Windows 10: "insufficient disk space" error copying large number of files to external hard drive

I purchased a WD Elements external hard drive with a view to backing up the contents of my Win 10 laptop, particularly the pictures folder. The drive comes ready to use out of the box and File Explorer reports it's formatted as NTFS and has a 4.54 TB capacity.

When I tried copying the pictures folder it gave me an insufficient disk space error, suggesting that there was only 53.5 GB free out of a total 462GB.

I got the same result regardless if I tried to initiate the copy through a right-click "Copy" then "Paste, a CTRL-C then CTRL-V or a right click "Send to" action manually selecting the external hard drive.

I contacted WD support who first suggested reformatting the drive. This made no difference so eventually they told me to return it. I received the replacement today only to have exactly the same problem.

Eventually I worked out that I could copy all the files, just not in one go. By selecting groups of folders rather trying to copy them than all at once it worked. I could even run multiple copies simultaneously.


Can someone please explain what's happening?

:)

 

external hard drive

Hi Chrpee,

If you can't find external hard drive on Disk management than the next step is using the diskpart via command line, please follow the steps below:-

On the keyboard hit ((Windows logo key + R key)) than type ((CMD))

Now the windows command line will appear, the next steps is to type ((diskpart))

After that type ((list disk)) to show you the list of hard disks with partitions

If you found your external hard drive one of the list than you need to type ((select disk number)), note: the number is a disk number

Once you selected the hard disk or partitions than type ((clean))

than type ((create partition primary))

than type ((select partition 1))

than type ((active))

than type ((format fs=ntfs quick))

than type ((assign))

last type ((exit))

Check if the external hard drive appeared, if not please see the link below for more info and let me know if you need any assist

https://uk.pcmag.com/dvd-burners/120624/what-to...

 

Get error msg when trying to copy files onto external hard drive

I'm trying to copy all my pictures off of my hard drive onto a 3T external hard drive. I have very little disk space remaining on my hard drive. When I 'copy' the pictures file and then try to paste it to the external hard drive, I get the message "There
is not enough space on Windows". What the heck does this mean? I'm try to copy it to a completely empty 3T EXTERNAL drive; why do I need to have 'space on Windows'???

 

Disk / file copy issue

Hi Bob,

It seems that the large folder that you moved to the external hard drive has appeared to be the main video folder. To isolate this case, we suggest that you create a new folder on the external hard drive first before copying/moving any files/folders.

By the way, we would like to ask the following information to help us sort out and address the issue:

• What's the make and model of your hard drive?
• Have you tried safely removing and reconnecting your hard drive from your PC?

In the meantime, please create a new folder on the external hard drive first, then try copying/moving a file/folder and see if it saves on the folder you specified.

Let us know the result.

Regards.