarely
>> on, but it can see both machines, too. Sharing a network printer has
>> not been a problem, either. I've switched router ports around and
>> even tried a temporary replacement router with no improvement.
>>
>> Everything is set up with the same workgroup name. I'm not using
>> Homegroups. I used to have a 98SE machine connected to the network
>> (that's the one that now has Ubuntu) and never had any problems with
>> sharing and copying with it. Internet connection is rock solid on
>> all machines.
>>
>> As an aside, I'm also having the same problem copying large files
>> from Win7 to an external USB drive. Works fine when I hook the drive
>> up using eSATA. I initially thought this was strictly a networking
>> issue, but with essentially the same problem cropping up with a USB
>> drive connected to the 7 machine, I think the problem is in 7.
>>
>> FWIW, my Win7 network settings are:
>>
>> Work network
>> Network discovery: On
>> File & Printer sharing: On
>> Public folder sharing: On
>> Media sharing: On
>> File sharing connections: 128 bit
>> Password protect sharing: On
>> Homegroup connections; Allow Windows to manage...
>>
>> Any advice as to what needs to be checked/changed?
>>
>> Thanks!
>
>Disable your anti-virus program or any other software installed on
>either host that interrogates your network traffic or the creation or
>modification of files. Then retest.

Forgot to mention, I have done that repeatedly with no effect. Just
tried it again, still having the issue.

On 7/31/2011 1:51 PM, Michael wrote:
> On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 12:26:05 -0500, VanguardLH<> wrote:
>
>> Michael wrote:
>>
>>> I've had a Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit) computer for over a year
>>> now. SP1 has been applied. I also have an XP Home SP3 32 bit machine
>>> that I've had for years with both wired to a Netgear router.
>>>
>>> The problem I'm having is an inability to copy large files from Win7
>>> to XP. Win7 sees the XP machine (and vice versa). On 7, I can browse
>>> the shared folder on XP and on XP I can browse the shared folder on 7.
>>> But when I try to copy large files (50MB or more?) from 7 to XP
>>> (either using 7 to copy them to XP or using XP to copy them from 7),
>>> it seems to start fine, but the speed keeps dropping until it times
>>> out after a few minutes without copying anything. Copying files from
>>> XP to 7 is no problem., no matter which machine is doing the copying
>>> or the file size. I also have an Ubuntu 10.04 machine that's rarely
>>> on, but it can see both machines, too. Sharing a network printer has
>>> not been a problem, either. I've switched router ports around and
>>> even tried a temporary replacement router with no improvement.
>>>
>>> Everything is set up with the same workgroup name. I'm not using
>>> Homegroups. I used to have a 98SE machine connected to the network
>>> (that's the one that now has Ubuntu) and never had any problems with
>>> sharing and copying with it. Internet connection is rock solid on
>>> all machines.
>>>
>>> As an aside, I'm also having the same problem copying large files
>>> from Win7 to an external USB drive. Works fine when I hook the drive
>>> up using eSATA. I initially thought this was strictly a networking
>>> issue, but with essentially the same problem cropping up with a USB
>>> drive connected to the 7 machine, I think the problem is in 7.
>>>
>>> FWIW, my Win7 network settings are:
>>>
>>> Work network
>>> Network discovery: On
>>> File& Printer sharing: On
>>> Public folder sharing: On
>>> Media sharing: On
>>> File sharing connections: 128 bit
>>> Password protect sharing: On
>>> Homegroup connections; Allow Windows to manage...
>>>
>>> Any advice as to what needs to be checked/changed?
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>
>> Disable your anti-virus program or any other software installed on
>> either host that interrogates your network traffic or the creation or
>> modification of files. Then retest.
>
> Forgot to mention, I have done that repeatedly with no effect. Just
> tried it again, still having the issue.

You neglected to mention the type of XP file system, i.e., FAT FAT32, NTFS.

See the following article:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d....mspx?mfr=true

On 7/31/2011 2:14 PM, TLC wrote:
> On 7/31/2011 1:51 PM, Michael wrote:
>> On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 12:26:05 -0500, VanguardLH<> wrote:
>>
>>> Michael wrote:
>>>
>>>> I've had a Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit) computer for over a year
>>>> now. SP1 has been applied. I also have an XP Home SP3 32 bit machine
>>>> that I've had for years with both wired to a Netgear router.
>>>>
>>>> The problem I'm having is an inability to copy large files from Win7
>>>> to XP. Win7 sees the XP machine (and vice versa). On 7, I can browse
>>>> the shared folder on XP and on XP I can browse the shared folder on 7.
>>>> But when I try to copy large files (50MB or more?) from 7 to XP
>>>> (either using 7 to copy them to XP or using XP to copy them from 7),
>>>> it seems to start fine, but the speed keeps dropping until it times
>>>> out after a few minutes without copying anything. Copying files from
>>>> XP to 7 is no problem., no matter which machine is doing the copying
>>>> or the file size. I also have an Ubuntu 10.04 machine that's rarely
>>>> on, but it can see both machines, too. Sharing a network printer has
>>>> not been a problem, either. I've switched router ports around and
>>>> even tried a temporary replacement router with no improvement.
>>>>
>>>> Everything is set up with the same workgroup name. I'm not using
>>>> Homegroups. I used to have a 98SE machine connected to the network
>>>> (that's the one that now has Ubuntu) and never had any problems with
>>>> sharing and copying with it. Internet connection is rock solid on
>>>> all machines.
>>>>
>>>> As an aside, I'm also having the same problem copying large files
>>>> from Win7 to an external USB drive. Works fine when I hook the drive
>>>> up using eSATA. I initially thought this was strictly a networking
>>>> issue, but with essentially the same problem cropping up with a USB
>>>> drive connected to the 7 machine, I think the problem is in 7.
>>>>
>>>> FWIW, my Win7 network settings are:
>>>>
>>>> Work network
>>>> Network discovery: On
>>>> File& Printer sharing: On
>>>> Public folder sharing: On
>>>> Media sharing: On
>>>> File sharing connections: 128 bit
>>>> Password protect sharing: On
>>>> Homegroup connections; Allow Windows to manage...
>>>>
>>>> Any advice as to what needs to be checked/changed?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>> Disable your anti-virus program or any other software installed on
>>> either host that interrogates your network traffic or the creation or
>>> modification of files. Then retest.
>>
>> Forgot to mention, I have done that repeatedly with no effect. Just
>> tried it again, still having the issue.
>
> You neglected to mention the type of XP file system, i.e., FAT FAT32, NTFS.
>
> See the following article:
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d....mspx?mfr=true
>
Have you tried copying the file to a memory stick and then reading it in?

--


James Silverton, Potomac

I'm *not*

On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 13:08:51 -0400, Michael <>
wrote:

> I've had a Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit) computer for over a year
> now. SP1 has been applied. I also have an XP Home SP3 32 bit machine
> that I've had for years with both wired to a Netgear router.
>
> The problem I'm having is an inability to copy large files from Win7
> to XP. Win7 sees the XP machine (and vice versa). On 7, I can browse
> the shared folder on XP and on XP I can browse the shared folder on 7.
> But when I try to copy large files (50MB or more?) from 7 to XP
> (either using 7 to copy them to XP or using XP to copy them from 7),
> it seems to start fine, but the speed keeps dropping until it times
> out after a few minutes without copying anything. Copying files from
> XP to 7 is no problem., no matter which machine is doing the copying
> or the file size. I also have an Ubuntu 10.04 machine that's rarely
> on, but it can see both machines, too. Sharing a network printer has
> not been a problem, either. I've switched router ports around and
> even tried a temporary replacement router with no improvement.
>
> Everything is set up with the same workgroup name. I'm not using
> Homegroups. I used to have a 98SE machine connected to the network
> (that's the one that now has Ubuntu) and never had any problems with
> sharing and copying with it. Internet connection is rock solid on
> all machines.
>
> As an aside, I'm also having the same problem copying large files
> from Win7 to an external USB drive. Works fine when I hook the drive
> up using eSATA. I initially thought this was strictly a networking
> issue, but with essentially the same problem cropping up with a USB
> drive connected to the 7 machine, I think the problem is in 7.


On the XP machine and on the external drive, is the drive FAT32? You
say files over 50MB, but are you sure of that number? FAT32 has a
maximum file size of 4GB, and it sounds like you are probably running
into that limit on both of the drives you are trying to copy to.

On 31/07/2011 1:08 PM, Michael wrote:
> I've had a Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit) computer for over a year
> now. SP1 has been applied. I also have an XP Home SP3 32 bit machine
> that I've had for years with both wired to a Netgear router.
>
> The problem I'm having is an inability to copy large files from Win7
> to XP. Win7 sees the XP machine (and vice versa). On 7, I can browse
> the shared folder on XP and on XP I can browse the shared folder on 7.
> But when I try to copy large files (50MB or more?) from 7 to XP
> (either using 7 to copy them to XP or using XP to copy them from 7),
> it seems to start fine, but the speed keeps dropping until it times
> out after a few minutes without copying anything. Copying files from
> XP to 7 is no problem., no matter which machine is doing the copying
> or the file size. I also have an Ubuntu 10.04 machine that's rarely
> on, but it can see both machines, too. Sharing a network printer has
> not been a problem, either. I've switched router ports around and
> even tried a temporary replacement router with no improvement.
>
> Everything is set up with the same workgroup name. I'm not using
> Homegroups. I used to have a 98SE machine connected to the network
> (that's the one that now has Ubuntu) and never had any problems with
> sharing and copying with it. Internet connection is rock solid on
> all machines.
>
> As an aside, I'm also having the same problem copying large files
> from Win7 to an external USB drive. Works fine when I hook the drive
> up using eSATA. I initially thought this was strictly a networking
> issue, but with essentially the same problem cropping up with a USB
> drive connected to the 7 machine, I think the problem is in 7.
>
> FWIW, my Win7 network settings are:

I'd also try a test to see if you can copy from the Win7 machine to the
Ubuntu machine just to be complete.

What I'd suggest is to open up the Windows 7 Resource Monitor. You can
get to it via the Task Manager's Performance tab, there's a button at
the bottom to get to the ResMon. Or just type "Resource" at the Search
Programs and Files search box.

Look through all of the tabs of the ResMon, but pay special notice to
the Disk tab, under Storage. Make sure that the the drive from which you
are copying the file off of doesn't have a Disk Queue Length greater
than 1.00, and that it's Active Time isn't approaching 100%.

Yousuf Khan

On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:14:24 -0400, TLC <> wrote:

>You neglected to mention the type of XP file system, i.e., FAT FAT32, NTFS.
>
>See the following article:
>
>http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d....mspx?mfr=true

NTFS

On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:19:48 -0400, James Silverton
<> wrote:

>Have you tried copying the file to a memory stick and then reading it in?

Yes. Works fine. That's why I believe it to be a network issue.

On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:55:20 -0700, Ken Blake <>
wrote:

>On the XP machine and on the external drive, is the drive FAT32? You
>say files over 50MB, but are you sure of that number? FAT32 has a
>maximum file size of 4GB, and it sounds like you are probably running
>into that limit on both of the drives you are trying to copy to.

All drives on both machines (and the external dive) are NTFS. I
remind you it works using eSATA, but fails with USB. Then there's the
network copy issue, which is a bigger problem to me right now.

The 50MB number is approximate, but the bigger the file, the more
certain the problem is to occur. I can copy a bunch of smaller files
and it seems to do OK, albeit quite slowly. When files copy from XP
to 7, they run at what appears to be full network speed.