External very slow to copy files onto it

JO69 · 27 Mar 2021

I normally copy a folder full of files (9GB) off my Windows 10 pc onto 2 External Drives as backup
Do it weekly and never had a problem.
I copied the folder to one of the extenals today and it took 7 minutes

Started to copy them to the second External straight afterwards and it said 30 mins, then 1 hour and now 3 hours later still not finished
Is the External failing?
Dont understand technical terms sorry.

dalchina · 27 Mar 2021

Hi, try Hard Disk Sentinel (trial) - SSDs too. Good at reporting on communication issues - best report I know of right on its GUI.

How are the disks connected? Are you using the same ports & cables as usual?

You can also run chkdsk X: /scan on the source drive just to check, from an admin command prompt where X is the relevant drive letter.

JO69 · 27 Mar 2021

The external is plugged into a USB hub. As I cannot reach other USB behind computer. My computer started freezing after awhile trying to copy files
Don't understand technical terms sorry

dalchina · 27 Mar 2021

I will try to make this simpler for you- Long version.

1. Download, install and run this progam:
Download Hard Disk Sentinel

(How did I find that? I used Google to search for Hard Disk Sentinel).

2. Post a screenshot of the result of running that program. That means making an image of what you see on the screen and posting it using the forum like this:

External very slow to copy files onto it-screenshot-.png

Your image should look something like this:

External very slow to copy files onto it-1.png

Make sure you've chosen the drive of interest on the left of that program's GUI.

3. Open a command prompt as admin. (You can use Google to find out how to do that e.g. How do you...)
Example of one way:

External very slow to copy files onto it-untitled.png

4. In the command box type a command like this:

Choose the appropriate drive letter for your situation. Press 'Enter' to run the command.

5. Post a screenshot of what it says at the end.

Hope that's clear enough...

If you have difficulty with this, you might consider asking a friend to help of course.

JO69 · 29 Mar 2021

The external has been freezing a lot and yesterday an error message appeared 0x800701E3

This morning another message is there.

ignatzatsonic · 29 Mar 2021

This might help with that error message, but I think you ought to be drive shopping:

Error 0x800701E3 on Windows 10/8.1/7-It’s Easy to Fix

JO69 · 29 Mar 2021

ignatzatsonic said:

This might help with that error message, but I think you ought to be drive shopping:

Error 0x800701E3 on Windows 10/8.1/7-It’s Easy to Fix

Thanks, thats something else I have learnt.
I need to get another external drive then
But dont know where to start. Have always bought WD ones but 2 have now failed.

Am not sure about returning the faulty one as it is full of personal stuff and they may get it working.

ignatzatsonic · 29 Mar 2021

WD is as good as any as far as I know....all brands have many failures.

They are all just rank commodities ground out by the millions on Asian assembly lines. Quality control mediocre.

I hear you regarding personal data. I've decided if I have drive failures that I will NOT return the drive for a warranty claim. You make the decision yourself.

dalchina · 29 Mar 2021

No response my my post #4? Good luck.

JO69 · 29 Mar 2021

dalchina said:

No response my my post #4? Good luck.

Thank you... I Have saved it for future reference
Am very wary of doing anything different even though had a pc for 20 years lol
Am happy sorting out my 3000 ebook. Listening to my music and viewing Family photos.
Youtube also sometimes
This all keeps my mind active and I would not have survived without it in Lockdown.
I have never typed anything in the command prompt bov in all that time lol