How to remove ‘The Semaphore Timeout Period Has Expired’ error?

Picture this: You’re trying to create a backup of your files to your portable drive. Mid-way through the process, you see the Error Code 0x80070079. It is accompanied by a message which says, “The semaphore timeout period has expired.” Naturally, you’d get frustrated because you’d need to perform the backup process all over again. Of course, the bigger problem here is getting rid of the error.

What is the Error Code 0x80070079?

Usually, this error shows up while users are trying to transfer files to and from an external device or a local network. You may ask, “What does it mean if the semaphore timeout period has expired?” Well, this message is simply telling you that your operating system failed to retry the network connection, causing it to time out.  This problem can happen when there is a faulty network adapter, slow wired links, or weak signals.

It can be challenging to identify the exact cause of the issue. Despite that, we are here to help you resolve the problem. In this blog post, we are going to teach you how to fix ‘The semaphore timeout period has expired’ issue on Windows 10. We’ve listed the solutions from the easiest to the most complicated. So, work your way down the items until you find the one that works best for you.

Solution 1: Running SFC and DISM Scans

If the error was caused by damaged, missing, or corrupt files, you can resolve it by running scans through the System File Checker (SFC) and the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools. To do that, follow the steps below:

1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows Key+R on your keyboard.
2. Inside the Run dialog box, type cmd.
3. Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to launch an elevated form of Command Prompt.
4. Once Command Prompt is up, type, sfc /scannow, then press Enter.

Further Reading: Windows Command Prompt: 28 Most Useful CMD Commands [with Examples]

Wait for the System File Checker to scan your computer for problematic files. Once the process is complete, follow the on-screen instructions to resolve the error. After that, run a DISM scan by following the instructions below:

1. Open Command Prompt again, then execute the command line below:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

2. Wait for the scan results, and if the utility discovers an issue, follow the instructions for resolving it.

Solution 2: Disabling Your Antivirus and Firewall Temporarily

As we’ve mentioned, the Error Code 0x80070079 appears during file transfer over a wireless network. It is possible that along the process, your antivirus or firewall interfered, hindering the successful transfer. So, if you want to know how to fix the Error 0x80070079, you must learn how to deactivate your antivirus and firewall temporarily.

To disable your antivirus, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows Key+I on your keyboard to launch the Settings app.
2. Select Update & Security.
3. On the next page, go to the left pane, then select Windows Security.
4. Now, move to the right pane and click Virus & Threat Protection.
5. Click Manage Settings under the Virus & Threat Protection Settings section.
6. Toggle the switch below Real-Time Protection to Off.

Related: [EXPLAINED] Does Windows 10 Need Antivirus?

To disable your firewall, follow these steps:

1. Go to your taskbar, then click the Search icon.
2. Inside the Search box, type firewall.cpl, then hit Enter.
3. On the left-pane menu, click the Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off option.
4. Select Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) under Private Network Settings.
5. Perform the same step for Public Network Settings.
6. Click OK to save the changes you’ve made.

Once you’ve completed these steps, try transferring the files again to see if the error has been resolved.

Also Interesting: How to Check Firewall Settings in Windows 10 PC

Solution 3: Updating Your Wireless Network Adapters

If there is something wrong with your network adapters, the best way to fix them is to update their drivers. Here are the steps:

1. Launch the Run dialog box by pressing Windows Key+R on your keyboard.
2. Inside the Run dialog box, type devmgmt.msc, then click OK.
3. Once the Device Manager is up, expand the contents of the Network Adapters category.
4. Right-click your network adapter, then select Update Driver.
5. On the new window, select the Search automatically for updated driver software option.
6. Once the update process is complete, restart your computer.

Also Read: How to Update Device Drivers on a Windows 10 PC?

Solution 4: Removing HDD Entries

The Error Code 0x80070079 may prevent you from using your HDD normally. So, we suggest that you go to the Device Manager and check if there are old entries of external drives. If there are any, get rid of them. Here are the steps:

1. Go to your taskbar, then right-click the Windows icon.
2. Select Device Manager from the list.
3. Now, click the Universal Serial Bus Controllers category to expand its contents.
4. Go through the list of devices and check if your HDD is there.
5. If you see an old entry of your HDD, right-click it, then select Disable Device.

Also Interesting: How to Speed Up Hard Drive Performance on Windows?

Solution 5: Checking If Your External Device Is Set to NTFS

You must set your external drive to NTFS mode, especially when you’re transferring large files. So, if you want to resolve the Error Code 0x80070079, we suggest that you format your external drive. Doing so will set it to NTFS mode. However, before you perform this procedure, make sure that you back up the data on your external drive. Keep in mind that this process will erase all the files on the drive. Once you’ve done that, you can follow the steps below:

1. Right-click your external drive.
2. Choose Format from the context menu.
3. Select NTFS on the next prompt.
4. Choose Quick Format.

After the process is done, try transferring your files again to check if the Error Code 0x80070079 is gone.

What other error codes would you like us to resolve?

Let us know in the comments below!