HDD extremely slow - 0.1mb/s max transfer rate - HELP - Hardware & Software

So I got a WD 500gb (My Book Home Edition) which kinda died a couple of weeks ago, which means I had to format it to use it. Yesterday, and after about the whole day of trying, I managed to recover all important files there were in it to other drives. When finished, I formatted it and went to sleep cause it was too late... Now that I am trying to transfer files back into it, it is extremely slow. I made an HD Tune test, and result was 0.1mb/s maximum transfer speed. Any idea what there is to do? I transfer with USB2.0, I know the specific drive has Firewire and eSata as well, but there's no such ports on my MoBo. Thanks in advance!

Have you tried getting the HDD out of the casing and connecting it to the motherboard using a SATA connector?

[QUOTE=VistaPOWA;28166023]Have you tried getting the HDD out of the casing and connecting it to the motherboard using a SATA connector?[/QUOTE] no, there's no space SATA port available, so even if this works, it's kinda useless... I guess this'll be the last thing I'll try...

See if it performs better in a direct SATA port. Try a different USB port Try formatting again

Also I think it's important to mention that when recovering the files, recovering speed was not bad at all... I'd say normal... It just took me all day because I had to recover to 3 other drives (1 external, 2 internals, plus an 8gb flash drive), while i had to clean up some space on the external by transferring about 70GBs to my laptop... [editline]21st February 2011[/editline] I'll try formating again...

Try running HD Tune's error and health scans on it. Also if it's very small files, like text files, that's a normal transfer speed.

[QUOTE=Tools;28188656]Try running HD Tune's error and health scans on it. Also if it's very small files, like text files, that's a normal transfer speed.[/QUOTE] That's what I am doing now, while also formatting it once more (which takes too much time for some reason, by the way) Also no, I am not transferring small files....

Try to defragment your HDD.

[QUOTE=SwedishSpy;28190372]Try to defragment your HDD.[/QUOTE] What bloody good will that do?

Has the system dropped it down to PIO mode instead of DMA mode? That really slows it down. If the drive is also failing SMART, chances are it's not recommend you use that drive again.

If when he formated it, enabled Windows compression (forgot what it's called), it could also become incredible slow.

[QUOTE=John the Gr8;28165818]So I got a WD 500gb (My Book Home Edition) which kinda died a couple of weeks ago![/QUOTE] Hmm, it is probably broken

[QUOTE=Tools;28193212]If when he formated it, enabled Windows compression (forgot what it's called), it could also become incredible slow.[/QUOTE] Not that slow

[QUOTE=Tools;28193212]If when he formated it, enabled Windows compression (forgot what it's called), it could also become incredible slow.[/QUOTE] I did not enable compression, no. [QUOTE=MIPS;28192256]Has the system dropped it down to PIO mode instead of DMA mode? That really slows it down. If the drive is also failing SMART, chances are it's not recommend you use that drive again.[/QUOTE] I tried SMART test or whatever the recommended from WD was, it took all night, and in the morning that it had found some errors, I pressed 'repair' and it gave an error after less than a minute. Also I tried reformatting, but it takes forever. It just doesn't end... I'm afraid I'll have to check if it works with a SATA connection... I can't see any other solution.

You can diagnose it more if you want but it sounds like your drive is pretty much fucked. Get whatever data you need off of it while you can, then take it apart and use the platters as frisbies! :buddy:

or take the top off and put glue in it while its on.

My method is to take a screwdriver and grind it against the platters while they're spinning :v:

to the three last posters, thanks so much for your help, i appreciate it! [editline]23rd February 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Marnetmar;28218762]Get whatever data you need off of it while you can[/QUOTE] everything is back'd up. But I now have about 200mb of free space overall drives, which is pretty bad...

I am now trying to run a firmware update, I downloaded the required software from support.wdc.com but when I plug in the Drive, it doesn't recognize it, even though windows recognizes it...

It's dead, Jim.

[QUOTE=SuperDuperScoot;28238571]It's dead, Jim.[/QUOTE] I really wouldn't say so... I have a feeling there's something to do... Also: [img]http://gyazo.com/816a3a193b5eec957350c4421b4aff3c.png[/img] After another format, it is reaching a max of 30mb/s, but drops to 1 all the time like seen above...

This is a completely wild guess and I'm just throwing shit out there, but maybe it keeps hitting bad/going bad sectors?

[QUOTE=SuperDuperScoot;28238733]This is a completely wild guess and I'm just throwing shit out there, but maybe it keeps hitting bad/going bad sectors?[/QUOTE] well, what is there to do to find out?

[QUOTE=John the Gr8;28238657]I really wouldn't say so... I have a feeling there's something to do... Also: [img_thumb]http://gyazo.com/816a3a193b5eec957350c4421b4aff3c.png[/img_thumb] After another format, it is reaching a max of 30mb/s, but drops to 1 all the time like seen above...[/QUOTE] Quit EVERY unnecessary background task and try it again. Also make sure that Windows Search Indexer is not indexing the drive while you are doing the test. This just looks like a task is accessing the drive at constant ratio so the data-rate is dropping. Also since you wrote, it's an USB (2.0) drive: Really much more than 35 MB/s is not possible.

[QUOTE=aVoN;28260174]Quit EVERY unnecessary background task and try it again. Also make sure that Windows Search Indexer is not indexing the drive while you are doing the test.[/QUOTE] I have no idea how, please be more specific...

Task manager. Kill everything which is not necessary. Kill everything within the tray-bar. Close every single program but HD Tune. Then test it again. Windows search indexer: Write "services.msc" in your startmenü, search for "Windows Search Indexer" and stop that service.

[QUOTE=aVoN;28263675]Task manager. Kill everything which is not necessary. Kill everything within the tray-bar. Close every single program but HD Tune. Then test it again. Windows search indexer: Write "services.msc" in your startmenü, search for "Windows Search Indexer" and stop that service.[/QUOTE] Ok will do first thing tomorrow cause I have to go to bed now, thanks for your help.

ok I tried another HD Tune speed test, this happens: [img]http://i.imgur.com/fFYvG.png[/img]