Unspecified Error While Copying Files or Folder in Windows 10, 8, 7| Fix it Easily

➞ Receive “Unspecified error” while copying files
➞ Why “Unspecified error” occurs when you copy files?
➞ How to fix “Unspecific error” in Windows 10/8/7?

Receive “Unspecified error” while copying files

“Planning to copy some images from my flash drive to my laptop. I inserted the storage device to the computer. After I copy and paste some files to my F: drive in Windows 10 Explorer, I only get the message – Unspecific error under Error Copying File or Folder title. Why did I fail to copy files from my removable device to PC? How to fix Unspecified error?"

Why “Unspecified error” occurs when you copy files?

“Error Copying File or Folder Unspecified Error” pops up while you copying files from one drive to another can be a result of various events:

• There is not enough free space on the target partition.

• The target drive is write-protected.

• The destination partition has file system limit.

• The target drive is corrupted.

• The file that you want to copy is too large

• There is a conflicting application running on the PC.

• …

How to fix “Unspecific error” in Windows 10/8/7?

Firstly, reboot your PC and then see whether you can copy files successfully. If you still failed

to move files to the drive, you can temporarily disable anti-virus app. If it is not working, change source files or destination place to speculate the problem is with the files themselves or the target drive. If the error is relevant to target drive, you can take further measures given in the following content. You don’t need to try every solution but choose proper ones accordingly.

➢ Solution 1. Convert FAT32 to NTFS for the destination drive

If the target partition is FAT32 file system and you copy an individual file beyond 4GB and “Unspecific error” occurs, you can convert the drive from FAT32 to NTFS without losing data via the following two ways. If you are familiar with CMD, you can choose the first way; if not, choose the second way.

Convert FAT32 to NTFS using CMD

Step 1. Run CMD as administrator (Press Windows + R simultaneously, input cmd and click OK).

Step 2. Type convert e:/ fs:ntfs and hit Enter.

Note: "e" refers to the drive letter of the partition that you want to convert to NTFS.

Convert FAT32 to NTFS via a GUI tool

Step 1. Free download a GUI partition tool, AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard.

Step 2. Install and run it. Right-click the partition that you need to convert, go to “Advanced” > “Convert to NTFS”.

Step 3. Click "OK" to continue the operation.

Step 4. Here you can preview the operation result. Click “Apply” and “Proceed” to commit.

➢ Solution 2. Increase the capacity of the target partition

If there is little unused space left on the destination drive, you may face the error. In such a condition, you can extend the target partition or delete unnecessary files to free up disk space. Supposed that there is unallocated space behind the to-be-extended partition, you can extend it easily in Disk Management. If not, you’ll find Extend Volume greyed out. At this time, you can use the partition tool, AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard can be helpful. Let’s see how it works:

Step 1. Download, install and run the software. Right-click the partition that has enough space and choose “Resize Partition”.

Step 2. In this window, drag the double-headed arrow leftward to shrink F drive.

Step 3. Click "Apply" and "Proceed" to execute the operation.

Step 4. Now, there is unallocated space on the hard drive. Right-click the partition that you need to extend, choose "Merge Partitions".

Step 5. Tick the unallocated space and then click "OK". Then, click "Apply" and "Proceed" to commit the operation.

Note: When the hard drive contains the to-be-extended partition has unallocated space, in spite of adjacent or non-adjacent, you can skip Step 1- Step 3.

➢ Solution 3. Remove write protection from the destination place

When there is nothing wrong with file system or unused space and you think that the problem is with target drive, it’s time to consider whether the drive is write-protected. Here offer two command ways to disable read only for target drive.

Clear readonly using Diskart

Step 1. Run Diskpart as administrator (Press Windwos + R to open Run dialogue, input diskpart and click OK).

Step 2. Run the following commands in order:

• list disk

• select disk n

• attributes disk clear readonly

Edit Registry to disable write protection

Step 1. Type “regedit” in Run dialogue.

Step 2. Go to the path below:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies

Step 3. Double click WriteProtect and Change the value data from 1 to 0. Then, click “OK”.

➢ Solution 4. Format destination drive

If the destination drive is corrupted, try to format it via formatting. Here are the detailed steps:

Warning: This will erase all data on the destination drive. Thus, you can back up necessary files in advance.

Step 1. Open Disk Management (Input “diskmgmt.msc” and press Enter key), locate the target partition, right-click it and choose “Format…”.

Step 2. Choose a proper file system and click OK.

Notes:

• If you can’t format the partition in Disk Management, you can delete and create partition via Diskpart.

• You are not allowed to format or delete system drive.