Network HD and corrupt files

dangermouse101 · 10-28-2009, 03:27 AM

We have a Buffalo Link Station in our office operating as a networked storage facility. All computers (8 plus network HDD) are running XP SP 3, just networked to eachother via a couple of switches and the broadband router - nothing technical. Each week, until now, the 'backup' has involved the office manager copying all of the important files, via the network, to her machine, then burning them to CD. This has been fine, up until now.....

When copying the files last week, somebody had an excel file open. This would usually come up with a message telling her that the file was in use and to skip or try again. This time it just froze the copying process, and also made excel hang when the guy with it open tried to shut it down. Since then I am unable to open, move, delete, rename etc. the file in any way. When trying to access it the error message "'filename.xls' cannot be accessed. The file may be read-only, or you may be trying to access a read-only location. Or, the server the document is stored on is not responding." comes up. There is also another file that this problem has hit, though I don't know when that happened. No other files on the network HD are affected and can be accessed fully as normal.

I cannot run a chkdsk or defrag on the drive as it's on the network, and I really want to avoid dismantling the Link Station to put it into a computer as a slave. What can I do with these files? My only option I can think of so far is to copy everything (minus the corrupt files) off the Link Station to a USB HD then format the Link Station drive and copy it all back on again.

My plans for the future invovle purchasing a new USB HD to plug directly into the Link Station to do a routine backup once a week, when the office is closed. This USB HD can then be unplugged and transferred to another machine to create a CD for off-site backup. Any other low-tech solutions would be appreciated.

**johnwill** · 10-28-2009, 09:04 AM

Unless Buffalo has a different way to address this issue, that may be your only option.

I'm assuming you've turned off the the Link Station and restarted it?

After restarting the Link Station, are you saying you still can't delete these files, or delete the folder they reside in (accomplishing the same thing)?

dangermouse101 · 10-28-2009, 09:50 AM

Ok, so I missed the blatantly obvious!

I thought it had been switched off over the weekend as normal but I went home early on friday so it probably never got done

Have just switched off and on and it's problem solved.

Thanks John.

**johnwill** · 10-28-2009, 02:59 PM

I like the easy ones.

10-28-2009, 03:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
dangermouse101 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2 OS: xp	Network HD and corrupt files We have a Buffalo Link Station in our office operating as a networked storage facility. All computers (8 plus network HDD) are running XP SP 3, just networked to eachother via a couple of switches and the broadband router - nothing technical. Each week, until now, the 'backup' has involved the office manager copying all of the important files, via the network, to her machine, then burning them to CD. This has been fine, up until now..... When copying the files last week, somebody had an excel file open. This would usually come up with a message telling her that the file was in use and to skip or try again. This time it just froze the copying process, and also made excel hang when the guy with it open tried to shut it down. Since then I am unable to open, move, delete, rename etc. the file in any way. When trying to access it the error message "'filename.xls' cannot be accessed. The file may be read-only, or you may be trying to access a read-only location. Or, the server the document is stored on is not responding." comes up. There is also another file that this problem has hit, though I don't know when that happened. No other files on the network HD are affected and can be accessed fully as normal. I cannot run a chkdsk or defrag on the drive as it's on the network, and I really want to avoid dismantling the Link Station to put it into a computer as a slave. What can I do with these files? My only option I can think of so far is to copy everything (minus the corrupt files) off the Link Station to a USB HD then format the Link Station drive and copy it all back on again. My plans for the future invovle purchasing a new USB HD to plug directly into the Link Station to do a routine backup once a week, when the office is closed. This USB HD can then be unplugged and transferred to another machine to create a CD for off-site backup. Any other low-tech solutions would be appreciated.

10-28-2009, 09:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,787 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Network HD and corrupt files Unless Buffalo has a different way to address this issue, that may be your only option. I'm assuming you've turned off the the Link Station and restarted it? After restarting the Link Station, are you saying you still can't delete these files, or delete the folder they reside in (accomplishing the same thing)? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-28-2009, 09:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
dangermouse101 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2 OS: xp	Re: Network HD and corrupt files Ok, so I missed the blatantly obvious! I thought it had been switched off over the weekend as normal but I went home early on friday so it probably never got done Have just switched off and on and it's problem solved. Thanks John.

10-28-2009, 02:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,787 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Network HD and corrupt files I like the easy ones. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience