How do I fix a cyclic redundancy check error when I try to copy a file?

I tried the copy to NUL and confirmed the error is with the file. HOWEVER, I tried the 2nd step of xcopy /c and that, too, failed with the same CRC error. I was hopeful but it came back as 0 files copied.
Now what? Or is the next step to try and repair through something like SpinRite or Outlook PST Repair? I need to fix this so I can transfer it to my new laptop. Is there a risk in trying to fix it that I will render it unusable?

I also tried using the xcopy /cf rather than just /c as I noted in one of the comments and I got the same result, still a CRC error. I am hesitant to try a SpinRite fix before I have some kind of backup made in case I make it worse.

I have tried installing a game bt at 98%, I incur the CRC error. I have then tried to copy the files on to my hard disk and thy have been copied without error. But still, running the installation, I still get the error. Is there any solution or does it have to do with registry things...Please help!

thanks for the help i dont get a error anymore do i still need to replace my HD

Numerous people have commented that "XCOPY /C" does not work when attempting to copy a single file from a corrupted media. I haven't been able to test for magnetic drive corruption, but I can state with certainty that "XCOPY /C" does not allow me to retrieve a CRC-damaged file from a CD/DVD. I suspect the same is also true with magnetic drives; "XCOPY /C" only skips files with errors--it does not skip errors in files.

Another post here suggested using CDCheck: http://www.softwarepatch.com/software/cd-recovery.html . This worked well for me to recover a file from a partially corrupted disc. Sadly, I didn't make enough PAR2 files to completely restore the file. To add to Leo's reminder to backup, I want to also remind everyone (especially backup software developers) that backups are often useless without some sort of built-in redundancy. Media will, eventually, corrupt. Thus far manually creating PAR2 files has been my only option. (WinRAR also offers recovery volumes, but that of course requires archiving the files--PAR2 does not require that.)

I'd love to see more backup software (esp. partition software) include the ability to spread archives over multiple files and include redundancy/repair files automatically, based on user settings.

Good luck to everyone recovering his/her files.

Hi all,
I had a CRC error in some DVDs recorded by my cancorder (Samsung) I would like to create some copies for my friends but I got the CRC error. I tried xcopy and I could copy all files from those DVDs to my HD then I used Nero to create DVD copies.
Thanks for that tip.

I am not able to copy the .pst file which is very imp for me . i have gone through all the way. plz help me

Bad sectors were causing crc errors in avi and mkv. 3 gb, so was unwilling to redownload. Found this page and xcopy failed. After Wading through countless data recovery options on goggle found jfilerecovery. Portable, did not install just ran. Copied files to another partition. Reported read errors but did not freeze or hang. Copied files play without recoding although with minor glitches where data was lost.
Fast, precise and completely free. Its a java executable .jar so must have sun microsystems jre installed(15mb download, free).
If anyone else ends up here like me then would recommend this before trying/buying any recovery app.
Thank you.

jfilerecovery recommended by anon worke fine here. i had to recover a pretty important videofile which worked out find. after a few retrys with smaller blocks the effective amount of data missing shrinked fom 1,3mb to 97kb in my 1,57gb file. great!

I read recently on the net that rubbing a banana on your unplayable, scratched DVD fixes it. Yeah, right. But here is what I did for my Cyclic Redundancy Check error on my very scratched CD. I actually rubbed my foot on it as I remember. I used Turtle wax. Unbelievable!!! Do you know how many years I tried to get this CD to copy back to my puter? this is how I did it. I dipped my index in the Turtle Wax bottle, softly rubbed it around under it, and softly "played" the CD on a clean, soft towel until it shined. And shine it did. I had nothing to loose.