Frustrating problem trying to copy files from Win7 to XP

M

Michael

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!
 
V

VanguardLH

Michael said:
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!
Click to expand...
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.
 
M

Michael

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

Ken Blake

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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
Y

Yousuf Khan

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:
Click to expand...
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
 
M

Michael

Have you tried copying the file to a memory stick and then reading it in?
Click to expand...
Yes. Works fine. That's why I believe it to be a network issue.
 
M

Michael

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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
K

Ken Blake

All drives on both machines (and the external dive) are NTFS. I
remind you it works using eSATA, but fails with USB.
Click to expand...

Then my guess was wrong. Sorry.
 
M

Michael

I'd also try a test to see if you can copy from the Win7 machine to the
Ubuntu machine just to be complete.
Click to expand...
I'll have to check that later this week. It needs a new power supply.
Will pick it up on Wednesday or Thursday.
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%.
Click to expand...
While attempting a copy, all disks show a queue length of 0.00.

Then after about 5 minutes, the infamous message "There is a problem
accessing \\Xpmachine\testfolder. Make sure you are connected to the
network and try again." shows up. While that message is on the
screen, I'm still able to browse folders on the XP machine from 7.
 
A

Art Todesco

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.
Click to expand...
I'm going to guess here. There is probably a limit on the way the
bridge board handles drives. I have used many external drives in my
former life (volunteer job) and generally there is some maximum limit
imposed by the bridge board. I know, for instance, the firewire to PATA
bridge boards, from Granite Digital, which we used, DO have a file
maximum. That didn't cause us a problem because we used FAT32. These
were used for video editing and our video editing software captured only
in FAT32.
 
M

Michael

I'm going to guess here. There is probably a limit on the way the
bridge board handles drives. I have used many external drives in my
former life (volunteer job) and generally there is some maximum limit
imposed by the bridge board. I know, for instance, the firewire to PATA
bridge boards, from Granite Digital, which we used, DO have a file
maximum. That didn't cause us a problem because we used FAT32. These
were used for video editing and our video editing software captured only
in FAT32.
Click to expand...
Well, as I said, that issue isn't very important to me as I'm able to
use eSATA with no problems. It's the inability to copy large(r) files
over the network from 7 to XP that's a big issue right now. XP to 7
works fine. I even have an 8GB file on XP and it can copy over to 7
with no problems. I just thought it strange that I'm having problems
copying large(r) files from the 7 machine using two methods (network
and USB HDD).
 
Y

Yousuf Khan

While attempting a copy, all disks show a queue length of 0.00.
Click to expand...
That would indicate that it's not even accessing the file. On the Disk
tab, under the Disk Activity section, see if you can find the filename
of the file that you are trying to transfer. Then see which image (i.e.
program) is accessing it.
Then after about 5 minutes, the infamous message "There is a problem
accessing \\Xpmachine\testfolder. Make sure you are connected to the
network and try again." shows up. While that message is on the
screen, I'm still able to browse folders on the XP machine from 7.
Click to expand...
Does this only happen to one particular file, or particular group of
files from the same directory, or just randomly?

Do you have another internal hard drive in the system, or an additional
partition on your hard drive. I'd try to copy back and forth between the
internal file systems.

Yousuf Khan
 
M

Michael

That would indicate that it's not even accessing the file. On the Disk
tab, under the Disk Activity section, see if you can find the filename
of the file that you are trying to transfer. Then see which image (i.e.
program) is accessing it.
Click to expand...
My mistake. I didn't realize it was flip-flopping the drive order in
the list. But when copying the files, it does show .02 to .03 for
drive D (the drive I'm trying to copy from). The column entitled
"Image" says the program is "System." Now here's the rub. The file
it's currently trying to copy using Windows Explorer is 715MB. But
the Read column hovers in the low 200MB range, as does Total. The
Write column is a flat ZERO. I've tried to copy large files from the
other drives. Same results. Looks like it's accessing the files, but
just can't transmit it over the network. Also, I have two IDE drives
in the XP machine, and it fails writing to either drive.
Does this only happen to one particular file, or particular group of
files from the same directory, or just randomly?
Click to expand...
Definitely not random. I can count on it failing every time.
Primarily it happens with video files, but I think that's because of
their file sizes, ranging from 50MB to 4GB. But I just tried to copy
a folder containing 67 files for a total of 1.1GB, and it failed, too.
The largest file in that folder is 55MB, the smallest is 421KB. Hope
this helps.
Do you have another internal hard drive in the system, or an additional
partition on your hard drive. I'd try to copy back and forth between the
internal file systems.
Click to expand...
I have four SATA drives in the 7 machine. I can copy between any of
them at lightening speed with no problems.

C - 320GB Seagate SATA II

D - 500GB Seagate SATA II

E - 1.5TB WB 7200 SATA 2 (I use Karen's Replicator to copy all network
drives to this one, then connect the external 1.5TB WD eSATA drive to
make an off-site backup. BTW, when I use Karen's Replicator to copy
from 7 to XP, it fails on these files, too)

G - 1 TB WD SATA 2 (Secondary archive drive, was just added about 3
weeks ago. Problem existed long before adding this drive)

All drives are single partitioned.

And I have a 950W power supply, so that shouldn't be an issue.
 
S

Stan Brown

The problem I'm having is an inability to copy large files from Win7
to XP.
Click to expand...
I believe you've said somewhere that the XP system's file system is
NTFS. And even if it weren't, a 50 MB file wouldn't be a problem.

But how much free space do you have on the XP system's hard drive?

Which computer is initiating the copy? Have you tried initiating it
with the other computer -- a push versus a pull, or vice versa?
 
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