Slow/no transfer from portable HDD to PC

[Brooktop]

All of a sudden, it seems to be taking ages to transfer files from my 40GB Fat 32 portable HDD to my pc. I record programmes on my PS3 (via Play TV) and then transfer them to my pc for conversion to mp4.

I've re-formatted the portable HDD and that makes no difference. It takes about 2 mins for the PS3 to copy 2Gb of data to the HDD...but then the PC is saying it will take 120 mins+ to transfer to the PC. After about 5 mins, I just get a message saying that it can't copy the file.

I know my PC isn't state of the art, but it's an ATHLON XP3200 with 2Gb RAM. Any suggestions please

 

[stblob]

Hi
Have you tried a different usb port? Change the cables?

 

[Brooktop]

yep...I've tried different cables and ports. Others are even worse..with the HDD just blipping like it isn't getting enough power...even though I'm providing additional power direct from a plug/adaptor.

It will transfer small files ok, but just fails when it's a file of any size. I've tried copying files to my C and D drives and it fails on both. Neither of those internal drives need de-fragging so I'm stuck as to what to do.

Also, the PC only intermittently recognises the portable HDD. I sometimes have to plug it back into the PS3...then when I next plug it into the PC it will recognise it again. I don't think it's the portable HDD because the PS3 always recognises it and transfers files fine.

 

[Brooktop]

What it seems to be doing now is, finding the HDD and its contents, but when I try to copy over a file, it starts and the HDD beeps and then I get an error message saying 'cannot find the specified file' and the window showing the portable HDD vanishes.

 

[Lampshader]

you could try taking the drive out the enclosure and trying it directly in the pc to see if that makes any difference

 

[Brooktop]

I've tried a LaCie portable HDD and that just clicks too, which makes me think it's a power issue. Even a double header cable or external power source doesn't help - so I think it's because I only have USB 1.0 ports. I was thinking of getting a laptop anyway, so I think this is going to be another argument for changing.

 

[waxdart]

USB 1.0 is very slow.

Have you defragged the disk? Might help a bit.