Windows 10: Long file name problem: copied to external drive but can't copy back

I just finished replacing my motherboard/CPU and a few drives and re-installed Win10 in the process. I backed up the data on the drives to USB drives and had no issues. But now I can't copy the data off the external drive because of the "File name too long" error.

I've tried the approaches described here but they didn't work: Win32 Long Paths - Enable or Disable in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Tutorials

I never did the changes described in the link before I did the re-install of Win10.

How do I copy the data off the external drive?

Thanks in advance,



:)

 

System protection for D drive and images

"Do you just drag the folder from the D drive to the external hard drive?"

Yeah ! Drag and Copy. I don't copy the whole folder in one go though. I make a folder of the same name

as my main game folder on the external drive and then copy the games in groups into that folder.

I like to keep it down to around 50+ GB per copy. This way if something goes wrong with one session

you have less to do over .

Games and software have registry entries in Windows, so as long as you are still running the same

Windows install as you were when you copied the games they will still run if you need to copy them

back to a new HDD. As long as the Drive Letter/file path matches your shortcuts the games will be good to go

( I use the same name for the external drive as the original, but add it's original Drive Letter in parentheses as

a reminder).

( btw - My Win10 goes back to 2010 via Win7. Most of my disk based games were installed on Win7

in the first few months of '10 ).

 

You'll need to provide administrator permission to copy this file

I have very similar problem.

Any external drive I connect to my computer (SD card, external HD, USB stick) I can't operate normally.

If there are any files - I see all of them as list but can't see preview or I'm not able to open it or copy to my laptop (using Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro with windows 10).

I can copy files from my laptop to that external source (I got inital message that "The destination already has a file name; ..." and 3 options to choose: Replace the file in the destination or Skip this file or Compare info for both files.

When I choose option 1 file is copied to external drive/card.

I can see preview of that file (in preview mode in Explorer, while I can't see other files in preview mode).

But if I try to open it I got error message: The remote procedure call failed.

But I can copy that file back to my laptop!.

But when I switch off my laptop and restart it again I loose that permission and I can't copy it to my laptop. Error message: You will need to provide administrator permission to copy this file.

I have tried the methods that were proposed above but it didn't improve.

Please help as it is impossible to use my computer.

 

Welcome to the forum *Smile

File name too long usually results from the file being buried too deep, that is, folders within folders. If this is the case I suggest you try using Everything Search by VoidTools which is totally free (donations accepted) Fast and efficient, I have been using it for years and have never had a problem
Everything Search has a portable version so you can test it without installing it. I always use the portable version

• Using Everything search for a folder about half way down the tree of folders within folders
• Right click on the folder and select Copy
• Quickly open Windows File Explorer and paste the folder anywhere you like for the moment.
• Open the folder and make sure the copy was a success
• Use Everything again, right click and Delete the original folder

Hopefully you will now be able to copy the other folders to the C drive, then organise copying the other folder across but not to the same position or you will get the same problem again
If the copy does not complete then you need to go deeper down the tree so you are copying less files and remember to copy then paste quickly

Note: Never Move the files, if something goes wrong they can be lost, always Copy then Delete

By the way, I did have the path too long problem and this did work for me, took a few attempts but I gradually chipped away at it until the path was finally under the limit

Good luck *Smile