Copying a specific folder onto an external SSD, results in ejecting that specific SSD, but not other external SSDs.

Hi everyone.

I suddenly out of the blue, have run into a very strange problem and I wonder if it has occurred to anyone else.

So here it goes.

Wanting to backup my thunderbird folder on my mac mini (~/users/xxxxx/Library/thunderbird) I dragged it to an external SSD, I use to backup all sorts of folders and files. Note it was not the first time I did this. All the other times there was NO problem

While copying at some point my macmini ejected the ssd drive with the message:

"You can’t copy the item “030 Archived Business Mails” because its name is too long or includes characters that are invalid on the destination volume."

(“030 Archived Business Mails” being a subfolder in my thunderbird local folder)

II tried to copy the same thunderbird folder (~/users/xxxxx/Library/thunderbird) by dragging it to another external ssd and to my surprise it did it without a peep.

However everytime i try to copy this folder or its contents to this particular external SSD the same thing happens.Other than this strange problem the SSDs show no problems at all.

Btw the drive reapears after 20-30 seconds.

Mac = Macmini M4

OSX = 15..6.1

All SSDs used are AFPS formated

Any ideas anyone?

thx

Mac mini (M4 Pro, 2024)

Posted on Oct 22, 2025 3:10 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 28, 2025 3:59 PM

MacPapTheGreek wrote:

The problem IS WHY copying THIS SPECIFIC folder onto the THAT SPECIFIC SSD creates a problem, while copying THIS SPECIFIC folder onto the ANY OTHER SSD, or copying ANY OTHER folder from THAT SPECIFIC SSD, does not.

One reason could be that the file system (file catalog) is corrupted on that external drive. Have you tried repairing it with Disk Utility? I would copy everything from that problem drive to another drive that has no issues, then erase and format the problem drive, then try to copy the folder in question and restore the folders/files that were copied off, back to the newly erased/formatted drive. If that doesn't work I would dispose of that drive, it is no longer reliable.


I doubt this is an operating system issue because I have never seen this reported before and there are millions (billions?) using the MacOS.


But if it that SPECIFIC drive cannot receive an ordinary file or folder that other drives can, I would suspect that unique SPECIFIC drive.

14 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 28, 2025 3:59 PM in response to MacPapTheGreek

MacPapTheGreek wrote:

The problem IS WHY copying THIS SPECIFIC folder onto the THAT SPECIFIC SSD creates a problem, while copying THIS SPECIFIC folder onto the ANY OTHER SSD, or copying ANY OTHER folder from THAT SPECIFIC SSD, does not.

One reason could be that the file system (file catalog) is corrupted on that external drive. Have you tried repairing it with Disk Utility? I would copy everything from that problem drive to another drive that has no issues, then erase and format the problem drive, then try to copy the folder in question and restore the folders/files that were copied off, back to the newly erased/formatted drive. If that doesn't work I would dispose of that drive, it is no longer reliable.


I doubt this is an operating system issue because I have never seen this reported before and there are millions (billions?) using the MacOS.


But if it that SPECIFIC drive cannot receive an ordinary file or folder that other drives can, I would suspect that unique SPECIFIC drive.

Oct 29, 2025 2:47 AM in response to steve626

Hello @steve626


I did try repairing both the origin SSD and the target SSD. No Problem reported.

I even did reinitialize (format APFS) the problematic SSD. However the problem persisted EVEN AFTER the formatting of the SSD.

"I doubt this is an operating system issue..." so do I but it still remains a mystery. :-)


So to recapitulate:

SSD 1 = Origin drive

SSD 2 = Problematic Target drive

OTHER SSD = Any other SSD used ( I tried 3)

ANY FOLDER = Any other folder except the one that created the problem

SPECIFIC FOLDER = the SPECIFIC FOLDER that creates the problem (preference folder of Thunderbird).


Copy the SPECIFIC FOLDER from SSD 1 to any directory including root of SSD 2 = EJECTS SSD 2

Copy the SPECIFIC FOLDER from SSD 1 to OTHER SSD = NO PROPBLEM

Copy the ANY FOLDER from SSD 1 to SSD 2 = NO PROPBLEM

Copy ANY FOLDER from SSD 2 or OTHER SSD to SSD 1 = NO PROPBLEM


Well it seems I got a ghost in my system that hates that folder :-)

I can't find any other solution. It simply is one of those things. Haha



The only thing that helped in the end, was restoring THAT SPECIFIC FOLDER from a backup.

In any case thx for your time.

Oct 22, 2025 4:42 PM in response to MacPapTheGreek

Can't really eject the startup volume, can't you?


Dig into that folder and find out which corrupted file is causing the problem. It should be relatively easy to do. Just open that folder, select half the files, and drag them to the external. If that works, then you know the problem is in the other half.


That that other half (or the first one that failed) and try again, splitting that half into half. Eventually, you should settle on a small group of files where the problem file will be apparent.


And if not, you will have successfully copied the files. 😄

Oct 22, 2025 4:32 PM in response to MacPapTheGreek

What is the make and model of the problem SSD?

How is it connected to your Mini?

Have you tried to change ports and/or cables?


An easy and efficient workaround would be to use Carbon Copy Cloner to clone that folder to the external SSD. They have a 30 day demo trial offer.


If it works you can program it to copy/backup on the hour, at any time interval or when it detects a change in the source folder. It's an incremental backup in that it only copies new or modified files and deletes files that have been deleted from the source folder.


Oct 22, 2025 11:40 PM in response to Old Toad

Thank you @Old Toad for your help suggestion


However NO MATTER HOW I tried to copy (using other copying software) the folder INTO THE SPECIFIC ssd, including Carbon copy cloner failed.


The ssd is is an WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD 4TB Internal SSD placed in an Acasis Swappable High-Speed SSD Storage & 10-In-1 Hub Docking Station.


BTW when placing any other NVMe SSD in that housing all works flawlessly. As does the specific ssd when copying ANY other file onto it.


In any case thx for your time.

Oct 23, 2025 1:46 PM in response to MacPapTheGreek

If you have to replace it let me recommend OWC (MacSales.com). They are considered the premier hardware supplier for Macs. Their Customer Support is excellent and they stand by their warranties.


If budget is a concern let me suggest this setup. I have several and they are an excellent value:





Prices have gone up due to the tariffs. Just checked and they are now $23, $30, $60 and $129 (offered only with an OWC case). They don't offer 4 TB any more and sold out of 2 TB..


Oct 22, 2025 11:22 PM in response to etresoft

Thank you @etresoft for your help suggestion.

However I probably did not highlight enough the problem.


ONLY COPYING the SPECIFIC folder onto the SPECIFIC SSD creates the problem.


If you copy ANY OTHER folder to that drive OR

If you copy THAT FOLDER to ANY OTHER external SSD drive. there is NO PROBLEM


ONLY IF you copy THAT SPECIFIC folder to THAT SPECIFIC ssd the problem arises.


I know the "method with the halfs" I use it all the time for other things. I used it before posting the whole thing here. However it did not help since the problem appeared while copying a couple of folders included in that specific folder.


And in the end of the day the question remains. WHY does it not occur when copying THAT FOLDER onto ANY other drive?


In any case thx again for your rime.

Oct 24, 2025 11:32 AM in response to Old Toad

Thx for your message @Old Toad

However this casing I use has more uses than just housing an ssd. Its for me something like a swiss knife.

I carry it with me and use it on my macBook for connecting to ethernet LANs, as a card reader, as a USB A hub, second HDMI port AND as an external ssd. So Im afraid even if i'd replace it, I would need something similar.

Oct 28, 2025 6:30 AM in response to Urquhart1244

Hello @Urquhart1244


Thank you for your thoughts.

The folder is a regular folder no Alias, and not used by the system (only thunderbird).


The problem however IS NOT how to copy the contents. That easy and there are dozens of ways to bypass it.


The problem IS WHY copying THIS SPECIFIC folder onto the THAT SPECIFIC SSD creates a problem, while copying THIS SPECIFIC folder onto the ANY OTHER SSD, or copying ANY OTHER folder from THAT SPECIFIC SSD, does not.


In other words the question is, why does THAT SPECIFIC folder gets copied anywhere else, but NOT ON THAT SPECIFIC SSD.


In any case thx for your time.

Copying a specific folder onto an external SSD, results in ejecting that specific SSD, but not other external SSDs.

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