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Cannot copy files from external HDD

GSquadron

GSquadron

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I am having problems with a friend's laptop and his hdd, because it cannot receive more than 100 megs.
When i paste small files from the hdd to the laptop they paste, but when i try
to paste large files it won't work and it will prompt in the middle of the transfer:
"cannot read files from source or disk"
You can than select try again, skip or cancel. Even if i skip, it won't work.
Any help?

EDIT: When i try to paste things from the hdd to my pc, it won't work too!!!
 
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brandonwh64

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Sounds like either USB controller issues or the HDD in the external is dying. Test on out another machine to rule out HDD failure.
 
RCoon

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Are both HDD's formatted as NTFS?
some formatting options have limits, NTFS should take singular files up to silly numbers in size, but, for example FAT will not take anything bigger than 4GB
 
GSquadron

GSquadron

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The hdd is NTFS

@brandon
It is not working on my machine too when i try to paste files it will stop at some point like 500 megs
 
Jetster

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This is what sucks about USB drives. You cant read smart data. Well Ive only found one that can. Some of WD usb drives come with a diagnostic program that will read smart.

What brand and model is it?
 
GSquadron

GSquadron

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Jetster

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brandonwh64

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Sounds like HDD failure or the enclosure is failing. I would check to see if its under warranty and what jetster recommends and if its out of warranty take the hard drive out of the enclosure and try hooking it directly to the motherboard. If that does not work then the drive is dying save what you can.
 
TC-man

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Hi,

you can check the external hard disk condition with HDDScan. Just click on "S.M.A.R.T" and see what's green and what's not. Also, do you hear 'clicks' from the hard disk?

Otherwise, you have to dissect the hard disk from the external enclosure and put it into your PC and test if it works there, just like what brandonwh64 said. If it works, you can then make backups of the important data that are in that hard disk.

But if there's no important or super private stuff in the external hard disk and you still have warranty, then perhaps just rma it and get a replacement.
 
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