Tutorials

Cannot read from source file or disk

Multiple users report getting the error »Cannot read from source file or disk» when trying to copy certain files to or from an external hard drive. This problem does not appear to be specific to a certain version of Windows and is reported to occur on Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10.

Action interrupted:

Cannot read from source file or disk.

What is causing the error “cannot be read from source file or disk”?

We investigated this particular error message by looking at various user reports and the solutions they announced as successful.. Based on what we were able to collect on the subject, there are several common causes that will trigger this particular error message:

External hard drive appears offline for short periods of time: when this happens, Windows cannot resume reading even after the disk is available again. Possible causes of this problem are unstable hard disk drivers, faulty power supply via USB or an unstable USB cable or plug.
Insufficient space on your local machine: another reason this problem will be triggered is if you don't have enough local space to copy the file to a local hard drive.
The power saving profile is for disconnecting the external drive: if you are using a laptop with an active power saving profile, You may run into the problem because the external drive is disconnected while the machine is unattended.
The file / massive source folder contains bad sectors: This error is known to also occur if an attempt is made to copy a file / corrupt folder containing corrupt sectors.
The hard drive is overheating: if you are trying to copy a very large file while using an old hard drive, the problem may occur due to overheating.

If you are trying to solve this particular problem, this article will provide you with a selection of verified troubleshooting steps. Here is a collection of methods that other users in a similar situation have used to solve the problem.

For best results, Follow the repair strategies presented below in order until you find a solution that successfully solves the problem in your particular situation..

Method 1: compress the file before moving it

Several users who have encountered the error »Cannot read from disk or source file» have reported that they were able to avoid it by compressing the source file to a .zip format before trying to move it. You can use the built-in compressor or a third-party utility of your choice.

Here is a quick guide on how to do this:

Browse to the location of the source file you are trying to move. Once i get there, right-click and select Send to> Zipped folder (and zip).

Right-click on the source file and select Send to >> zipped folder
Once the procedure is complete, just move the compressed file (.zip) to the location where you want to move it. If the .zip file is moved correctly, just right click on it and choose Extract All. Extract the .zip file to the new location

If the procedure cannot avoid the error »Cannot read from source file or disk«, proceed to the next method below.

Method 2: Use of Roadkil's unstoppable copier

Many of the problems presented above can be circumvented with a copy tool called Roadkill $ 0027s Unstoppable Copier. Several users who encountered the same problem reported that the copy procedure that previously failed with the native copy tool was completed successfully with this third party application.

This tool will allow you to recover files from damaged disks with problems such as bad sectors, scratches or reading errors. Another advantage of using this tool is that it will also show you if the bulk source file contains bad sectors. They will also be flagged to you so that you can exclude them from your copy job.

Here is a quick guide on using Roadkil Unstoppable Copier:

Visit this link (here ), select your version of Windows and click the Download button. Roadki's Unstoppable Copy Tool Download
Open the installation executable and click Yes at the UAC prompt (User account control). Later, follow the onscreen instructions to install Roadkil Unstoppable Copier on your system. Installing the Roadkil Unstoppable Copier
Launch Roadkil Unstoppable Copier and accept the License Agreement. Accept the Roadkil License Agreement
First, click the Browse button associated with the source and navigate to the location of the file that triggers the error message. Navigating to the file that needs to be copied
Next, click the other Browse button, the one associated with Target. In the Find Files or Folder menu just appeared, browse to the location where you want to copy the file / file. Find the destination location
Once both the origin and the destination have been established, just click the Copy button and wait for the process to complete. Starting the copy process
Once the operation is successful, you will receive a confirmation. By clicking OK, you can inspect each copied item and see if errors have been found. Batch source file successfully transferred with Roadkil's unstoppable copier

If this method was not successful, proceed to the next method shown below.

Method 3: Run the Check Disk utility

Multiple users who have encountered the same issue have reported that they were able to resolve the issue by running a CHKDSK scan (Check Disk utility). The basic function of this tool is to scan the integrity of the file system and fix any logical file system errors that it finds..

Here's a quick guide on how to run a Check Disk utility scan:

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Then write “cmd” and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated command prompt window. When prompted UAC (User account control), click Yes to grant administrator privileges. Run the dialog: cmd, then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter
Inside elevated command prompt, type the following command and hit Enter to scan and repair both logical errors and bad sectors:
```
chkdsk D: /r
```
Note: This process can take several hours to complete. Do not turn off the machine during this time.
Once the scan is complete and the errors have been fixed, restart your computer and see if the problem is resolved on the next startup.

If you still encounter the error »Cannot read from source file or disk«, go to next method.

Method 4: using a USB hub with a separate power supply

As some users have reported, the problem can occur if you encounter the error of an external hard drive powered by the computer, without a separate power supply. If that's the case, the error is very likely to occur because the computer is unable to power the hard drive for long periods of time.

In general, if this is the reason for the error, you will notice that the error will only occur with large files, while small files will be copied correctly.

If this scenario is applicable to your current situation, try using a USB hub that has a separate power supply and see if it is capable of providing more power than your computer can provide.

Note: Another possibility to consider is that your hard drive overheats when you have to copy a large file. If you see that the error occurs at different intervals, try lowering the temperature by installing a cooler case or keeping your external hard drive in a cooler environment.