Python - OSError: [WinError 17] The system cannot move the file to a different disk drive:

Question

I'm using

os.rename()

to try to move pdf files between drives. Attempting this I receive the error:

OSError: [WinError 17] The system cannot move the file to a different disk drive

Is anyone aware of a function which contains similar functionality to os.rename and allows for across disk file transfer?

docs.python.org/2/library/shutil.html

kylieCatt
– kylieCatt

2014-01-14 14:54:07 +00:00
Commented Jan 14, 2014 at 14:54 — kylieCatt
– kylieCatt, Commented Jan 14, 2014 at 14:54

Georg Plaz · Accepted Answer · 2023-02-19 16:21:03Z

60

os.rename() change the path of the file but doesn't move its actual data on the disk. this is why you can't move (rename) it from one drive to another.

moving between drives is actually copy it first, and then delete the source file. you can use shutil.move() method which do it when you trying to transfer files between two drives

import shutil
shutil.move(src, dest)

edited Feb 19, 2023 at 16:21

Georg Plaz

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answered Jan 14, 2014 at 14:58

Elisha

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