Copying from HDD to external SSD hangs

Hello,

Thank you for posting your question on our forum.

The issue you've described is fairly common with external SSDs connected via USB.

The problem can arise from several sources: the SSD itself, the USB connection, drivers, power management, or even the file system.

Here's how to diagnose and fix the issue:

1) Narrow Down the Cause

a) Does the hang always happen with this SSD, or does it happen with other external drives too?

If only this SSD hangs, it’s likely a hardware or firmware issue with this specific drive.

b) Does it hang when copying small files, or only when copying large batches or big files (GBs)?

Large transfers often trigger overheating, controller issues, or USB power faults.

2) Check the USB Connection and Port

- Try plugging the SSD into a different USB port, preferably a rear motherboard port if you’re on a desktop (front ports can have weaker power delivery).

- If it’s a USB 3.0/3.1 SSD, make sure you’re connecting to a blue (USB 3.x) port, not a USB 2.0 one.

- If you’re using a USB hub, bypass it and plug the SSD directly into the PC.

- Try a different cable, especially if it’s a USB-C or Micro-B cable, bad cables cause intermittent hangs more often than people expect.

3) Check for File System Errors

If you’ve had to reformat the SSD repeatedly, that’s a red flag for either controller instability or file system corruption.

Run this command in Command Prompt (as Administrator):

chkdsk X: /f

Replace X: with your SSD’s drive letter.
If errors appear, let it fix them. If they reappear frequently, the SSD may be defective.

4) Update Drivers

- Go to Device Manager → Disk drives → [Your SSD name] → Properties → Driver → Update driver.

- Check Universal Serial Bus controllers and update any USB 3.0/3.1 drivers.

- If your SSD is made by a known brand (Samsung, Crucial, SanDisk, WD, Kingston, etc.), go to their official website and download the SSD management software (for example, Samsung Magician, WD Dashboard, or Crucial Storage Executive).

These utilities can update SSD firmware, check the drive’s health (SMART data), test transfer speed and stability.

5) Disable USB Selective Suspend

Windows sometimes cuts power to USB devices during long transfers.

- Open Control Panel → Power Options → Change plan settings → Change advanced power settings.

- Expand USB settings → USB selective suspend setting.

- Set it to Disabled.

6) Check for Overheating

External SSDs (especially cheap ones or those without a metal case) can overheat during large transfers.

When the controller overheats, it can freeze the transfer.

You can test this by copying a smaller batch of files. If it only hangs during long transfers, heat may be the cause. Using a small cooling pad or transferring in shorter batches can help.

7) Test on Another Computer

If the same SSD hangs on a different PC, it's most likely that it is faulty.

If it works fine elsewhere, the problem lies with your desktop’s USB controller or power management.

8) Check SMART Data

You can check drive health with Auslogics SSD Optimizer or the drive manufacturer's ssd utility.

If SMART shows warning attributes (like “Reallocated Sector Count” or “Uncorrectable Error Count”), it’s time to replace the drive.

9) Format Test

Try a full (not quick) format:

- Right-click the SSD in File Explorer → Format → Uncheck “Quick Format.”

This takes longer but scans every sector. If the format fails or takes unusually long, the SSD may have internal hardware defects.

10) If the issue persists across different systems or ports, SMART data shows errors and formatting repeatedly fails/hangs, then the SSD likely has an internal controller or NAND defect, and it should be replaced under warranty.

If you need further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us!