Cant copy easily on 1 TB external Disk

[sevenmad]

Hi,

I have recently bought a 1 TB external disk (imation) but i cannot copy files into it easily. Its been formated as NTFS so it shouldnt have any problems with large files.

I found that it manages to copy a couple of files and then just sticks! or the computer says: no such disk H:/ is available anymore and it just wont copy anymore.

What can the problem be?

Thanks in advance

 

[AutomaticCoding]

Sounds like the controller on the external drive is locking up, I've had a few drives that die when I start reading/writing a certain sector (Not sure if it's trying to reallocate them and locks up or what), can I ask if you did a full badblocks report on the disk before using it?

I'd always recommend running something like badblocks over the disk to be sure that there's no issues.

 

[jumanji]

Is your external drive a portable one or is it a Desktop model with a power brick? Ensure that the power brick is securely connected and there is no loose connection and also the data cable is secure.

Try the external hard drive on another USB port - in case it is a portable one.

Try the external Hard drive on another PC. Try copying the same set of files - for a meaningful diagnosis you should keep all other conditions as nearly the same as possible.

Is it able to copy the files or does it disappear in that PC too?

If it does disappear then get the drive replaced.

 

[AutomaticCoding]

If it does disappear then get the drive replaced.

How are you sure that it's not just a singular sector and a pretty poor firmware that locks up if the other function doesn't return?

He may get another drive with the same firmware, same issue, just that any broken sectors may not be located near the front of the drive and he'll just have the same issue down the line.

Once again, I stand behind my "Run badblocks or another piece of related software" idea.

 

[jumanji]

When a drive leaves the manufacturing facility, it will carry the latest firmware and all bad sectors would have been mapped to reserved sectors.

I wouldn't expect a new drive to behave erratically in anyway - whether a bad sector or improper firmware or a problematic power brick.

While I do not know the return policy of vendors in U.K., it is very easy to return the drive to the vendor and get a refund or replacement in U.S.A. with no reasons assigned if one is not satisfied, and any number of times, if the same problem persists. ( In India also, most reputed vendors will replace the item within one month and ask you to get in touch with the manufacturer beyond that period. The user has to ascertain the return policy at the time of purchase.)

So with a new drive, I would only check that nothing is wrong at my end with some preliminary tests as a normal user. I shall not wear any other cap.

In case the drive is non-returnable to the vendor, the next course open to the OP, would be to contact the tech support of the manufacturer. I wouldn't even recommend that the OP run any hard drive diagnostic tests. Let the tech support resolve the problem or replace it under warranty.

I will not break my head, not until the vendor's or manufacturer's liability is over.

 

[AutomaticCoding]

When a drive leaves the manufacturing facility, it will carry the latest firmware and all bad sectors would have been mapped to reserved sectors.

I wouldn't expect a new drive to behave erratically in anyway - whether a bad sector or improper firmware or a problematic power brick.

While I do not know the return policy of vendors in U.K., it is very easy to return the drive to the vendor and get a refund or replacement in U.S.A. with no reasons assigned if one is not satisfied.

So with a new drive, I would only check that nothing is wrong at my end with some preliminary tests as a normal user.

In case the drive is non-returnable to the vendor, the next course open to the OP, would be to contact the tech support of the manufacturer. I wouldn't even recommend that the OP run and hard drive diagnostic tests. Let the tech support resolve the problem or replace it under warranty.

I will not break my head.

1. Hardware overall rarely has the latest firmware, from MOBOs to hard drives to raid controllers to keyboards. They're nearly always shipped with old firmware. I recently bought a MOBO and it was shipped with 3 year old firmware, when the last firmware patch was 2 years ago.

2. You wouldn't expect one, doesn't mean it won't come like that. Hell, I've seen people who buy brand new HDDs that were failing upon arrival with no tests (Just the SMART values completely failing).

3. It's also pretty easy here, but, why return it if a new drive isn't going to fix it? It may have the same firmware if the firmware is the bug. It may have more issues, I'd rather try and fix the one I have to see if it's something small than paying for shipping/waiting. Sure, if it's a huge issue then return it, but, I'd rather do some self tests first.

4. On all new drives I run badblocks & then wipe the drives with pure 1s, then again with pure 0s. All in all I probably go over the drive ~ 7 times before I use it (Badblocks does 5, doesn't it? I can't remember. Either 4 or 5, so 6 or 7 times).

5. I'd rather run one command in terminal than waste a good couple of hours talking to tech support/going to the post office/buying boxes/packaging it/etc.


In fact, just to go back to point 1, I've bought products off amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, newegg, overclockers.uk, etc... The majority of "older" firmware was from US venders (newegg).

 

[sevenmad]

Sounds like the controller on the external drive is locking up, I've had a few drives that die when I start reading/writing a certain sector (Not sure if it's trying to reallocate them and locks up or what), can I ask if you did a full badblocks report on the disk before using it?

I'd always recommend running something like badblocks over the disk to be sure that there's no issues.

I did disk check and fix bad sectors and etc. no help. i'll try badlock as well and report back.

Is your external drive a portable one or is it a Desktop model with a power brick? Ensure that the power brick is securely connected and there is no loose connection and also the data cable is secure.

Try the external hard drive on another USB port - in case it is a portable one.

Try the external Hard drive on another PC. Try copying the same set of files - for a meaningful diagnosis you should keep all other conditions as nearly the same as possible.

Is it able to copy the files or does it disappear in that PC too?

If it does disappear then get the drive replaced.

My drive is a portable one with no power brick (just a USB 3.0 port). ill do what you say and report that too.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
let's go over this one by one

1) is it a USB3 or a USB2 drive.
2) is it self powered or or not.
3) are you plugging it into a USB2 port or a USB 3 one.
4) Are you using a USB hub - either USB2 or USB3 -- doesn't matter.
5) If using a Hub is it powered up correctly -- USB hubs especially if used on laptops should be powered -- the laptop won't probably deliver enough power to both Hub and HDD if self powered.

depending on your answers here we can go further.

IMO complex scenarios like firmware etc are usually NEVER the problem with these types of devices -- sometimes a simple total SWITCH OFF and ON again of the computer often fixes the problem --note not a RESTART but a COMPLETE POWER OFF WITH PLUG ALSO REMOVED --some computers remain in "Charging" mode at power off if the power socket is not disconnected.

As an Engineer of "The Old School" I've invariably found the SIMPLEST solutions are invariably the correct ones. --Sometimes I actually have to laugh reading the most complex and convoluted solutions some people propose BEFORE trying the usual simple things first.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[sevenmad]

it copies without any problems from another computer. I copied two files; one of 38 mb and another of 280 mb (approximately) and they were copied with no problem whatsoever, whereas, on my own computer it sometimes even failed to copy files as little as 17 mb!

Also, the computer hangs and locks when the disk fails to copy as well. the problem definitely lies in my own windows or computer.

It doesnt copy from the disk to the computer either.

Edit: AAAAAAAND it getting scary! omg now i here a clicking sound from the external hard disk when i stick it to the computer!!??

 

[sevenmad]

Hi there
let's go over this one by one

1) is it a USB3 or a USB2 drive.
2) is it self powered or or not.
3) are you plugging it into a USB2 port or a USB 3 one.
4) Are you using a USB hub - either USB2 or USB3 -- doesn't matter.
5) If using a Hub is it powered up correctly -- USB hubs especially if used on laptops should be powered -- the laptop won't probably deliver enough power to both Hub and HDD if self powered.

depending on your answers here we can go further.

IMO complex scenarios like firmware etc are usually NEVER the problem with these types of devices -- sometimes a simple total SWITCH OFF and ON again of the computer often fixes the problem --note not a RESTART but a COMPLETE POWER OFF WITH PLUG ALSO REMOVED --some computers remain in "Charging" mode at power off if the power socket is not disconnected.

As an Engineer of "The Old School" I've invariably found the SIMPLEST solutions are invariably the correct ones. --Sometimes I actually have to laugh reading the most complex and convoluted solutions some people propose BEFORE trying the usual simple things first.

Cheers
jimbo

1) USB 3
2) No power supply
3) Im sticking to USB 2 port
4) yes- but i havent had issues with other drives before
5) Im using desktop, the hub doesnt need power, it sticks directly to the desktop and gets all the electricity it want. Plus, the external drive worked fine on a laptop but isnt working on my desktop

And i hope you can laugh at the solution to this problem too! lol

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
Sometimes USB 3 drives are "Iffy" on desktops not equipped with USB 3 ports.
Another case to avoid is if you have something like a Mouse / keyboard / printer connected to the same hub as the USB 3 drive you can get problems as you are mixing a USB 3 device with USB 1.1 devices. Also ideally for disk drives a hub should be powered.

Can you try and plug the USB 3 drive into a FULL USB 2 port which is not shared with any slow devices such as mice / printers etc.

Laptops usually implement USB 2 and USB 3 better than older desktops.

I've had issues on a desktop like this -- usually putting the USB 3 driver in a single dedicated USB 2 port or using a powered hub will fix the problem. USB 2 drives tend to use less power anyway so you won't have any problem - but if you look at one end of the USB 3 connector (the end that goes into the disk not the blue USB connector to the computer) you'll see there's a different almost two pronged connector which has different electronics and is significantly different from the standard mini / micro usb connector on usb 2 disks.

I'm using 3 of the Wd My passport 2 TB drives -- they also work fine on a USB 2 hub but mine is powered.

BTW the clacking sound of the disk is almost a CLASSIC case of the disk not having enough "Juice" so I'd almost bet you a brewery full of beer to a sack of "Horse Sh--E" that the problem lies with your Hub.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[sevenmad]

^ done... with no positive result :'(

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
Try powering OFF the computer completely , wait two minutes and Re-boot leaving the external disk in the computer.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[sevenmad]

^nope. still didnt work THOUGH there was partial success. I managed to copy a 260 mb file from the disk to the computer, something i couldnt do last time. and the clicking sound is gone too.

 

[sevenmad]

any ideas?

 

[sevenmad]

Interesting, i just found that my other external hdd (160 GB- USB 2.0) which never used to have problems is giving the same error message when i try to copy 31 GB of info into it!

I think that shows that the problems lays in my windows. Can re installing windows help?