External Hard Drive Is Slow – How to Speed Up Without Losing Data

I. The reasons for the slowdown of the external hard disk and the corresponding solutions

Before judging the transfer speed of your external hard disk, understand the impact of file sizes: copying a large file is faster than copying many small files. For example, copying 2-3 GB video files may reach about 20 MB/s, while transferring a hundred pictures may drop to 2-3 MB/s. Therefore, it’s normal for the transfer speed to slow down with many small files. However, if the speed is also very slow with a small number of large files, there may be an issue with the external hard disk. Check the following content to understand the cause and solution.

1. Disk defragmentation has not been performed for a long time

When Windows processes or stores disk files, they are often scattered in discontinuous locations on the disk. For example, if several files are stored in an area and one is deleted, the space it occupied is marked as “deleted.” New data can then be stored there, and if not overwritten, the old data may be restored.

When accessing a file, the computer reads data from different disk locations, increasing reading time. Disk defragmentation integrates fragmented files, arranging them neatly to reduce reading time and improve computer operation and file transfer speed.

If your external hard drive is slow due to excessive fragmentation, run a disk defragmentation. Disk Defragmenter in Windows rearranges fragmented data for more efficient operation. Steps to defragment the external hard disk are as follows:

Step 1: Connect the external hard drive to the Windows computer.

Step 2: Open (This PC), right-click on the removable hard drive, and select (Properties).

Step 3: Go to the (Tools) tab and then click (Optimize) under “Optimize and Defragment Drive”.

Step 4: Select the external hard disk to defragment and click Optimize. Defragmentation is typically for mechanical hard disks. For SSDs, Windows 8 and 10 will perform Trim optimization. Please view the reasons and solutions for the slow read and write speeds of SSDs.

2. File system error or bad sector

Using a external hard disk may result in bad sectors or file system errors, affecting its normal use. You can use Windows built-in tools to check and fix these errors.

Step 1: Connect the external hard disk to the computer. Press Windows icon + R, enter diskmgmt.msc in the input box, and click OK to access disk management.

Step 2: In Disk Management, right-click on the failed hard disk partition and select (Properties).

Step 3: Go to the (Tools) tab and click (Check).

Step 4: For Windows 7 or 8, check the options (Automatically fix file system errors) and (Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors). Windows 10 repairs all errors by default. Wait for the process to complete.

The disk check function marks bad sectors as unusable at the file system level to prevent data from being written to unstable storage spaces. However, scanning tools like HDD-Scan will still display these bad sectors. To completely address bad sectors, you can attempt low-level formatting (not always effective) or replace the hard disk.

3. When the external hard disk is in use, multiple applications are opened at the same time

A portable hard drive may be slow due to heavy load, such as downloading files, watching videos, and scanning for viruses simultaneously, which can significantly reduce its performance.

Close all running programs and then try transferring files or running a program. If the external hard disk works normally, the issue is due to too many programs running simultaneously. If it remains slow, other factors may be causing the problem.

4. The power of the USB port is insufficient

If your external hard disk connects to the computer and allows file viewing but operates slowly, it may be due to insufficient power. Some external hard drives need more power than the USB interface can provide, as they require different startup and operating currents. Try connecting it to the USB port on the back of the case instead of the front. If connected to a laptop, a power shortage may also be the issue.

If you want to solve the power shortage problem, you can take the following two methods:

Buy a special external hard disk USB cable with dual USB ports on one side for enhanced power supply from your computer and a connection to the external hard disk on the other end.

Buying a USB hub with supplemental power is a better option, as it allows you to connect multiple external hard drives simultaneously without power shortages and doesn’t occupy many computer USB ports.

5. The external hard disk is infected with virus

If your external hard drive is infected with a virus, it may cause slowness. Simply connect the drive to your computer and run anti-virus software to scan and remove the virus.

6. The external hard disk is damaged

If your external hard disk is damaged or nearing the end of its life, it may operate slowly. Check for the following conditions:

● Your external hard drive makes a clicking sound when connected to the computer or reading data. View the causes of hard drive crackling.

● When using a removable hard disk, the computer freezes.

● You cannot check for disk errors because the program freezes while running the checker.

● If the external hard disk’s indicator light is off or Windows cannot recognize it after connecting to the computer, refer to the preliminary solutions for the hard disk not recognized. If it remains unrecognized, the data may be damaged.

The external hard disk may be damaged by a slight impact. Try to recall if it has experienced any impact during use. Even if there is no visible damage, a book dropping on it while in use can cause the computer to freeze or the hard disk to make a clicking sound. If the computer returns to normal after the hard disk is removed, the hard disk is likely damaged or nearing the end of its lifespan.

For such problems, the best solution is to replace the external hard disk. Before replacement, please backup all data. If data is lost, consider the following recovery methods.

II. Use Renee Undeleter to recover lost data from external hard disk

1. What is Renee Undeleter?

Renee Undeleter is designed to recover various data files. Whether you accidentally delete important files, empty the recycle bin, or format the disk/storage, this tool can retrieve lost data. It includes four modules: Fast Partition Scan, Whole Partition Scan, Whole Disk Scan, and Image Creation, addressing all data loss problems comprehensively.

2. How to use Renee Undeleter to recover lost data from external hard disk?

Step 1: Connect the external hard disk to the computer. Download, install, and open Renee Undeleter. Select (Whole Partition Scan).

Step 2: Select the external hard disk partition and click Next. Wait patiently for the file scanning process, which depends on the partition size.

Step 3: After the scan, preview and select the desired file. Click Recover to save it to another disk.