Solved Copying MP3 over a certain size (~20MB) fails in explorer.

[Joe Yaya]

I have an odd issue in Windows 7 Professional 64-bit.

If I use Explorer to copy an MP3 file over a certain size (about 20MB) it will fail and essentially seize the resources of the machine. I have to do a hard reboot by turning the machine off.

This doesn't seem to affect other large files. I can copy huge PDFs and images (100MB and so forth) without problem.

It does not matter how I copy the file. I can right click and copy. I can drag it to another folder. I can right click, Copy and paste to the same folder.

Now usually the file *will* actually get copied but what happens is that the copy progress dialog appears and says it is still copying. Waiting does not help. Cancelling does not help.

I can't show a screen shot because when this occurs resources are seized and I can't actually get a screen shot. The computer is not actually locked up. I can click around but it may take minutes to switch windows and pulling up task manager is impossible.

It isn't about the file extension either. I can change the file extension to nonsense or anything and I get the same problem. Be aware that I have copied these files before to backup drives or to a phone connected via USB. (The same problem occurs trying to copy to those devices as well.) These files are *not* in one of Windows special folders.

The folders as far as I can tell have no interesting attributes and I don't think the files do either. However, please feel free to question that conclusion.

All of these MP3s are ripped by me so it shouldn't be a DRM problem.

This is a Sony Vaio laptop that is several years old. Virus protection is Bitdefender 2013.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Has this always been true for those particular files---was there a time when they would copy OK?

Does this apply to ALL mp3s you have ripped above a certain size?

If you were to get a 40 mb mp3 from the net or a friend, would you expect it to copy?

If you convert a problem file to WAV and then back to mp3, does the problem persist?

Were all the rips done with the same ripper?

Does this affect moving also---or just copying?

 

[Joe Yaya]

Thanks for your response and your questions.

Has this always been true for those particular files---was there a time when they would copy OK?

Oh yes I could copy them. In fact they came from another machine and then I copied them to a phone or USB drives before. I am only trying to copy them *now *because I got a new phone and I am trying to copy them to that new phone. (I probably haven't touched them in a year or more.) Then I discovered I can't even move the big ones around as I described.

Does this apply to ALL mp3s you have ripped above a certain size?

Yes but I some of those I did not rip. I got them from services. The source of the file doesn't seem to matter but I am guessing 90+% of my MP3s are from my old CD collection. the only common thread I can find is the size of the files in that folder tree. (I am looking for one outside that folder tree as a test. haven't found one yet.)

If you were to get a 40 mb mp3 from the net or a friend, would you expect it to copy?

Interesting question. That is unknown. I haven't tried it.

If you convert a problem file to WAV and then back to mp3, does the problem persist?

I don't know. The file dates for some of these vary. They go back 4 to 10 years or perhaps more.

Were all the rips done with the same ripper?

No. I have been accumulating these for a long time.

Does this affect moving also---or just copying?

I don't know but that is worth trying.

Those are great questions actually. I appreciate you trying to get more data points for troubleshooting.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I don't know what is going on, but my suspicion is that it is not because of size alone. My guess is that something has happened in your various copying to other devices, but I don't know why it would apply only to large mp3s.

If these files were OK at one time, something happened to them, but not to your other mp3s.

They have something in common. Were they ever manipulated, moved, copied, recopied, resized, had bit rates changed, or anything at all?

You notice at least a correlation to larger size, so I assume it isn't totally at random.

If you take some non-mp3 file that is at least 20 mb in size and give it an mp3 extension, will it copy?

I've got a lot of mp3 experience, but have never seen this. I'm just grasping at straws and giving you ideas to check.

If you put one of these problem mp3s on a USB thumb drive and take it to a friend's house, what happens if you try to copy it on his PC? That might rule out the possibility of some type of strangeness on your PC alone.

 

[paul1149]

Are you on a different user account? Check one of the mp3's Properties/Security/Advanced/Owner to see who owns them. Do the same for the folder they reside in.

 

[lehnerus2000]

HDD Issues?

Have you checked the individual files for corruption/malware?

It's also possible that your HDD has developed some problem (e.g. bad sectors).

I experienced random lock ups for no apparent reason, when I had my Page File on a separate HDD.
Running Disk Check with the Repair option selected, revealed that the HDD had developed ~70KB of bad sectors.

 

[Joe Yaya]

The answer is.... corrupt files.

or so I think. I have no idea how or why. I pulled out a back up of these files and overwrote the files with the problems.

and guess what? no more problems. Why it affected large files I will never know. However,it apparently didn't affect every large file. Some were just fine.

Thanks for everyone that gave me some ideas.

This reminds me I should back up my documents and other data.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Thanks for reporting the solution to your issue.

I guess mathematically, the larger I file is, the more chance something bad could happen to it.

I would still suggest that you run Disk Check with the "Repair" option selected just in case (if you haven't already).