File system check exit code is 0 [via Disk Utility]

Have you encountered the "File system check exit code is 0" error while transferring a large number of files on your Mac? This error code 0 mainly pops up when moving large files between an external drive and your Mac. It can be frustrating, especially when it occurs during an important task.

When you try to copy a large file (larger than 4 GB) from your MacBook to an external HDD formatted with FAT32, you might encounter error code 0. The error message usually reads, "The operation can't be completed because of an unexpected error (error code 0)." If you want to know more about this error and how to fix it, this article will introduce some of the best methods to resolve the issue.

#1: Recover System Files When Disk Utility Fails

Users might instantly fear the loss of crucial data due to issues with Mac Disk Utility. This means that in some cases, you could be at risk of data loss when trying to fix error code 0 on your MacBook. Don't worry if this happens!

The Mac Data Recovery Wizard tool is a trustworthy and user-friendly software that aids in retrieving lost data from an external hard drive on your Mac. This excellent software offers a range of features that enable you to restore missing files, such as:

- Offers various scanning options tailored to your specific needs, such as quick scan and deep scan. - Supports numerous file formats, including photos, documents, audio, and the recovery of video files on a Mac. - Assists in creating backup images to prevent lost data from being compromised by newly written files. - After data recovery, you can send the files to cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, and more.

Step 1: Search for Lost Files

Select the disk location where you want to search for lost files (it can be an internal HDD/SSD or an external hard drive), and then click on the “Search Lost Files” button.

Note: Before data recovery, it's recommended to click “Disk Backup” from the left sidebar and create a backup of your HDD/SSD to prevent further data loss. After the backup, the software can recover data from your disk image, and you can use the HDD or SSD again.

Step 2: Browse the scan results

The program will immediately scan the selected disk volume and display images, documents, audio, video, and email in the left pane.

Step 3: Select the files and recover them

Preview the data and click “Recover” to get them back.

Download this professional Mac data recovery software NOW! If you like the content above, share it with your friends on social media.

Resolving File System Check Exit Code 0

In this part, we will show you 4 major methods to fix the “fsck exit code 0” error. Before proceeding with the fixes, make sure your data is safe.

Method 1: Compressing Large Files

One of the best ways to fix Error 0 is to compress large files so that their size corresponds to that of the FAT32 file system. The steps are as follows:

Step 1: Find large files on your MacBook.

Step 2: Right-click the file, and select "Compress" from the context menu.

Step 3: Wait for the compression process to finish. A new compressed file will be created in the same location.

Step 4: You'll now need to transfer the compressed file to an external drive.

Method 2: Format the External Drive as exFAT

Here's the best way to fix Error Code 0 after formatting an external drive to exFAT, a leading file system that supports larger file sizes. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Connect the external drive to your Mac.

Step 2: Launch Disk Utility, located in the Utilities folder inside the Applications folder.

Step 3: Select your external drive from the list on the left.

Step 4: Click the “Erase” button at the top of the window.

Step 5: Choose “exFAT” as the format and name your drive.

Step 6: Choose "Erase" to format the drive.

Method 3: Check for Hard Drive Errors on the External HDD

Often, disk errors on an external HDD can lead to error code 0 on your MacBook. To check and fix any potential disk issues, follow these steps:

Step 1: Connect the external hard drive to your MacBook.

Step 2: Open Disk Utility.

Step 3: Select your external hard drive from the list on the left.

Step 4: Click the “First Aid” button at the top of the window.

Step 5: Click "Run" to start the process.

If any errors are detected, such as disk first aid failing, Disk Utility will scan the disk to fix the problems.

Method 4: Copying Files Through the Terminal

In some cases, using the Terminal app might help bypass error code 0 when sending large files. Here's how you can do it:

Step 1: Open the “Terminal.”

Change `source_path` to the path of the large file on your Mac, and modify `destination_path` to be the path of the external hard drive where you want to copy the file.

Step 3: Type your Mac's password, then press Return.

Step 4: Wait for the large file to copy to the external hard drive.

Why does a file system check exit with code 0? A file system check, such as fsck, typically returns an exit code of 0 when it completes successfully and either finds no errors or repairs all issues it encounters. An exit code is a numerical value returned by a program after its execution, indicating the status of its run. In most operating systems, 0 usually signifies "success" or "no errors." Here are some reasons why a file system check might exit with code 0: 1. **No Errors**: The file system has no issues or corrupted parts, so the check completes successfully without needing any repairs. 2. **Repairs Made**: If there were errors present in the file system, fsck successfully identified and fixed them, resulting in an exit code 0 once the check is done, signifying that the problems have been resolved. 3. **Automatic Repair**: Some operating systems are configured to run a file system check at startup and fix errors if necessary. If these repairs complete successfully, the exit code would also be 0. 4. **Quick Check Passes**: Certain file system check tools may have a quick mode that only checks the integrity of the file system without performing a thorough scan. If this quick check doesn't find any issues, it might return an exit code of 0. It's worth noting that even if a file system check returns 0, potential issues could still exist, especially if the system was shut down abnormally or experienced power failures. Therefore, regular file system checks and maintenance are essential.

Error code 0 on a MacBook typically occurs due to limitations of the FAT32 file system. If you're puzzled by the cause of this error, here are the main reasons:

• The FAT32 file system has a 4 GB file size limit. You might see error code 0 when moving or copying a file larger than 4 GB from your Mac to a device formatted as FAT32.
• HFS+ (Mac OS Extended) and APFS (Apple File System) support file permissions and journaling, but not FAT32. They're better choices for Mac users who work with large documents.

Last Words

Although Error 0 on a Mac can be frustrating, fixing it is a relatively straightforward process. You might consider reducing the size of large files, splitting them into smaller parts, or formatting your external drive to exFAT to resolve the issue and ensure smooth file transfers. However, if you lose data in the process of fixing Error 0, it's advisable to install a tool like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to recover your lost files.

"Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about 'File System Check Exit Code 0'" 1. What is File System Check Exit Code 0? "File System Check Exit Code 0" typically refers to a status indicating that no errors were found after the operating system, such as Windows' chkdsk or Linux's fsck, performed a disk check. This means your file system is healthy, and there are no issues needing repair. 2. Why would I see this message? You might encounter this message during boot-up when the system detects potential file system issues or if you manually ran a disk checking utility. 3. Is Exit Code 0 good or bad? Exit Code 0 is a good thing because it signifies that no serious errors were detected during the file system check. It doesn't mean your hard drive is issue-free, but no problems were found in the current check. 4. What happens if I get a non-zero exit code? A non-zero exit code indicates errors found during the file system check. The specific code may point to issues like bad sectors, lost clusters, or inconsistent file system structures. You'll need to take appropriate corrective actions based on the exact exit code. 5. Should I regularly perform file system checks? Yes, it's a good practice to regularly check your file system to prevent potential issues. You can set up automatic checks or run the check tools manually on a schedule. 6. How do I run a file system check on Windows or Linux? On Windows, you can run the disk check with "chkdsk /f /r" in the Command Prompt. On Linux, use the "fsck" command, which usually requires root privileges. 7. What if I interrupt the check process? If the file system check is interrupted, it might lead to incomplete results, and some issues might go undetected. Ideally, let the check run to completion to ensure all problems are identified and fixed.

Here are some of the best Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help you better understand the topic:

What does a file system check exit code 0 mean?

When trying to copy a large file, larger than 4 GB, from a Mac to an external drive formatted as FAT32, you might get the error message “The operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -36).” The warning typically shows up like this:

What does Disk Utility First Aid do?

"Disk Utility First Aid" is the primary built-in disk repair software on a Mac. Its main function is to check the health of your disks and volumes, such as Macintosh HD, SSD, SD cards, etc.

What does exit code 8 from a file system check indicate?

8 means errors were found on the disk or the file system is corrupted. That's it. You'll have to run “fsck” repeatedly in an attempt to fix things. You can try doing this from single-user mode after booting.

What does error code 69845 mean on Mac?

The "File System Verify or Repair Failed Error 69845" occurs when you encounter sudden power outages, ransomware attacks, corrupted volume headers, or damaged directory files.