1. Problem description
Copying files to USB external hard drives, I would intemittently get 'Delayed Write Failed' errors. I had this problem for more than a year, and I tried many possible solutions I found on the web, including these:
You receive an error message when you save or move documents in Windows XP: "Delayed Write Failed"
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/330174
The errors I saw in Event Viewer when I had the problem were:
Event ID 51: An error was detected on device \Device\Harddisk2\D during a paging operation.
There were many of the Event ID 51 errors - maybe 200, or more, of them.
Event ID 50: {Delayed Write Failed} Windows was unable to save all the data for the file . The data has been lost. This error may be caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection. Please try to save this file elsewhere.
Event ID 26:Application popup: Windows - Delayed Write Failed : Windows was unable to save all the data for the file [FileName]. The data has been lost. This error may be caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection. Please try to save this file elsewhere.
I am using Windows XP SP3, with all available updates, and Norton 360 21.7.0.11.
2. Solution
I found one solution is, in my case, to turn off all Norton 360 activity before making the copies. I turned off the following:
Automatic Live Update
Smart Firewall
Norton Tamper Protection
Anti-Virus
Auto Protect
SONAR protection
Anti Spyware
Silent Mode (I enabled this)
I also disabled the LiveUpdate service in the Services applet in Control Panel.
(Remember to turn these all back on afterwards, if you do this!)
I am as sure as I can be that Norton 360 was causing this problem - I have tried so many other things, but now I have found this solution, I am not having problems any more.