How to fix ‘Semaphore Timeout Period Has expired’ issue

Looking for information on how to fix ‘Semaphore Timeout Period Has expired’ issue? Well, we all deal with some of the other common Windows errors every day, and they’ve become a normal part of our lives. When we get an error that bothers us, we look for “The Semaphore Timeout Period has Expired” on the internet. There is a Windows PC error fix for this, and most of these errors are easy to fix because there are many online solutions for them. Each Windows-related error has a detailed error fix online.

But some of these Windows errors don’t happen very often, and you won’t see them often. This means that statistically, they only happen once or twice on a system. You want to save copies of your files on your portable drive. Error Code 0x80070079 shows up in the middle of the process. It comes with a message saying, “The semaphore timeout period has ended.” Because you’d have to do the backup process all over again, you’d understandably get angry. Getting rid of the mistake is, of course, the bigger problem. We mentioned below are the ways how to fix ‘Semaphore Timeout Period Has expired’ issue.

What is the “Semaphore Timeout Period Has Expired” error?

Most of the time, the error shown in the image below is what happens. This says that the accessed drive is not accessible, and at the end it says that the semaphore timeout period has ended Windows 10. This type of tab can also be made in a different way. This happens when you try to back up some files, and the error looks like the one in the picture below.

It says “Semaphore timeout period has expired” and has the error code (0x80070079) written behind it. As we’ve already said, the semaphore timeout error usually happens to users of Windows 8, 9, or 10 when their device can’t send files to the external location they want. It can also happen if you try to transfer files from a driver that has become inaccessible during the transfer session.

Causes of the “Semaphore Timeout Period Has Expired” error

1. Communication Delays: This error might arise if there are delays or interruptions in communication between devices or components.
2. Connection Issues: Network or hardware connection problems can lead to this error, especially during data transfers between devices.
3. Driver Problems: Outdated or incompatible drivers, particularly for storage devices, can trigger this error when attempting to access or transfer data.
4. Software Conflicts: Conflicts between running software, especially programs that interact with storage or network functions, can result in this error.
5. Malfunctioning Hardware: Failing hardware components, such as a malfunctioning USB port or a deteriorating cable, can lead to communication breakdowns and this error.
6. Security Software: Overly aggressive firewall or security software settings might block data transfer and cause this issue.
7. File System Corruption: If the file system on the storage device becomes corrupted, it can lead to difficulties in data access and result in this error.

Fix ‘Semaphore Timeout Period Has expired’ issue

Temporarily disable antivirus and Firewall

If you get the 0x80070079 error when sending files to the cloud over a wireless network, turn off your antivirus and Windows Firewall for a while. To turn off your antivirus, just right-click the icon in the right corner of your Taskbar and choose Disable or Quit. Follow these steps to turn off your Firewall for a while:

1. Type Firewall into the search box on Cortana.cpl and hit the Enter key.
2. Choose the option to turn Windows Firewall on or off.
3. Choose Private Network Settings. Turn off the firewall in Windows.
4. This step must be done again for Public Network Settings.
5. Click the OK button.

Run SFC and DISM tools to check for corrupted Windows files

Any Windows operation can be stopped if the system has corrupted or broken files or is missing some core files. Run the System File Checker (SFC) scan and the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool to see if this is true.

1. Type cmd or Command Prompt into the search box on Cortana.
2. Right-click on the search result and choose “Run as administrator.“
3. Once the new window opens, type sfc /scannow and hit Enter. Then wait until Windows scans your computer.
4. After the procedure is done, the system will tell you if anything was found and what was fixed.

Go back to the Administrator to do a DISM scan: The command line:

1. Copy the DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth command and paste it.
2. Press Enter to run it, then wait for the results of the scan.

Remove HDD entries via Device Manager

1. Right-click on the Start button.
2. Choose Device Manager.
3. Add to the section on Universal Serial Bus controllers.
4. Look at the list of things.
5. If your HDD is on that list, right-click it.
6. Choose “Disable device”

Ensure your external device is set to NTFS mode

If you need to move a large file to the external drive, especially a flash drive, you need to make sure it is set to NTFS mode. (IMPORTANT: Make sure you back up all your data before formatting the device, because all the files on it will be deleted.)

1. Right-click on the device you want to connect.
2. Pick the Format.
3. When asked again, choose NTFS. Pick. Format in a Snap.
4. Continue copying your file without getting the “The semaphore timeout period has expired” error.

Update Wireless network adapters

1. Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Network adapters section and right-click on your network adapter.
3. Choose Update Driver Software, then select Look for updated driver software on its own.
4. Restart your PC.

Conclusion

People might get this kind of system error when they try to move files, especially large files, from their Windows system to any other external device or when they try to use a certain driver that is connected to their computer. People won’t be able to use the current drive or finish the transfer process because of this error. In the end, the “semaphore” problem is happening within the local network, between the computer and an external driver, or just because your portable drive has a limit on how many files it can transfer at once. If you want to know more information about this issue so you can visit Microsoft Official Website.

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