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Resolved Problem in uploading large amounts of data from USB stick.

Discussion in 'Windows 10' started by Lugwalker, 2017/08/20.

  1. 2017/08/20
    Lugwalker Lifetime Subscription

    Lugwalker Forever Autumn Thread Starter

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    I have a 64GB usb stick which I'm using to transfer about 50GB of data to a 200GB partition on my computer. Unfortunately the copy/pasting process doesn't even start to transfer data. Then when I try to eject the stick it just won't comply. Task manager doesn't help either, so I end up doing a hard reboot and taking the stick out before system restart.

    Should there be a problem simply transferring such a huge amount of data from a usb stick in one go? Will I have to go down the slower route of transferring smaller amounts of data instead?
     
  2. 2017/08/20
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    It should not be an issue ....
    Can we assume that you have successfully copied/pasted the data from the source to the USB drive and the issue is that you cannot copy/paste from the USB drive to the computer hard drive?

    Is the USB stick seen in File Explorer?

    I guess you have tried using another USB port on the computer? - if not that would be the first step.

    Do other USB sticks copy/paste satisfactorily? If so there may be an issue with the 64GB stick.
     
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  4. 2017/08/20
    Lugwalker Lifetime Subscription

    Lugwalker Forever Autumn Thread Starter

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    Yes, I've successfully copied/pasted the data from the source to the USB drive and the issue is that I cannot copy/paste from the USB drive to the computer hard drive. The USB drive is seen in File Explorer, but I notice that there's only 146MB of free space left out of its 64GB. Might this be the cause of the problem?
     
  5. 2017/08/20
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    FYI - Once formatted the 64GB drive will have free space of 59.6GB - according to my 64GB stick. If you copied ~ 50GB of data to the drive there should be more than 146MB free - have you compared the no. of files/folders on the 64GB stick with the no. of files/folders on the source. Regardless the limited free space should not be an issue IMO.

    Have you tried copy/paste a single file rather than the whole 50GB in one go?

    Can you copy/paste a file on the 64GB back to the source?

    Have you tried drag & drop rather than copy/paste?
     
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  6. 2017/08/20
    Lugwalker Lifetime Subscription

    Lugwalker Forever Autumn Thread Starter

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    Sorry, I generalised when I said 50GB. The size is 58.7GB with on-disk size 59.2GB.

    I can copy a single file from the USB, and also drag & drop, onto the desktop. I can also copy/paste back to the original source.
     
  7. 2017/08/20
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    If I understand you correctly you can copy or drag & drop a single file to the desktop, but not to the 200GB partition?

    The fact that the USB drive is full to the gunnels may be a contributory factor here - I don't know how much, if any, free space is required on the USB drive for copying from the drive. Thinking that there might be enough free space to enable copying of the odd file, but not the whole lot.
     
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  8. 2017/08/20
    Lugwalker Lifetime Subscription

    Lugwalker Forever Autumn Thread Starter

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    Yes, I can copy & paste a photo from the USB drive to the 200GB partition, but as soon as I try to transfer a 3GB folder I get that spinning circle and the USB freezes in protest. I can't then eject the media either and have to do a computer restart. I may have to sleep on this, Pete, but thanks for helping me try a few things.

    I'll report back if I can find a solution..
     
  9. 2017/08/20
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I don't think I can contribute further right now, but if anything else occurs to me I'll post back. Hopefully another member may chip in with some further suggestions.

    One last thought - if you have another USB stick copy a 3Gb folder to it and see if you have the same issue with copy & paste.
     
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  10. 2017/08/20
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Customize the Send To Menu in Windows 10, 8, 7, or Vista
    I would try this way as I do this all the time with transferring from USB thumb drives to comp. (Pictures/Video/Music) I haven't tried this but it is my suggestion and I haven't moved 50 odd GB's other than cloning with AOMEI which is another possible way.
    Use the link above method to add your Partition to the Menu.
    Right click your USB and send to Partition.
     
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  11. 2017/08/21
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    I am taken back a bit because you said "copy+paste." Copy+paste causes the operating system to first utilize memory (in this case virtual memory) and them transfer files to the target location. In other words, it first copies to the clipboard and then transfers. This is inefficient for a large quantity of objects.

    Using plain drag+drop is more efficient.

    Drag+drop and copy+paste are essentially the same thing, however there are some slight differences that have to do with security descriptors/pointers, file permissions and other hidden data in a file, as well as indexing functions of a drive. For efficiency disable indexing on data storage partitions.

    If copy+paste or drag+drop fails, try using drag+drop on only several large files or directories at a time. Left clicking on a selected group of files > hold the button down and press the escape key will re-enable copying (dropping).
     
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  12. 2017/09/07
    Lugwalker Lifetime Subscription

    Lugwalker Forever Autumn Thread Starter

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    Today I used a smaller USB stick (32GB) and dragged 28GB of files effortlessly, in one operation, onto my 200GB partition. The previous USB stick was 64GB and was unsuccessful when attempting the same operation. So maybe the fault in my previous attempts was a faulty 64GB stick?
     
  13. 2017/09/08
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Clearly a possibility based on your success with the 32GB stick. When you're done with transferring the remainder of the data using the 32GB stick I would give the 64GB a FULL format and experiment with dragging/dropping the 3GB folder (or similar) which you were unable to do earlier and see if the issue persists If that fails may conclude that the 64GB has failed..
     
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  14. 2017/09/08
    Lugwalker Lifetime Subscription

    Lugwalker Forever Autumn Thread Starter

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    Thanks, Pete. I did as you suggested and did a full format of the 64GB stick. I then put 15GB of files onto it, and the transfer to my second computer was fast and without any difficulty.

    Much obliged, guys, for all the helpful advice. ;)
     
  15. 2017/09/08
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Glad to hear that the format sorted out the problem.
     

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