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Thread: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive

  1. #1
    David Bala¾ic Guest

    OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive

    Hi!

    I noticed this strange phenomena while copying files to an external
    USB harddrive.
    When I copy (using the explorer) a directory containing about 20 5-10
    MB big files and
    20 about 2GB big files from my internal sata drive to the external usb
    drives, then this
    pattern emerges:
    - the external HD is busy all the time (its LED blinks)
    - the internal HD LED is :
    - off for 40 seconds
    - then half on for 10 seconds (blinks fast, giving the impression
    of half light intensity, compard to full on)
    - fully on for 25 seconds
    This then cycles, until the copy is finished.

    During the 25 seconds when the internal HD is constantly lit, the
    system is almost unusable.
    Moving with the cursor keys thru the open start menu takes 5 seconds
    for each move. That is :
    I press the cursor down key and only after 5 seconds the highlight
    moves from the previously
    selected menu item to the next.
    Also starting programs takes ages (actually everything that needs
    access to the HD).
    For example paint, notepad and write each takes 10 to 20 seconds to
    start up. (normally they start
    in a second).

    During the periods when the HS led is not lit (or "half" lit) the
    system works normally.

    I suspected the USB driver has problems with PAE and 4GB of memory,
    but I booted
    with /noexecute and /nopae options (as recommended in MS KB 900524,
    giving me 3,25 GB
    of RAM, opposed to full 4GB otherwise) and the problem persisted.

    Any idea what to do ?

    System data:
    - OS : Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2 x86 Enterprise Edition, Evaluation
    copy
    - mainboard: Asus P5K-E WiFi (Intel P35 based)
    - RAM 2 x 2GB DDR2-800
    - CPU : Intel Core2 Quad Q6600
    - VGA: nVidia 8800GT
    - WD75000AAKS SATA hard drive
    - WD Elements USB harddrive

    The volumes are all NTFS.

    Regards,
    David

  2. #2
    Pegasus \(MVP\) Guest

    Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive


    "David Balazic" <david.balazic@hermes-softlab.com> wrote in message
    news:0560956c-2bb4-4170-87c7-4c7c3bd90380@b1g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
    > Hi!
    >
    > I noticed this strange phenomena while copying files to an external
    > USB harddrive.
    > When I copy (using the explorer) a directory containing about 20 5-10
    > MB big files and
    > 20 about 2GB big files from my internal sata drive to the external usb
    > drives, then this
    > pattern emerges:
    > - the external HD is busy all the time (its LED blinks)
    > - the internal HD LED is :
    > - off for 40 seconds
    > - then half on for 10 seconds (blinks fast, giving the impression
    > of half light intensity, compard to full on)
    > - fully on for 25 seconds
    > This then cycles, until the copy is finished.
    >
    > During the 25 seconds when the internal HD is constantly lit, the
    > system is almost unusable.
    > Moving with the cursor keys thru the open start menu takes 5 seconds
    > for each move. That is :
    > I press the cursor down key and only after 5 seconds the highlight
    > moves from the previously
    > selected menu item to the next.
    > Also starting programs takes ages (actually everything that needs
    > access to the HD).
    > For example paint, notepad and write each takes 10 to 20 seconds to
    > start up. (normally they start
    > in a second).
    >
    > During the periods when the HS led is not lit (or "half" lit) the
    > system works normally.
    >
    > I suspected the USB driver has problems with PAE and 4GB of memory,
    > but I booted
    > with /noexecute and /nopae options (as recommended in MS KB 900524,
    > giving me 3,25 GB
    > of RAM, opposed to full 4GB otherwise) and the problem persisted.
    >
    > Any idea what to do ?
    >
    > System data:
    > - OS : Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2 x86 Enterprise Edition, Evaluation
    > copy
    > - mainboard: Asus P5K-E WiFi (Intel P35 based)
    > - RAM 2 x 2GB DDR2-800
    > - CPU : Intel Core2 Quad Q6600
    > - VGA: nVidia 8800GT
    > - WD75000AAKS SATA hard drive
    > - WD Elements USB harddrive
    >
    > The volumes are all NTFS.
    >
    > Regards,
    > David


    I would check the event viewer.



  3. #3
    David Bala¾ic Guest

    Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive

    On Apr 26, 2:00 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:

    > I would check the event viewer.


    I did. Nothing. No errors. No warnings.

  4. #4
    Pegasus \(MVP\) Guest

    Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive


    "David Balazic" <david.balazic@hermes-softlab.com> wrote in message
    news:a91496da-443e-4398-a602-751df0550ca1@x41g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
    > On Apr 26, 2:00 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:
    >
    >> I would check the event viewer.

    >
    > I did. Nothing. No errors. No warnings.


    You did not say in your initial post ***how*** you copy
    your files. I would run a test using robocopy.exe from a
    Command Prompt. It gives you an ongoing progress report,
    enabling you to see when it gets stuck. At the same time
    you should check the Program Manager for tasks consuming
    excessive amounts of CPU time.



  5. #5
    David Bala¾ic Guest

    Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive

    On Apr 26, 5:08 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:

    > You did not say in your initial post ***how*** you copy
    > your files. I would run a test using robocopy.exe from a
    > Command Prompt. It gives you an ongoing progress report,
    > enabling you to see when it gets stuck. At the same time
    > you should check the Program Manager for tasks consuming
    > excessive amounts of CPU time.


    I copy with the Windows Explorer. Select the source directory. press
    ctrl-c.
    Go into destination directory and press ctrl-p.

    Cpu usage is about 5-10 %.

    I will try robocopy...

    Regards,
    David

  6. #6
    David Bala¾ic Guest

    Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive

    On Apr 27, 12:19 am, David Balažic <david.bala...@hermes-softlab.com>
    wrote:
    >
    > I will try robocopy...


    OK, I used the command line : robocopy source_directory
    destination_directory /MIR
    (to remind, source is on internal SATA drive, destination is on
    external USB drive)


    The result: The behavior with robocopy is the same as with Explorer,
    except that there is not "half lit LED" phase.

    It copies a large file, followed by a small one, then again
    large,small,large,small...

    The period when the internal HD LED is lit is when robocopy is showing
    the line with a large file and
    the percentage increasing. During this time the system is unresponsive
    (start menu, starting programs...).

    As if the copy process would have exclusive use of the internal hard
    drive and everything else must wait.

    After the percentage reaches 100%, internal HD LED turns off and
    robocopy prints a next line (with a name of a small file), almost
    instantly reaching 100% (it is a small file, 5-10MB) and print a line
    with the name of the next large file. But now it makes a pause:
    the percentage is not displayed at all (the rest of the line is as
    usually, with all the data: "New File" string, file size and file
    name)
    This state is for about 40 seconds. The internal HD LED is off during
    this time.


    The LED of the external HD is blinking the entire time of the copy.

    Regards,
    David

    PS: Thanks for helping me !

  7. #7
    David Bala¾ic Guest

    Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive

    About CPU usage.

    It is below 10% all the time.

    While the internal HD LED is lit, the cpu usage is like:
    - robocopy.exe 3%
    - System 2%

    Note that for all the time (while the copy lasts) cpu usage of up to
    10% (with seldom spikes up to 15%) is shown, but not attributed to any
    process. The System Idle Process shows 99% while the "CPU Usage:" in
    the status bar of Task Manager shows 10%.

    Regards,
    David

  8. #8
    David Bala¾ic Guest

    Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive

    One more info, I used robocopy version XP010

  9. #9
    Pegasus \(MVP\) Guest

    Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive


    "David Balazic" <david.balazic@hermes-softlab.com> wrote in message
    news:f5ba8d58-ed93-4d07-982c-5c550534bcdd@56g2000hsm.googlegroups.com...
    > About CPU usage.
    >
    > It is below 10% all the time.
    >
    > While the internal HD LED is lit, the cpu usage is like:
    > - robocopy.exe 3%
    > - System 2%
    >
    > Note that for all the time (while the copy lasts) cpu usage of up to
    > 10% (with seldom spikes up to 15%) is shown, but not attributed to any
    > process. The System Idle Process shows 99% while the "CPU Usage:" in
    > the status bar of Task Manager shows 10%.
    >
    > Regards,
    > David


    It appears that something is locking up Explorer. I can think
    of two reasons for this:
    a) Some flawed registry setting. You could fix it by restoring the
    System State from a recent backup, but only if you have a
    backup that was taken before the problem started.
    b) You have some interfering agent. Using msconfig.exe to reboot
    in a mode that loads nothing other the USB driver would confirm
    this theory.

    I assume you have already tested different brand USB disks and
    disk cases.

    Other than this I have run out of ideas.



  10. #10
    David Bala¾ic Guest

    Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive

    One more weird thing. Many times it happens, that after I connect the
    drive,
    I can read it, but writes access (like attempting to create a
    directory) gives
    an error:
    ---------------------------
    Unable to create folder
    ---------------------------
    Unable to create the folder 'New Folder'

    The media is write protected.

    Unplugging and replugging fixes this.
    Event viewer show no related events.

    Regards,
    David

    PS: I am about to install a second installation of Windows, to see if
    a clean install
    behaves the same.

  11. #11
    David Bala¾ic Guest

    Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive

    OK, I found the culprit. It is the Intel AHCI driver.

    Here is what I did:
    - reduced the system partition to make room for another installation
    - installed Winddows 2003 Enterprise R2 SP2 Evaluation into the free
    disk space
    - installed the network driver
    - did a Windows update (everything, except IE7)
    - tested the copy to usb disk : no problems
    - changed the SATA driver for the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager
    driver (version 7.8.0.1012)
    - reboot, BIOS setup, switch SATA mode from IDE to AHCI
    - load Windows
    - tested the copy to usb disk : same problems as before

    Now (because I have gobs of time...) I will try to install Windows
    with AHCI driver implanted on the install CD. (I read that installing
    it after is "not the same" as having it from the beginning).

    Regards,
    David

  12. #12
    Pegasus \(MVP\) Guest

    Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive


    "David Balazic" <david.balazic@hermes-softlab.com> wrote in message
    news:e45560b1-731c-451a-85fa-690a9bc4d969@z72g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
    OK, I found the culprit. It is the Intel AHCI driver.

    Here is what I did:
    - reduced the system partition to make room for another installation
    - installed Winddows 2003 Enterprise R2 SP2 Evaluation into the free
    disk space
    - installed the network driver
    - did a Windows update (everything, except IE7)
    - tested the copy to usb disk : no problems
    - changed the SATA driver for the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager
    driver (version 7.8.0.1012)
    - reboot, BIOS setup, switch SATA mode from IDE to AHCI
    - load Windows
    - tested the copy to usb disk : same problems as before

    Now (because I have gobs of time...) I will try to install Windows
    with AHCI driver implanted on the install CD. (I read that installing
    it after is "not the same" as having it from the beginning).

    Regards,
    David
    ==============
    Thanks for the feedback. I would never have suspected this driver.



  13. #13
    David Bala¾ic Guest

    Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive

    Any idea how to implant the driver into the install CD ?
    I tried like described here:
    http://www.msfn.org/board/Add-slipst...on-t77999.html

    But it does not work. The CD boots, recognizes the disk, makes the
    partition, starts install,
    reboots, continues the install in GUI mode, but the after the final
    reboot, it fails with a 0000007b blue screen.

    David


  14. #14
    Pegasus \(MVP\) Guest

    Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive


    "David Balazic" <david.balazic@hermes-softlab.com> wrote in message
    news:c4932c70-ffc6-45ad-9776-4e179741e53e@8g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
    > Any idea how to implant the driver into the install CD ?
    > I tried like described here:
    > http://www.msfn.org/board/Add-slipst...on-t77999.html
    >
    > But it does not work. The CD boots, recognizes the disk, makes the
    > partition, starts install,
    > reboots, continues the install in GUI mode, but the after the final
    > reboot, it fails with a 0000007b blue screen.
    >
    > David
    >


    Sorry, I don't. I suggest you start a new threat, with an appropriate
    Subject line.



  15. #15
    David Bala¾ic Guest

    Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive

    OK, I used nLite to insert the driver.
    After installation, the SATA controller works in AHCI mode.
    Unfortunately the problem is still present. This time it is a "vrigin"
    Windows
    install (except the intel Matrix driver), I did not install _anything_
    else.

    I'll wait for the Intel support to respond.

    Regards,
    David

    PS: What is the trick Windows claiming the USB disk is write protected
    when I connect it for the first time ???
    It's a retoric question, I'm too tired to deal with it...

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