Solved: External Hard Drive Freezes When Copying Files

The problem: flash drive freezes when copying files

Data transfer between external hard drives and computers happens frequently. We copy files from PC to SD cards, USB flash drives, HDDs or SSDs to backup important files and free up local disk space. We also copy files the other way, thus keeping the external data on the computer. However, the data transfer process does not always go smoothly. Some users find the external hard drive freezes when moving files. Here is a post about the problem:

“I've been trying to transfer files to several external hard drives of mine in order to clear up space on my HDD, however every time I do begin a transfer, it will only do so for about 2-3 seconds, and then the transfer rate will drop rapidly until it is 0mb/s. It remains stuck there until Windows notifies me that something went wrong during the transfer process. Has anyone else had the same issue/know how to remedy?”

4 methods to resolve external hard drive freezes when copying files

If you find the external hard drive crashes when copying files, you can refer to the following methods:

• Method 1: change the way of copying files
• Method 2: enable/disable write caching
• If your external hard drive freezes during file copying, it's possible that the drive has developed bad sectors. Bad sectors are areas on the drive that can no longer be written to or read from.
• Method 4: format your external hard drive as NTFS
• Quicker way to copy files from/to external hard drives

Method 1: change the way of copying files

If you've experienced a frozen external hard drive during file transfer, there are several steps you can take to prevent this issue in the future.

Method 2: enable/disable write caching

If you are copying files to the external hard drive, you can fix the issue by enabling write caching in Device Manager:

1. Right click on the Start icon and select Device Manager.

2. Find the external hard drive, right click on it and select Properties.

3. Under the Policy tab, choose Better performance and click "OK".

Tips: If you're experiencing a frozen external hard drive during file copying, there are several steps you can take to resolve the issue.

Method 3: repair bad sectors on the frozen external hard drive

1. Tap the Search button on the taskbar and type “cmd” in the search box. Right click “cmd” and select “Run as administrator”.

2. Type chkdsk F: /f /r /x and press Enter. You should change the drive letter “F:” to that of the frozen external hard drive.

Tips: When running the Check Disk command (`chkdsk`) on an external hard drive, it's essential to understand the parameters used to ensure the correct execution of the command.

3. Type exit and press Enter to exit Command Prompt.

Method 4: format your external hard drive as NTFS

If you can't copy files to external hard drive and it's frozen, there is an off-chance that the drive is improperly formatted or something is wrong with the drive's software aspect. You can fix it by reformatting the drive to NTFS. However, you'll lose all data you saved on the disk before, so it should be a last resort.

1. Open This PC and right-click the external hard drive.

2. Choose Format. When a menu appears, select NTFS under File System.

3. Click Start to begin formatting your external hard drive.

Quicker way to copy files from/to external hard drives

When dealing with external hard drives that freeze when copying files, it's essential to find a more efficient and hassle-free method for transferring data. Here are some alternatives to consider:

Are you tired of dealing with slow and cumbersome file transfers? Look no further than Qiling Disk Master Standard, the top-notch file sync software that's available for free.

✦ Are you tired of dealing with slow and cumbersome file transfers? Look no further than Qiling Disk Master Standard, the top-notch file sync software that's available for free. This powerful tool is designed to make quick work of data transfers between two locations, saving you time and effort.
✦ Are you tired of dealing with slow and cumbersome cloud syncing? Look no further than Qiling Disk Master Standard, the top-notch cloud syncing software that's available for free.
✦ All Windows PC operating systems like Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP are supported.

Are you looking for a hassle-free way to copy files from your computer to an external hard drive? Look no further than Qiling Disk Master, the ultimate file management software. With its intuitive Sync feature, you can easily transfer files from your computer to an external hard drive, and vice versa.

1. Connect the external hard drive to the computer and make sure it is detected. Download, install and launch Qiling Disk Master.

• Free Download
• Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, 100% Secure

2. Click "Backup and recovery" and select "File Sync".

3. Name the task so that you can distinguish it from other sync tasks. Click “Folder” to select the folder you want to copy.

Tips: Are you looking for a hassle-free way to sync files from your computer to an external hard drive? Look no further than Qiling Disk Master, the ultimate file management software.

4. Click the folder shaped button in the second column to select the external hard drive as the destination path.

5. Click on “Proceed” button to perform the operation. After the operation is finished, safely disconnect your drive.

>> Options: you can write a comment for your sync task so that you can figure out the specific sync contents. You can also enable email notification here.
>> Schedule Sync: you can set the sync task to run periodically. There are five modes provided: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event triggers, and USB plug in. Please upgrade to Qiling Disk Master Professional to enjoy the last two modes.

Notes:

• When using Qiling Disk Master to sync files, it's essential to note that the source folder name should not be modified. If you rename the source folder, the software will no longer be able to sync files from that location.
• When using Qiling Disk Master, it's essential to be aware of the file size limitations when syncing files to FAT or FAT32 drives. The software does not support syncing files larger than 2GB or 4GB to these file systems.
• When working with Qiling Disk Master, you have the flexibility to sync files to various storage options, including external hard drives and cloud drives. If you're looking for a convenient alternative to external hard drives, syncing files to cloud drives can be an excellent choice.

Conclusion

You can fix the issue that external hard drive freezes when copying files with four methods offered in this article. To copy files more efficiently, you should try Qiling Disk Master. Other than copying files between computers and external hard drives, Qiling Disk Master is professional backup software that enables you to schedule automatic backups in Windows 11/10. Give Qiling Disk Master a shot and you will get all-around data and system protection.

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