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    External HDD Seek time

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Lanaya, Dec 4, 2009.

  1. Lanaya

    Lanaya Templar Assassin

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    I have a 500GB WD MyBook (passport I believe?) the 2.5" formfactor. I plugged it in the other day and tried opening an image I'd saved to it and it took 7-8 seconds to load (usually its less than a second) after trying a few more times to the same effect I copied the data from the 500GB to my 1TB Mybook (Essential, 3.5" form factor) All was well and good, images were loading smoothly (same images still load smoothly from my desktop), until about 5 minutes ago I plugged that same 1TB Mybook in, tried to open a different image and again am getting a 7-10 second delay, and its also causing explorer to be unresponsive while it loads. I safely remove my devices every time (had a bad loss of a few GB of data a few years back when not doing so, a failing sony memstick) so I Don't see how this error could be reproducing itself on both devices, as my 1TB drive has never left its nice cozy spot on a shelf beside my desk. This leads me to believe it is some sort of internal issue with my system? Any advice? *edit* this only began happening after installing SP2 to a fresh install of WinVista x64. Specs for my laptop are in my sig. *edit 2* currently running a Defrag F: -a to see if thats the issue, I haven't defragged the drive in some time. Its only some files it seems, from a recent backup. :| zero percent file fragmentation. Alright..I've narrowed it down to 1 specific folder. It is only this folder, no files or subfolders, no folders above it. Never seen this happen before.
     
    Lanaya, Dec 4, 2009
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  2. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Hmm, interesting.

    My guess would have been fragmentation - seek times have nothing to do with the location of the drive - only transfer speeds can be limited by USB.

    If its one folder - and its not fragmented, maybe its permissions? Is there any encryption on those files?
     
    DetlevCM, Dec 4, 2009
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  3. Lanaya

    Lanaya Templar Assassin

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    nope, no encryption of any kind. Just a bunch of images I've used for toying with manipulation techniques in photoshop. the folder is a mix of .PSDs, .pngs .jpgs and a few shortcuts to some websites I used for tutorials. And transfer speeds aren't being limited by USB, but seek time of that point of the drive are(for some reason). wish I could test just that bit of the drive.
     
    Lanaya, Dec 4, 2009
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  4. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    hmm... what about running checkdisc on that drive?
     
    DetlevCM, Dec 4, 2009
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  5. Lanaya

    Lanaya Templar Assassin

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    Haven't run checkdsk but I've run all 3 of the internal WD diagnostics, and HDTune diagnostics and no issues were found, will chkdsk now
     
    Lanaya, Dec 4, 2009
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  6. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Strange...

    If its not fragmentation I'd go for damage to the surface or bad sectors...

    If Checkdisc (I always forget how its abbreviated) doesn't find anything I'll be clueless...
     
    DetlevCM, Dec 4, 2009
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  7. Lanaya

    Lanaya Templar Assassin

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    chkdsk hasnt found anything yet but stage 4/5 is running excedingly slow
     
    Lanaya, Dec 4, 2009
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  8. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I think the last part is always slow, the final report will be interesting :)
     
    DetlevCM, Dec 4, 2009
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  9. Lanaya

    Lanaya Templar Assassin

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    There were no errors...and it took over 7 hours to run :S
     
    Lanaya, Dec 4, 2009
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  10. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    That is rather long...

    But it knows you now know your drive is fine :) but it still doesn't solve your problem :(
     
    DetlevCM, Dec 4, 2009
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  11. Lanaya

    Lanaya Templar Assassin

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    Yea..I went to sleep, woke up 6 hours later and it was at 98% completing stage 5 of 5 lol. But yea, The files don't have any issue on my desktop, makes me wonder if I just move the files to a different folder on the drive and then delete that one folder, if I'll have any more issues.
     
    Lanaya, Dec 4, 2009
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  12. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I'm not sure... if its a home drive, you may want to try to change full access to "everybody" on your desktop.
     
    DetlevCM, Dec 4, 2009
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