"One or more items can't be changed because they are in use" ?

[San2C]

This message pops up when I attempt to copy 630GB of files from one external drive to another. I have no idea what it means because nothing is even remotely "in use" at this time.

It worries me because if I give video files to a client, I don't want them to have any issues using the files.

Thanks for any help making it stop.

 

[IWT]

A warm welcome to Mac-Forums, SAn2C

Thank you for your post.

Firstly, 630GB is a huge file to transfer.

I suggest the following:

1. Quit (I don't mean close) all applications and try again.

2. If that fails, and it were me, I'd use a cloning software product such as Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper! to do the job for me. I know that these apps are paid-for; but once purchased, they can be used in lots of other ways such as creating a bootable cloned backup of your Mac's Hard Drive.

I've used both of these to copy (i.e. clone) contents of one External Hard Drive to another.

By the way, in case it impinges on the matter, what Mac, what Operating System do you have?

Ian

 

[San2C]

I had no applications open, and I actually reinstalled the OS to try and alleviate another issue I was having and it's still the same.

I have CCC, but I should be able to drag a large folder to another drive and not have these odd messages pop up. I've been doing this for decades and this is the first time I've seen that message not to mention also getting a "Finder wants to copy 16 items" dialog box asking for UN & PW.

I'm using a 2012 iMac with the latest OS.

 

[ferrarr]

Properly disconnect both drives, restart your Mac, then re-attach the drives and try again?

 

[MacInWin]

Ok, you first said it was "630GB of files" and now it's a folder. I suspect that inside the folder are hundreds, possibly thousands of files. and if any of them are being used by any application or the system itself, you get that warning. The warning is "can't be changed" which implies more than just copying. I would select the folder, then on the Finder go to "Edit" on the top bar and "Copy" to copy the folder. Then go where you want it and Paste it. Don't drag, I think that indicates to MOVE, which is the change being blocked.

 

[San2C]

Tried that, thanks. No change.

 

[San2C]

Yes, 630GB of files in a single folder. I had no programs open. That was the first thing I looked at. I’ll try the copy function, thanks.

 

[MacInWin]

Try rebooting, but make sure when you get the shutdown box that the "reopen windows" box is not checked. And you might also try booting with none of the externals attached, then attach them one at a time and once both are mounted, do the transfer. It sounds like something in your boot setup is opening some of the files. Do you have another user account on your Mac? If so, you might also try booting into a different account without the drives attached, then attach the drives and see if you can copy the files then.

 

[pm-r]

Do you have another user account on your Mac? If so, you might also try booting into a different account without the drives attached, then attach the drives and see if you can copy the files then.

Wouldn't that possibly just incur the wrath of the Permissions Gods and prevent the move, or even access???




- Patrick
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[Maria Kate]

Hi, Have you tried booting in safe mode (shift key down at startup.) Don't launch any applications; just do the copy. If the problem still persist, back up all your data, then launch Disk Utility. Just select the destination volume, and run Repair Disk (not Repair Permissions.) If any problems are found, repeat the process. Hope this process helps you.

 

[MacInWin]

Wouldn't that possibly just incur the wrath of the Permissions Gods and prevent the move, or even access???




- Patrick
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I don't think so, Patrick. Do permissions even apply to external drives? Back when Disk Utility would do permissions repair, it would not do so on externals, as I recall. And the OP is copying (or trying to copy) from ext to ext.

 

[ferrarr]

What format are the drives? HFS+, FAT, exFAT, other?

 

[pm-r]

I don't think so, Patrick. Do permissions even apply to external drives?

They do in Mavericks according to the Get Info on one of mine(which is also a partition). See the option and checkbox at the bottom:

It was just a thought.






- Patrick
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[MacInWin]

Hmm, well, Patrick, on my HS system I have 9 external drives (yes, a full farm of them!) and on ever one of them that box is checked. Since I've never changed it, I'm assuming the default is to ignore. Could be wrong, but there you go. So, for the OP, if that box is NOT checked on your two external drives, click the lock icon, enter an admin password and then check the box on both externals, then go to some other account and make the copy. I say some other account to get away from whatever is opening on your system on boot that is tying up the files.

 

[pm-r]

Hmm, well, Patrick, on my HS system I have 9 external drives (yes, a full farm of them!) and on ever one of them that box is checked.

Odd, all my external drive's partitions are the same as the screen shot I posted and I don't recall changing the setting. Oh well… and no sign lately of the OP either…




- Patrick
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[Cherpitel]

i started getting that msg = "one or more items in "--" can’t be changed because they are in use." but just hit "continue" & checking folder sizes afterward the copied was identical in size on the external to the original..... there's a way to remove via terminal command reported elsewhere when searching for above, but it seems more trouble than worth time figuring out & implementing, as the articles assume a hgher level of IT awareness than i possess

 

[pm-r]

i started getting that msg = "one or more items in "--" can’t be changed because they are in use." but just hit "continue"

That's nice that your solution works well for you and sometimes just a Restart does as well, but I don't know if you noticed, but the thread you posted to is over 4 years old and the posters have probably moved on to newer and better things without the problem.

Anyway, welcome to Mac-forums.



- Patrick
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