Delayed write failed...

dogtrack · Post by **dogtrack** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:05 am

...Windows was unable to save all the data for the

file X:\$Mft ( Where X = Firewire external HDD)
Error may be caused by failure of the Hardware or

Network connection. Please try to save elsewhere.

This message and fault happens on three different

machines with three different external HDDs. Also

with three different Editing Progs.

Now a couple of years ago...or maybe more; when using

the same software, hardware and camcorder, this did

not happen !!

After some absence from the hobby, I am a little

stunned to say the least. All these machines are in

daily use, along with their respective Firewire HDDs

and everything runs in an harmonious manner...until I

open a Video Editing Prog. (Ulead VS7, 9 & 11)

The system is XP with SP2 and all MS updates. I have

also installed the KB885222 firewire patch for

Panasonic Cameras. In the hope it may have rectified

the problem...alas no.

So I just wondered if any of you guys have

encountered this hiccup and perhaps know a fix.
As at this moment in time, all I can do is capture to

the C drive, which is very restrictive and would

prefer not to do.

Thanks in anticipation, Arnie.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:47 am

Well, I used to use a Firewire HDD, including for my video editing. But I started experiencing similar write problems and not only with Video Studio. And the problems seems to grow more common.

I discovered from one of the other older members of this forum that this was a known problem with certain of the chips used in the external firewire cases. I am afraid I no longer have the information on computer, but you might find it with a Google search. There were various work-arounds.

But in the end, I opted to convert my external box to a USB-2, and never looked back. I now have 5 such drives and have not experienced one problem with any of them.

dogtrack · Post by **dogtrack** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:59 am

Thanks for that Ken. I think I shall talk sweetly to the good lady and see if i can aquire a USB2 HDD solely for video. Their are no problems with the FW drives and other applications, just video.

It just seems strange that this should start to happen a year or two after giving faultless service...makes me wonder if it may in fact be Windows related, given all the updates over the last couple of years or so.

Anyway, thanks for you imput, Cheers Arnie.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:15 am

Not sure about that. My Firewire drive worked faultlessly too for quite a while, then just the occasional glitch; then a few more, then just about every time I turned the darned thing on.

Anyway, depending where you are in the world, it is simple and cheap to build your own external box. I buy some nice ones with good heat dissipation for around US$40 (A$45) at computer fairs. And if you are going to give up on the firewire case, it is simplicity itself to swap the drive itself into the new case.

I just built one for a friend a few weeks ago, and all up it cost A$210 (about US$185), including a new 400GB Seagate drive.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:46 am

Like Ken and yourself I have previously hooked up Firewire and also USB 2 external hard drives to my system. For a while they worked without a problem. Suddenly I found that these items would without warning suddenly lose their link to the PC, especially when moving vast amounts of data between the PC and the external hard drive.

After months of frustration and scouring the internet for suggestions.
After trying different cables and even replacing the hard drives in the cases I gave up.

What I prefer are what are termed Drive Caddies.
These perform a similar job where the hard drive fits inside a case. That case then slides into a slot at the front of your computer - the same slots where you install DVD burners etc. The hard drive is held in place with a lock and key.

These caddies connect directly to the IDE slots on your motherboard.
Think of it as you would an extension cable. Instead of having to take the case apart to get to the motherboard to remove and replace a hard drive, you do so simply by turning the coimputer off, unlocking the caddy, pulling the hard drive out and inserting another one in its place.

A few pictures here

dogtrack · Post by **dogtrack** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:22 am

MMmm....that caddy business makes sense. Will in all probability be having a new machine within the next 12 to 18 months. Will more than likely go down the Caddy route...thanks for that link sjj.

Bye for now, Arnie.