Having trouble with your external hard drive freezing when copying files on Windows or Mac? Let’s explore some solutions to fix this issue.
Change Copying Method or Cable
If you are using a USB cable to connect your external hard drive to your computer, try using a different cable to see if that solves the problem. A faulty cable can sometimes cause freezing issues during file transfers.
Additionally, consider changing the copying method you are using. Instead of dragging and dropping files, try using a different method such as copy and paste or using a file synchronization software. This can sometimes alleviate freezing problems when transferring files.
Check Storage Space and Manage Write Caching
| Operating System | Check Storage Space | Manage Write Caching |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | 1. Open File Explorer 2. Right-click on your external hard drive 3. Select Properties 4. Check the available space under the General tab |
1. Open Device Manager 2. Expand Disk drives 3. Right-click on your external hard drive 4. Go to the Policies tab 5. Check “Enable write caching on the device” |
| Mac | 1. Open Finder 2. Select your external hard drive 3. Press Command + I 4. Check the available space under the General Information section |
1. Open Disk Utility 2. Select your external hard drive 3. Go to the Erase tab 4. Check “Enable write caching on the device” |
Format as NTFS and Disable Fast Startup
Format Your External Hard Drive as NTFS: To fix the issue of your external hard drive freezing when copying files, you should ensure that the drive is formatted as NTFS. To do this, connect your external hard drive to your computer and open File Explorer. Right-click on the external hard drive and select “Format.” In the Format window, choose NTFS from the File System drop-down list and click “Start” to begin formatting the drive.
Disable Fast Startup: Fast Startup can sometimes cause issues with external hard drives, leading to freezes when copying files. To disable Fast Startup, go to the Control Panel on your computer and select “Power Options.” Click on “Choose what the power buttons do” on the left side of the window. Then, click on “Change settings that are currently unavailable” and uncheck the box next to “Turn on fast startup (recommended).” Click “Save changes” to disable Fast Startup and resolve the freezing issue with your external hard drive.
Repair Bad Sectors and External Hard Drive
To repair bad sectors on an external hard drive causing it to freeze when copying files, you can use the built-in Windows utility CHKDSK. First, connect your external hard drive to your computer and open a command prompt window. Type chkdsk /f X: (replace X with the drive letter of your external hard drive) and press Enter. This will scan and repair any bad sectors on the drive.
If you are using a Mac, you can repair bad sectors on an external hard drive by using the built-in Disk Utility tool. Connect your external hard drive to your Mac and open Disk Utility. Select your external hard drive from the list and click on the First Aid tab. Click on Run to start the repair process.
By repairing bad sectors on your external hard drive, you can prevent it from freezing when copying files and ensure the integrity of your data.
Stop Running Programs and Services
When you have multiple programs or services running in the background, it can slow down the copying process and lead to freezes. To avoid this, close any unnecessary programs and services by accessing the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc on Windows).
Additionally, you can disable startup programs that are not essential for your system to boot up. This can be done through the Task Manager or System Configuration utility on Windows.
By stopping unnecessary programs and services, you can allocate more resources to the copying process and reduce the chances of your external hard drive freezing.
Utilize a Safer File Copying Approach
- Use a file copying software:
- Download and install a reliable file copying software such as TeraCopy or FastCopy.
- Open the software and select the files you want to copy from the external hard drive.
- Choose the destination folder where you want to paste the files.
- Start the copying process and monitor the progress to ensure it completes successfully.
FAQ
How do I fix my external hard drive from freezing when copying files?
To fix your external hard drive from freezing when copying files, you can change the settings to enable better performance. Simply access the Device Manager through the Start menu, locate your external hard drive, change the policy to Better performance under the Properties tab, and click “OK”.
Why does my external hard drive keep freezing?
Your external hard drive may keep freezing due to potential damage or malfunction of the hard drive itself, or issues with the USB cable or port. Try troubleshooting by using a different USB cable and port to rule out any faults in these components.
Why does copying files keep freezing?
Copying files keeps freezing due to potential disk errors, like bad sectors. To resolve this issue, you can run a CHKDSK scan on your external drive using Command Prompt. Connect your PC with the external drive to initiate the scan.
