USB External HDD disconnects during file transfer

[danmaku]

I connected a Seagate Barracuda 7200 (750GB) to an enclosure (USB2.0, Wintek Filemate) for backup purposes. It's equipped with it's own PSU.

When I try to transfer large files over 1 GB in size, the connection spontaneously drops during the transfer. Sometimes, if I'm browsing files on the HDD and the HDD disconnects, it will cause explorer to crash.

I've attempted to run both Windows 7 disk repair processes and a slow format to correct this, but both fail midway as well for the same reason. Quick formatting seems to work okay, though. So, in other words, any process that takes over 5-10 minutes to complete will apparently fail. My USB port drivers on my laptop are up to date (Intel doesn't offer proprietary drivers for what I'm using, I'm using Microsoft's) and work well with other accessories such as my mouse. The enclosure's controller board (SATA) works seemingly reliably as well using other, smaller HDDs. I don't think it's an issue with the cable either.

Anyone have any idea what's going on? I was thinking that there's a bunch of bad/corrupted disk sectors that couldn't be written on successfully which would cause file transfers and other processes to hiccup and maybe initiate the disconnection process, but I dunno for sure.

 

[TVeblen]

Hello danmaku. Welcome to the forum.

You need to determine if the problem follows the HDD or lives with the enclosure.
For this you will need a desktop computer.

If you connect that problem HDD internally in the desktop and the problem remains then it is with the hard drive.

If you connect it and it works fine then it is your enclosure.

Other possibilities are an underpowered USB port on the laptop - an issue that should not arise using a self-powered enclosure.
or
A bad USB cable. Try a different one.