Why is my high-end PC so slow at copying files to USB?
Asked by
TechSavvyDude42
I'm having a frustrating issue with my high-end desktop PC. It's incredibly slow when I try to copy files, specifically photos, to a USB drive. For example, copying 1500 images takes about 15 minutes on my desktop, while the same files on my old budget notebook only take around 2 minutes with the same USB drive. It's puzzling because my PC handles demanding tasks—like playing AAA games on Ultra settings—without any problem. My specs are as follows: I'm running Windows 11 Home, with an Intel i7-12700KF CPU, 32GB of RAM, and an ASRock Z690 Taichi motherboard. I've tried different USB ports and different USB drives, but the problem persists. I'm wondering if this could be a driver issue, a failing motherboard controller, a need for a BIOS update, or some Windows setting affecting USB speeds. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
Answers
Make sure your USB is plugged into a USB 3.0 port if it's a USB 3.0 drive. Sometimes if it’s in a USB 2.0 port, it’ll transfer at much slower speeds. Also, since everything else seems fine, maybe the BIOS does need an update, or there’s a setting affecting USB performance you haven’t spotted yet.
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One thing to check is whether you're copying a bunch of small files. That can be much slower than moving one large file. If large files transfer quickly, it might be your antivirus software scanning files as they transfer. Also, ensure all drivers are up-to-date; a faulty USB port can cause delays too, so try switching them around if you haven't already.
CuriousCat88: That makes sense, I’ll test it with a large file and see what happens. Thanks!
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You mentioned you have SSDs; are the photos stored on the SSD or HDD? If your photos are on a slower HDD, that could also be a bottleneck when copying. HDDs typically transfer slower compared to SSDs, especially with lots of small files.
TechSavvyDude42: The photos are actually on an SSD, so that shouldn’t be the issue. Still perplexed!
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TechSavvyDude42: I'll check the BIOS and ports again. Appreciate the tip!