"big file copy mode" = damaged files on IDE too

[mlekodukye]

hi there, 1st, sorry if this topic was already discussed somewhere [though i haven't found one]. the only one similar i've found was something about RAID+big file copy mode causing problems.. but that's not exactly the case i've got:

i have 2xSATA Samsung hdds running as one RAID stripe [Intel 82801ER SATA RAID Controller, ICH5R] and one IDE Maxtor. TC was always set to use big file copy mode, everything went right, no errors at all.
but! a few days ago i'd noticed some of my mp3's stopped playing [on both hdds], looking at its contents showed that 99% of files became straight zeroes! i thought it's kinda damn virus, though kaspersky with newest bases found none. then i realised that the files went damaged were the ones i moved recently in order to reorganise my mp3 collection.. at the same time, i'd found that some downloaded *.exe's refused to run, as you can guess, after i moved 'em too.
fortunately, i manged to solve it by choosing "use default method only" and now everything copies/moves OK.
the main question is: what could have happen to my system in order to cause this problem, regarding the fact everything was ok with the same settings..? [total commander 7.01]

[ghisler(Author)]

In big file copy mode, TC copies a multiple of the disk block size with the mode "write through" the cache, and the rest with the cache (the write through method doesn't allow to write partial blocks). Apparently there is a bug in the described RAID controller which doesn't copy the data correctly...

[mlekodukye]

thanks for your reply! but does that mean that something happened to my raid controller a few days ago? or maybe to its driver? could some recently [un]installed program or system service cause that?
btw, it may seem like a lamer's efforts , but i tried that in windows' safe mode and there the big file copy mode works fine, the source and copied files are identical when compared..

[mlekodukye]

SOLVED!!!

the whole problem is in digidesign protools m-powered v7.3, and exactly, in its DigiFilt.sys!! luckily i figured out this by uninstalling protools and then installing it back watching what it adds to the system startup, and after disabling this digifilt.sys, everything works great with "big file copy mode" turned on, source is identical to target... ufff! seems like it takes some control over disk operations for pro-tools' own perfomance and interferes with total's big file copy mode..
dear Christian, i think it should be verified on some more systems if possible, 'cause it could result in huge data loss..

[Clo]

2mlekodukye

Hello !

• It seems you discovered a dangerous conflict, it's important !
- I can't test, there is no RAID HDs in my PC …

• Indeed, it should be nice to get confirmations, but anyway we'll add a note in the Tutos,
based on that thread (with credits for you, of course).

 Kind regards,
Claude
Clo

[icfu]

The problems are known for quite a while...:
http://www.ghisler.ch/board/viewtopic.php?p=137727#137727

Again: Switch to CopyFileEx so users are safe by default...

Icfu

[mlekodukye]

regards, Claude!

i think the RAID is of no concern in this case, there were same problems on IDE drive too!

[ghisler(Author)]

Did you contact the makers of this filter driver? It seems that the driver doesn't work with the write_through cache option, which is a very dangerous bug.

[Clo]

2ghisler(Author)

Good evening,

• Like said above, in the Tutorials we completed the warning already existing about the HD drivers @ :
Options >> Copy¦Delete >> Also use big file copy mode for that filter driver, with a link to that thread.
- I think it's worth also to be completed in the Help, waiting for a fix from the maker (if there'll be any…)

 VG
Claude
Clo

[mlekodukye]

i have contacted m-audio via e-mail, describing briefly the problem and linking to this thread. hope they react in some way..

cheers!