The semaphore timeout period has expired: what does it mean? what should i do?

Question

I tried retrieving files from my external hard-drive, but it says that "the semaphore timeout period has expired, and i can't get excess into the folders... what should/can i do(on my own, without sending it for repairs)? Help me! Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

This appears to be kind of a generic error message. A quick search provides two possibilities:

1. It may be a problem with the connection. If you have another USB port or another USB cable, try that since it may be a problem with the port or the cable.

2. This error also appears to be associated with files with names that are too long, or paths that are too long. Try renaming the file or folder and/or moving it up a directory or two before copying it.

If this is happening with all files on the drive, I'd guess the USB port or cable is the culprit. It may also be the housing for the drive. If the data is critical and changing cables or ports doesn't help, you can try getting a new drive enclosure and see if that works.

Answer 2

Semaphore Timeout Period Has Expired