CRC error while copying or moving files

Cyclic Redundancy Check or CRC error is quite common and can occur in any system. In reality CRC is a data check procedure that checks whether the data to be transferred is transferred successfully or damaged in the process. If you get this message, it means that the file being read by your PC or software is corrupted. However, it does not mean all the data is lost forever.

1. When you try to read data from your CD's or DVD's and you got this error means your system is unable to read data from CD and becomes extremely slow and hangs down. The problem can be because of the scratched CD disk, loose cables, bad CD Drive or the software related. If your CD drive reads other CD's then there is no problem with your CD drive and it may be the problem with your CD disk. Another cause of the problem might be the discs that were burnt poorly (with several buffer under runs). Solution: Replace the CD/DVD. If the problem is CD related, then cleaning it can solve the CRC error but if it the same case with most disks, then it must be your CD drive issue. Solution: Replace the CD/DVD Drive.
2. When you try to copy or move files from one location to another in your hard drive then CRC error indicates a bad sector on your hard drive. The fact that you're seeing it when you try to copy a file indicates that the bad spot may be within the file itself.

Solution:
First, let's make sure that the problem is actually with the file you're copying since it's equally likely that the problem is with the location you're copying too. This is easy. Fire up a Command Prompt window, and then copy the file to NUL.

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\>CD (to wherever the file is located)

C:\wherever>copy Outlook.pst NUL
1 file(s) copied.

This reads the entire file by copying it "nowhere".

• If this succeeds, the problem is not actually with the file itself, but the location (C:/D:/E:) you were trying to copy it to. My recommendation would be to copy it to a different disk entirely, or a different machine on your local network.

• If this copy fails, then we've confirmed that the bad sector on your hard disk is actually being used by some portion of your file.

Backup:
For copying to different disk entirely or some other machine on your local network machine entirely we need to do this within the command prompt in order to avoid errors.

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\>CD (to wherever the file is located)

C:\wherever>xcopy /c Outlook.pst D:
1 file(s) copied.

• Two important things to note here: we've used the xcopy (for eXtended copy) command, and we've added the "/C" switch which keeps copying even if errors are encountered. As you've already experienced, the default behavior of both COPY and XCOPY is to stop if an error occurs.

Repairing or Replacing the Hard Disk:

My suggestion is to Replace the Hard Disk if you have warranty or buy a new one in order to avoid future problems. Before replacing the hard disk you must run a diagnostic tool at windows start-up to check that your test results were failed for your hard disk showing some error codes. Now you can claim your manufacturer or computer seller for a new one.

If you plan to extend your hard disk life, there are different methods to fix the Bad Sectors but it is not sure that all the bad sectors are fixed and in future it may cause a major problem where you cannot even recover your important files.

Read my new post on "How to fix Bad Sectors" on your hard disk.