Slow external hard drive issue with MacOS
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dede74000 Posted messages 26996 Registration date Status Contributor Last intervention -
dede74000 Posted messages 26996 Registration date Status Contributor Last intervention -
Hello,
I recently bought a Mac and had to reformat my WD external hard drive that I previously used on a PC, so I could save documents on it from my Mac.
I tried reformatting it to Mac OS Extended, exFAT, and FAT32, but every time I encounter the same problem: the drive is detected, I can add documents, but the transfer times are extremely long. For example, transferring 4GB of photos estimates the transfer time at 3 hours, and the progress bar hardly moves.
It's strange because before the reformatting it worked perfectly and much faster (it's USB 3.0), including when transferring from an external hard drive to the Mac (which was still possible in read-only mode). The problem seems to stem from the external hard drive since even transferring to a simple USB 2.0 stick is faster...
Do you think the reformatting could have irreparably damaged the drive, or is there something I can do?
Thank you in advance for your responses :)
Configuration: Macintosh / Safari 10.0.3
I recently bought a Mac and had to reformat my WD external hard drive that I previously used on a PC, so I could save documents on it from my Mac.
I tried reformatting it to Mac OS Extended, exFAT, and FAT32, but every time I encounter the same problem: the drive is detected, I can add documents, but the transfer times are extremely long. For example, transferring 4GB of photos estimates the transfer time at 3 hours, and the progress bar hardly moves.
It's strange because before the reformatting it worked perfectly and much faster (it's USB 3.0), including when transferring from an external hard drive to the Mac (which was still possible in read-only mode). The problem seems to stem from the external hard drive since even transferring to a simple USB 2.0 stick is faster...
Do you think the reformatting could have irreparably damaged the drive, or is there something I can do?
Thank you in advance for your responses :)
Configuration: Macintosh / Safari 10.0.3
1 answer
Good evening,
I assume, since you haven't mentioned it, that you are on OS X 10.12 (Sierra)? Then, here's some reading, especially about Disk Utility:
https://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/45227-utilitaire-de-disque-sous-os-x-10-11-et-versions-ulterieures
Formatting should be explained there, as the author has a good habit of detailing everything precisely.
--
When it's urgent, it's already too late (Talleyrand)
When everything has failed, read the manual ;)
I assume, since you haven't mentioned it, that you are on OS X 10.12 (Sierra)? Then, here's some reading, especially about Disk Utility:
https://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/45227-utilitaire-de-disque-sous-os-x-10-11-et-versions-ulterieures
Formatting should be explained there, as the author has a good habit of detailing everything precisely.
--
When it's urgent, it's already too late (Talleyrand)
When everything has failed, read the manual ;)
Indeed, I'm on Sierra, 10.12.3. I hadn't thought to mention it. :)
Thank you very much for the link; I performed a "sos" on the partition (single partition) and not on the disk itself as I had been doing all along, and it seems that it changed something! It aligns with what is said in the article: the "sos" is done more thoroughly applied to the partition than to the disk itself. The same photo transfer, for example, is estimated at 15 minutes compared to the 3 hours it was earlier, and the progress bar movement is no longer choppy.
The transfer still seems a bit long compared to what I observed on my PC before, but that may be due to the connectors (usb-c on the Mac, adapter to usb-a, hard drive cable) or it could just be an impression... Is there a way to know the data transfer speed?
Thanks again for your response! It's already much more manageable!
A tutorial from the same author as the disk utility, our Mac mentor here:
You need to download Onyx based on your OS, here:
http://www.titanium.free.fr/download.php,
After installation,
Launch Onyx and follow Francis's good advice.
-Let it check the SMART status of the hard drive and the volume structure (note: this operation cannot be performed if the hard drive is not journaled)
-then provide the password when prompted
-then click the "Automation" button?
-check all the boxes except "Show folder contents"
-click "Execute"
-Restart the Mac
© Sanspseudo (Francis)
Note: the first startup after running Onyx is a bit slow, that’s normal; the subsequent ones will be normal.
If Francis had the good idea to read your message, he could tell you more.
Have a good evening.