Pausing a Large Copy and Paste

[Bud935]

Can you pause copy and paste on MacBook Air 2020?

 

[MacInWin]

Welcome to the forum.

Technically, I think the answer is "yes," but if the file is small, the paste will happen so fast you won't get the opportunity. However, if the data being copied is large and takes a while to complete, you should see a progress box with an option to stop the process.

 

[Bud935]

I’m copying over 400gb from a 3.0 USB external hard drive to a 3.0 USB SSD. It’s has taken half an hour so far and I still have 50% to go. I am new to Mac, former Windows 10 user, would like to know for future reference.

 

[Slydude]

Good point, Jake. My first instinct was to say no. Then I read your post and remembered that set of icons in the copy window. The icons are small and easy to miss.

 

[MacInWin]

There is a X in a circle at the end of the progress bar, as I recall. Click on the X to stop the transfer. It will take a while for the action to stop because there will be a cleanup needed for the mess created by the stopping. You can watch the progress of the copy in Activity Monitor under the Disk tab. USB3 transfers of that amount of data can be lengthy.

 

[Bud935]

I’m am asking if there is a way to pause the copy and past procedure so I can resume it later at the point where it was paused.

 

[MacInWin]

No. No "pause" function. It's either on or off. Now, there may be files left on the destination drive from the copy that was aborted, but if you start the same copy over again, you will get a prompt on whether to overwrite those files or to cancel the copy, or keep both (in which case the new copies will have a number appended to the name to differentiate them).

 

[pigoo3]

I’m am asking if there is a way to pause the copy and paste procedure so I can resume it later at the point where it was paused.

If you do the exact same procedure...I think you may be able to.

What I think should happen is...when you "bulk copy" everything from your external hard drive to the SSD (just like before)...a little window should pop up and say something to the effect..."these files already exist...do you want to replace them"?

These would be the files that were copied earlier. More than likely you would click the "no" button. There may be a "no to all" button to select as well...but not 100% sure. If there is not a "no to all" button...then you may need to click the "no" button a lot of times (if there were a lot of files already copied).

If this is the case...it might just be easier to start the procedure all over again. Or do things in smaller batches (not all files at once).

Also...let me please help with some terminology:

1. This is really not a "copy & paste" procedure...it's really just a copy (from one storage device to a different storage device). "Copy & Paste" is really something that's done with a word processing, text, or spread sheet document (either within the same document...or from document A to document B).

2. In post #3 this was mentioned..."I’m copying over 400gb from a 3.0 USB external hard drive to a 3.0 USB SSD hard drive." Focusing on the bolded portion...it's either an SSD (Solid State Drive)...or a Hard Drive (HD)...can't be both. Better to call this a USB SSD.

Just trying to help...to avoid any confusion.

HTH,

Nick

p.s. Apologies for not being more exact with the copying procedure. I'm mostly working from memory...haven't done a large file copy like this in a while.

 

[ferrarr]

These would be the files that were copied earlier. More than likely you would click the "no" button. There may be a "no to all" button to select as well...but not 100% sure. If there is not a "no to all" button...then you may need to click the "no" button a lot of times (if there were a lot of files already copied).

I believe there is a check box for "Do this for all similar file types." Or something to that affect?

 

[Bud935]

If you do the exact same procedure...I think you may be able to.

What I think should happen is...when you "bulk copy" everything from your external hard drive to the SSD (just like before)...a little window should pop up and say something to the effect..."these files already exist...do you want to replace them"?

These would be the files that were copied earlier. More than likely you would click the "no" button. There may be a "no to all" button to select as well...but not 100% sure. If there is not a "no to all" button...then you may need to click the "no" button a lot of times (if there were a lot of files already copied).

If this is the case...it might just be easier to start the procedure all over again. Or do things in smaller batches (not all files at once).

Also...let me please help with some terminology:

1. This is really not a "copy & paste" procedure...it's really just a copy (from one storage device to a different storage device). "Copy & Paste" is really something that's done with a word processing, text, or spread sheet document (either within the same document...or from document A to document B).

2. In post #3 this was mentioned..."I’m copying over 400gb from a 3.0 USB external hard drive to a 3.0 USB SSD hard drive." Focusing on the bolded portion...it's either an SSD (Solid State Drive)...or a Hard Drive (HD)...can't be both. Better to call this a USB SSD.

Just trying to help...to avoid any confusion.

HTH,

Nick

p.s. Apologies for not being more exact with the copying procedure. I'm mostly working from memory...haven't done a large file copy like this in a while.

Thanks for the reply and the technical advice. I’m switching from a Windows 10 PC to a MacBook Air 2020. I installed Windows 10 on my MacBook as there are many things I can’t do on the MacBook. Next time I have a large file transfer I’ll boot into Windows to do it.

P.S, I amended calling the SSD a hard drive. Thanks for the lingo correction!

 

[MacInWin]

I am pretty sure that the dialog for the copy/paste of files from one drive to another just has the option to overwrite/keep both or cancel. Yes, you can then apply to all similar events, but there is no "skip" option. So if you cancel after 200GB of the 400 GB are done, then restart, your options will be to recopy all 400 GB (in both the overwrite and keep both options), or cancel, aborting the entire copy. The only way to avoid all 400Gb is to manually inspect what is already copied and NOT select it in the next copy. That's a real PITA, which is why I rarely copy a long-running copy. I'm just going to have to repeat the process (and time) later if I do.

 

[MacInWin]

1. This is really not a "copy & paste" procedure...it's really just a copy (from one storage device to a different storage device). "Copy & Paste" is really something that's done with a word processing, text, or spread sheet document (either within the same document...or from document A to document B).

Finder does use copy/paste terminology. You can select a file in Finder, then right click to get a menu, select "Copy" and then select a new location, right click and get a "Paste" option.

 

[pigoo3]

Finder does use copy/paste terminology. You can select a file in Finder, then right click to get a menu, select "Copy" and then select a new location, right click and get a "Paste" option.

Yes it does. But VERY unusual/rare for someone to use "copy & paste" terminology when talking about copying a file/files from one drive to another drive. No one I know (or have ever known) has said that.

Most folks say..."I copied xyz file from my internal drive to my external drive".

If OP (or anyone else)...wants to say "copy & paste" when referring to copying a file/files from one drive to a 2nd drive...I'll just "zip it"! Lol

Nick

 

[Bud935]

Yes it does. But VERY unusual/rare for someone to use "copy & paste" terminology when talking about copying a file/files from one drive to another drive. No one I know (or have ever known) has said that.

Most folks say..."I copied xyz file from my internal drive to my external drive".

If OP (or anyone else)...wants to say "copy & paste" when referring to copying a file/files from one drive to a 2nd drive...I'll just "zip it"! Lol

Nick

It's not unusual when it works just fine! I tried to drag and drop the folder from 1 drive to the other and it would not go, so I copied, then pasted it into the other drive and the 400+ gigs copied in less than an hour. I have a lot to learn about Mac but using Windows for 25+ years I know a thing or 2 about how to copy and past, the MacBook Air definitely has the capability. I have found that using Windows terminology has obviously given me some alternatives to try on Mac. I will eventually learn this system and I am looking forward to this new experience!

 

[pigoo3]

...400+ gigs copied in less than an hour.

I've never been a person to copy such a large amount of data in one shot. Either because it would take a lot of time...or I'm always concerned about copy errors.

Back long time ago (20-25 years or more)...if someone tried to copy a large amount of data or large number of files (all in one shot)...sometimes the macOS at that time didn't always handle things so well. Thus I got into the habit of copying things in smaller chunks...and this was always more successful.

The macOS is much more robust/dependable now...and I'm sure large amounts of data or a large number of files can be copied much more reliably. I'm just still very cautious from the many times I was "stung" years ago when I did it (and things didn't always turn out well).

Nick

 

[Bud935]

I've never been a person to copy such a large amount of data in one shot. Either because it would take a lot of time...or I'm always concerned about copy errors.

Back long time ago (20-25 years or more)...if someone tried to copy a large amount of data or large number of files (all in one shot)...sometimes the macOS at that time didn't always handle things so well. Thus I got into the habit of copying things in smaller chunks...and this was always more successful.

The macOS is much more robust/dependable now...and I'm sure large amounts of data or a large number of files can be copied much more reliably. I'm just still very cautious from the many times I was "stung" years ago when I did it (and things didn't always turn out well).

Nick

You are wise to be cautious, I always check the file information before I delete any old files I’ve copied. This copy and paste of over 400 gigs went in less than an hour on the MacBook Air 2020, could be that I was copying to an SSD. The original copy to the USB3 external hard drive on a Windows 10 computer took over 6 hours. I always compare the files to the original files on the hard drive they came from before I delete anything. Thanks for your comment!

 

[pigoo3]

This copy and paste of over 400 gigs went in less than an hour on the MacBook Air 2020, could be that I was copying to an SSD. The original copy to the USB3 external hard drive on a Windows 10 computer took over 6 hours.

Quite a difference in copy time for the 400 GB's of data. Congrats on the successful copy!

I know you mentioned being new to Apple/Mac...and the macOS. If you run into any confusion (or can't find a setting for something)...please ask away. It may be on the "tip of our tongues"...and an easy solution!

Nick

 

[MacInWin]

And here is a great asset: Apple! Just go to Apple.com, click on "Support" and in the resulting search bar put "macOS User Guide" and get the entire guide, online, interactive.