OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive

[Guest David Bala¾ic]

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

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

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.

[Guest David Bala¾ic]

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.

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

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.

[Guest David Bala¾ic]

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

[Guest David Bala¾ic]

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 !

[Guest David Bala¾ic]

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

[Guest David Bala¾ic]

Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive

 

One more info, I used robocopy version XP010

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

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.

[Guest David Bala¾ic]

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.

[Guest David Bala¾ic]

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

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

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.

[Guest David Bala¾ic]

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-slipstream-SATA-drivers-A-fully-working-solution-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

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

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-slipstream-SATA-drivers-A-fully-working-solution-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.

[Guest David Bala¾ic]

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...

[Guest David Bala¾ic]

Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive

 

I did some more testings. Conclusions:

 

- USB harddrive is irrelevant to the issue

 

I could reproduce the problem with a single internal drive:

1.) prepare a map (C:\a) with the 4 test files (2x2GB and 2x15MB)

2.) create destination map : mkdir C:\b

3.) copy : cd /d c:\a & copy . ..\b

 

I think the smaller files are not important either.

 

- it is more hardware related than software

 

I installed Windows 2008 x64 in AHCI mode. Win2008 comes with an ahci

driver made by Microsoft.

The problem was present there too.

Running Windows 2008 in IDE mode did not show the problem.

 

I will try to disconnect my SATA DVD unit and ask the mainboard

support (Asus) for advice (last

time they were useless, but hope dies last...)

 

Regards,

David

[Guest crebiffe@gmail.com]

Re: OS almost freezes while copying files to USB harddrive

 

On 11 mai, 14:11, David Balažic <david.bala...@hermes-softlab.com>

wrote:

> I did some more testings. Conclusions:

>

>  - USB harddrive is irrelevant to the issue

>

> I could reproduce the problem with a single internal drive:

> 1.) prepare a map (C:\a) with the 4 test files (2x2GB and 2x15MB)

> 2.) create destination map : mkdir C:\b

> 3.) copy : cd /d c:\a & copy . ..\b

>

> I think the smaller files are not important either.

>

>  - it is more hardware related than software

>

> I installed Windows 2008 x64 in AHCI mode. Win2008 comes with an ahci

> driver made by Microsoft.

> The problem was present there too.

> Running Windows 2008 in IDE mode did not show the problem.

>

> I will try to disconnect my SATA DVD unit and ask the mainboard

> support (Asus) for advice (last

> time they were useless, but hope dies last...)

>

> Regards,

> David

 

Hi DAvid,

 

 

I was somehow happy to find that I wasn't alone with this OK freezing

issue. Have you found a solution ? I'm stuck with my 500GB external

USB that untill not that long ago was working fine.

Regards

Xtian