XPost: aus.computers   
   From: none@not.here   
      
   Paul wrote:   
   > On Wed, 12/17/2025 4:38 AM, Felix wrote:   
   >   
   >> sorry, I think I've not explained it well. I'm using a LM PC. I'm not   
   connecting to a windows PC. I have an Ext4 drive installed in the LM PC. I   
   want to copy files to it from a NTFS drive connected via USB to a hard drive   
   box. I'm not copying or    
   moving any files to or from the main drive with LM on it.   
   >>   
   >> https://auslink.info/linux/case1.jpg   
   >> https://auslink.info/linux/case2.jpg   
   >>   
   > What is the SMART status of this drive ?   
   >   
   > When is the last time it had a CHKDSK ?   
   >   
   > If you do [assumes drive is /dev/sdb]   
   >   
   >     sudo dd if=/dev/sdb of=/dev/null   
   >   
   > can the command read every sector on the drive ?   
   >   
   > We aren't copying the drive there, just checking for   
   > CRC errors on the sectors. The Linux "dd" will stop   
   > on the first CRC error it sees.   
   >   
   > *******   
   >   
   > You don't need a Windows install to run CHKDSK.   
   >   
   > You can boot an [era correct] installer DVD,   
   > select "Troubleshooting" instead of Install Now,   
   > and use the Command Prompt and run a CHKDSK in there.   
   >   
   >     CHKDSK /f C:   
   >   
   > or whatever drive letter the partition in question   
   > happens to occupy.   
      
   I've copied all files off this drive now, so I will now do this, and   
   report back. I had better success copying files using grsync   
      
   >   
   > *******   
   >   
   > And "obviously bad" combinations, just won't work at all.   
   > If you made an NTFS with 1MB clusters on it, W10 and W11   
   > can read that, but nothing else can, because other situations   
   > only support up to 64KB clusters. The regular C: drive uses   
   > 4KB clusters (which support encryption and compression that   
   > nobody uses). We make data drives used for image backups,   
   > to have 64KB clusters, but that likely does not result   
   > in any significant savings. It's just a fetish of sorts.   
   > Adding new cluster sizes to Windows, is bound to cause problems   
   > for the older OSes.   
   >   
   > We should be methodical and review what is known about   
   > the drive and its one or more data partitions.   
   >   
   > Discussing higher level issues, when the lower level   
   > doesn't have integrity, we have to cover off that   
   > part first, and assure ourselves "the disk is good   
   > enough to use" first.   
   >   
   > *******   
   >   
   > Once that is out of the way, you can try a   
   >   
   >     cp -Rp /media/mint/MYDATA/users/Felix/Pictures ~/Downloads/Pictures   
   >   
   > That's just an example, where we don't start too high in the source   
   > tree, and we only copy things that really should copy (if the disk   
   > was working).   
   >   
   > If you mount this disk and do "ls" of the top level,   
   > would I be surprised at the top level structure ???   
   > The files/folders right at the top.   
   >   
   >     ls /media/mint/MYDATA   
   >   
   > You can also tell me, via a verbal description, whether   
   > the structure is a random adhoc data structure, or the drive   
   > is a C: with a Windows folder and a hiberfil.sys file and   
   > so on. Set the scene for me, like a color commentary sort of thing.   
      
   the drive is only a data drive. no OS on it.   
      
   >   
   >     Paul   
      
      
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