Solution of Finder Error Code 36 in Mac OSX 10.6 Snow Leopard

Those users who are using Mac OS X Snow Leopard specially the 10.6.2 version were having problems while they try to copy directories to windows formatted volumes in the Finder.

You may encounter the problem where the volumes that are formatted using the windows formatting like FAT or MS-DOS volumes will start the problem. When you try to copy the files to or from Windows formatted volumes then will get the “ Error Code – 36 ”.

If you are runninght MS-DOS formatted disk on Mac OS X 10.6.2 then will face the problem

1. Make a new folder in the MS-DOS drive using Finder and copy any file from your Mac into that folder. It may be anything.
2. Copy entire folder of the MS-DOS/FAT formatted drive to the Mac\'s Desktop
3. Copy the folder from your Desktop right back onto the MS-DOS drive

Here you face the following error

“ The Finder can\'t complete the operation because some data can\'t be read or written (Error Code -36) ”

A simple way to solve it is reformat the windows formatted disk on the Mac OS Extended to solve the problem but here the compatibility with windows system for that device will also end so it is not suggestible.

Cause

If you go for the in-depth details then will find that on the Mac OS X\'s HFS+ file system creates a “dot underscore” companion files when they moved to FAT16 or FAT32 volumes. These are hidden files that start with “._” followed by the original name. These files contain the extra information about the main file\'s data. In Mac OS X 10.6.2 Snow Leopard, this thing does not work well when folders from a windows compatible volume get moved to a Mac and then back again. Due to this the Error Code – 36 occurs.

Till now Apple has not made any kind of tweak, utility or update for this problem but there is a solution that one can use for the temporarily solution. It is safe and won\'t cause data loss either. With this the dot-underscore files will strip out from the main files. The steps are:

1. Launch Terminal (Application > Utilities) and type the command, making sure to include a space at the end
• Dot_clean
2. Select the folder on your Mac that is having the problem and drag it in the terminal window. A green cursor with + sign will appear before releasing the mouse
3. The path for that folder will automatically appeared at the end of the Terminal command and it will look like:
• dot_clean /Users/UserName/Desktop/Folder-Name
4. Press Enter to execute the command. If does not feels like a big bang but now when you try to copy the folder to the MS-DOS volume now, finder will automatically allow you to move with no problems.
5. You can repeat this process for the other folders too that are not getting copied

Many of the times when people perform these kinds of operations where the file is getting copied from one file system to another, it is possible that people try to access the files too. If the OS does not recognize the file system and application who tries to access the files does not support the file or done some modification then there are chances that the files will be corrupted and it has happened with many people while using the files from windows to Mac machines. In this situation of corruption one should rely on the Mac Data Recovery as a recovery manager. It is capable to recover the files from these kinds of situations too.

Now you can clearly see that it is pesky snow leopard bug that Apple will hopefully fix in the upcoming 10.6.3 update. Till then this method can help you to move the files from your Mac to FAT formatted Disks.