Windows 10: Properties different for directory copied from Windows 11 laptop to NTFS-formatted external...

Why are the properties different for a directory composed of numerous subdirectories copied using Windows 11 from the c: drive on my HP Envy x360 Laptop15M-EE0023DX to my NTFS-formatted WD 5TB My Passport Ultra external hard drive? - On my laptop, the Properties for the directory copied shows 68,077 files 14,065 folders and 11,128,516,608 bytes on the drive. - However, on my external hard drive, the Properties for the directory copied shows 21,649 files 7,914 folders and 6,571,081,728 bytes on the drive. I ran the Chkdsk tool on the c: drive of my laptop before making the co

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Why does Windows Explorer hit the "properties won't copy" error when copying from two SSDs NTFS to NTFS?

I have a new Windows 11 desktop with 4TB of SSDs. All are formatted NTFS.

Why does Windows Explorer hit the "properties won't copy" error when copying from one NTFS drive to another NTFS drive?

 

Why Is There Two Different Directories at Different Times and this External Directory in the CBS.Log?

Hello vickyl71

Welcome to the Microsoft community.

The images you've uploaded appear to show file directory listings, with some parts redacted for privacy. You've also mentioned an excerpt from a CBS.log file, which is typically associated with the Component Based Servicing (CBS) component of Windows.

To address your concerns:

1. Two Different Directories at Different Times: Windows can display directories in different ways based on user actions, view settings, or system updates. If the screenshots are from different times, it's possible that changes were made to the directory structure or content between those times.
   
2. External Directory in the CBS.Log: The CBS.log file records Component Based Servicing transactions on Windows. When you see references to an "external staging directory" or "external registry directory" with (null) next to them, it usually means that no external directories are being used for that particular operation.
   
3. Overlapping Directories: If you're seeing directories that seem to overlap or you suspect that someone else may be accessing your system, it could be due to several reasons, such as synced folders from a cloud service, network shared folders, or even malware.
   
4. Checking Unauthorized Access: To check for unauthorized access, you can:
   
   • Review the Security logs in the Event Viewer for any login attempts.
     
   • Check the Recent Files section or Quick Access in File Explorer to see if any unknown files were accessed recently.
     
   • Use a third-party application to monitor file access in real-time.
     
5. Understanding CBS.log Entry: The log entry you've provided seems standard for CBS operations. The (null) values suggest that no external directories were specified for the session by the client named Arbiter. This doesn't necessarily indicate anything malicious or unusual.
   
6. File Size Changes: When sending files over some platforms, the file size might appear different due to compression or metadata that the platform attaches to the file. The actual content size may not be affected.
   

To investigate further, you may want to consider the following actions:

• If you have administrative access, look into the system logs and see if there are any entries that you do not recognize, especially around the times you have noticed changes.
  
• Consider running a full system scan with an up-to-date antivirus program.
  
• Ensure that your system is up-to-date with the latest security patches.
  

If there is anything not clear or I can't understand your problem, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Best Regards

| Microsoft Community Support Specialist

 

Getting a "The file is too large for the destination file system" error on a NTFS external HD

Hi

Welcome to Microsoft community.

If you're encountering the "The file is too large for the destination file system" error on an external hard drive that is already formatted with NTFS, it's possible that there may be other issues at play. Here are some steps to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

1. Check Available Space: Ensure that your NTFS-formatted external hard drive has sufficient free space to accommodate the file you're trying to copy. NTFS theoretically supports very large files, but the actual available space on the drive could be a limiting factor.
   
2. File System Corruption: Although NTFS is a robust file system, it's not immune to corruption. Run a disk check utility to scan and repair any potential file system issues. Here's how to do it:
   
   • Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
     
   • Type (replace "X" with the drive letter of your external hard drive) and press Enter. chkdsk /f X:
     
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to schedule a disk check at the next system restart.
     
   • Restart your computer to allow the check to run.
     
3. Check for Disk Errors: Use the built-in Windows utility to check the disk for errors:
   
   • Right-click the drive in File Explorer.
     
   • Select "Properties."
     
   • Go to the "Tools" tab.
     
   • Under "Error checking," click "Check."
     
4. Defragment the Drive: If your external hard drive is heavily fragmented, it might affect its ability to store large files efficiently. You can defragment the drive to optimize its performance:
   
   • Right-click the drive in File Explorer.
     
   • Select "Properties."
     
   • Go to the "Tools" tab.
     
   • Under "Optimize and defragment drive," click "Optimize."
     
5. Check File Attributes: Ensure that the file you're trying to copy doesn't have any unusual attributes or permissions that might prevent it from being copied. Right-click the file, select "Properties," and review the file's attributes.
   
6. Use a Different USB Port or Cable: Sometimes, hardware issues can lead to file transfer problems. Try using a different USB port or cable to connect your external hard drive.
   
7. Test with a Different File: Try copying a different large file to the external hard drive to see if the issue is specific to that particular file.
   
8. Backup and Reformat: If none of the above steps work, you may need to back up the data on the external hard drive, reformat it, and then copy your files back to it. This process can help refresh the file system and resolve any underlying issues.
   
9. Check for Hidden or System Files: Make sure you're not trying to copy any hidden or system files that could be restricted.
   

If none of these steps resolve the issue, and you continue to encounter the error, it's possible that there might be a hardware problem with your external hard drive. In such cases, consider contacting the drive's manufacturer for further assistance or replacing the drive if it's under warranty.

Please feel free to let me know if you have any further updates. Thanks.

Best regards

Derrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist