Despite Windows XP and Vista’s friendly user interface, these operating systems can still yield some strange errors that most ordinary users can’t understand. This includes the CRC errors that rarely occur when you try opening certain files. The problem with these CRC errors is that the error message doesn’t give you a single clue on what to do to fix the problem. Here, you will understand what these CRC errors are and how to fix them.
About CRC and its Errors
CRC stands for Cyclic Redundancy Check and is primarily used for error correction. This is notably useful if you transfer files across a network or download a large bulk of files from the internet. Sometimes, network transfers may successfully copy the file, but if the CRC code is different, the copied file will end up corrupted yielding a CRC error due to data collisions.
Causes of CRC Errors
When it comes to network transfers, CRC errors can be random, but highly unlikely if you are using a good quality cable and both ends are using a fully functional network card. If you have several computers installed and connected to a hub, the chances of getting CRC errors may increase a bit especially if multiple computers are initiating file transfers to other computers on the network. Some computers may use copying software that try to copy files to other networked computers with the fastest speed possible or on the highest priority. If speed isn’t a very critical issue, reduce the speed to ensure data integrity and eliminate the chances of bumping into CRC errors.
If the transfer is interrupted in any way, CRC errors may also occur. Even if the transfer has finished, other programs that are using the system resources may slow down the transfer which could lead to some data corruption. Power interruptions are another prime suspect to CRC errors especially if they occur during the file transfer process.
Solutions
Modern systems should rarely bump into any network related CRC errors so feel free to transfer as much as you want as long as your destination systems are modern as well. If not, make sure you close all programs before initiating a file transfer. Have your network protected with a UPS so power interruptions won’t cause any data loss to your network and hard disks.
If you are copying files from optical media like CDs and DVDs, CRC errors can also occur if the disc is dirty. Clean it thoroughly before using to ensure the data is intact.
The best solution in handling CRC problems is to use special file managing software like TeraCopy which can copy files and compare the CRC right away to ensure the file is really duplicated. To fix any existing CRC problems, do a hard disk scan for errors using scandisk. If the disk has bad sectors, those need to be dealt with so that the data can be moved to a safer spot.
CRC errors are purely physical and in most cases do not have anything to do with viruses and spyware. Still it Is important to keep your system safe both internally and externally.