I'm hoping to get some insight into a frustrating issue with my PC. While I might not be a tech expert, I've noticed that it's extremely slow at copying files to USB drives. For instance, copying 1500 photos takes about 15 minutes, whereas my older, low-spec notebook does it in just 2 minutes using the same USB drive and files. My PC can run any AAA game smoothly, even with high settings and mods, but basic tasks like file transfers seem to take forever. Here are my system specs:
- **OS:** Windows 11 Home (Build 26200)
- **Motherboard:** ASRock Z690 Taichi
- **CPU:** Intel i7-12700KF (12 cores / 20 threads, 3.6GHz)
- **RAM:** 32GB
- **BIOS:** AMI 15.01 (2023)
- Secure Boot: Off
- Virtualization: On
- Boot Mode: UEFI
- Windows directory: C:WINDOWS
- Page file: C:pagefile.sys
Everything else works perfectly—gaming, editing, browsing—no lag at all, but transferring files to USB is painfully slow. I've tried different USB ports and sticks but the issue persists. I'm wondering if it could be due to a USB driver issue, a failing USB controller on the motherboard, needing a BIOS update, or some Windows setting affecting USB performance. Any advice would be super appreciated!
2 Answers
It sounds like your PC is handling something that's causing the slowdown during file transfers. If you're only experiencing slowness when copying many small files, it could be due to your antivirus software scanning each file as you transfer them. Try disabling your AV temporarily and see if that speeds things up. Also, check if you're using a USB 2.0 port instead of a 3.0 or higher; the latter are way faster for transfers. Just make sure to re-enable your AV afterward!
Another thing to consider is the type of storage you're using. If your pictures are stored on an HDD rather than an SSD, that might explain the slow transfer speeds. Remember that moving many small files can be slower than transferring fewer large files. You might want to create a single zip file of your photos before transferring for a potential speed boost. Also, don’t forget to see if there are any firmware updates for your USB drivers.
Good idea! I’ll zip the files and see how that works out. Thanks for the suggestion!
Thanks! I’ll try disabling the AV and check the ports. Appreciate the tips!