File Explorer hanging when waking a drive - normal?

So, when I access an ext drive connected via USB, file explorer will randomly lock, is this normal? The PC is unresponsive for up to 3 or 4 seconds. It's not the only time it hangs but it is always when file explorer is trying to do something. save a file, open a file, etc. It's not regular or predictable. Anyway, that's a larger issue, but the ext. HDD thing, any advice? Thanks.

You should repair NTFS file system errors and locate bad sectors and recovers readable information.

Open the Command Prompt and execute Chkdsk X: /r command. Replace X: drive letter with drive letter assign to external HDD.

dalchina said:

Hi, have you checked what is shown in your task manager when this happens? (Have the task manager visible, then connect and try to access a USB disk).

Look for any process using resources.

You might consider disabling thumbnail generation and see if that helps.

Does this change dependent on how full or empty the drive is, or the file types on the drive?

It's really not possible to test it as it is utterly random. The task manager thing is hard as when it locks I can't access the task manager and when I do, the process that was running high is no longer running, like trying to chase my shadow. It just happened now as I was highlighting a dozen files for deletion, the system locked for 3-4 seconds. That was on an internal HDD. I've already done a reset and a complete reinstall from a factory image.

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Brink said:

Hello,

I've always noticed a bit of delay while waiting on the hard drive to power (spin) back up when it had been turned off and accessed afterwards.

Turn Off Hard Disk After Idle in Windows 10

A delay or locking of the system? This locks/freezes my system for 3-4 seconds.

Brink said:

I'd say it's more of a slight delay/freezing of whatever is trying to access the drive until it finishes spinning back up. Basically, it's just waiting on the drive to turn back on for access.

Can you move the mouse pointer when it happens?

Brink said:

Usually I can.

Yeah, I remember them from Win7. The header would usually say (not responding) but these are different. The computer is locked and unusable, no mouse control and no keyboard control. There is no (not responding) just locked. There's a conflict somewhere but I just don't have the skill to even locate it let alone fix it. Could be a dodgy instal of Win10 from Dell, so even a factory reset just recreates the issue or I could have installed a program or app that is causing a conflict. I remember a very long time ago(15 years?) I fixed an issue that was a driver conflict, but I can't for the life of me remember how I found the error or fixed it.

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FreeBooter said:

Y
Replace X: drive letter with drive letter assign to external HDD.

Could you type exactly what I should type if the drive letter is "D" please?