So I am trying to move some files from my external hard drive to my computer. However, whenever I try to move any files(even from one directory on the hard drive to another on the hard drive), the hard drive suddenly stops working(I know because the blue power light goes out), and it causes Windows Explorer to crash. Is this a sign that the hard drive is failing? I'm worried, because I have A LOT of video game things there(mods and save games). I dunno about anyone else, but I would be extremely sad and extremely mad if it turns out I lost one of my favorite saves in one of my favorite games.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Typos.

I'd try it with another computer and see if the same thing occurs.

Although I don't know anything off the top of my head that it could be other than hard drive failure, it doesn't hurt to check.

Try running a SMART test on it. But... that doesn't sound good.

I advise you backup all your data immediatly. Also, if you're using Vista I used to have an issue where if after I had selected to move files, if I did anything else the file movement would halt, however if I just left the the computer alone it would move fine. That issue is now gone for me but it's food for thought.

It's not a good thing. But it's not necessarily a bad drive.

First, does it do the same thing on another computer? If not, then the problem's possibly with your USB or disk drivers. See if it works with a USB flash drive or another external hard drive.

Is this an external HDD with USB power, or does it have its own power supply? If it's USB-powered, your computer may not be sourcing enough current. USB-powered drives usually come with dual USB connectors, and they work best if you connect both. If it has its own power supply, the power supply may be going bad. Depending on the power supply, it may be easy or hard to replace.

Can you read (as opposed to copy) files on the drive? What noise does it make while it's reading (or trying)? A drive that's going bad will produce a steady series of clicks or clunks at 1 or more per second, as it tries to reset and re-read.

If this is a take-apart housing, can you take out the drive and try it in a different housing, or in your computer? There's a controller in the housing that can itself go bad. (For this reason, I don't buy proprietary preassembled external drives; I buy a drive and a housing and assemble it myself. That way I can always take it apart or reuse the drive or housing if the other part fails.)

What is failing? The internal HDD or the external one?

I had a failing external HDD. When I used a power supply from an identical model (not that they don't all tend to use the same power plug and supplies), it worked fine. If the power supply has gone bad, the HDD won't work right. Test it with one from another device that fits and supplied the needed power.

How can I make a backup if the hard drive switches off when I am moving around files?



I don't currently have any other computer to try it on. But, this has never happened before.

It's an external HDD which is USB powered. It is several years old, if it matters. As for the reading, sometimes when I open up a folder, the power light blinks and makes makes about 1 or 2 sort of "scratching" sounds(which I assume is the steady series of clicks you are talking about).



External.

Edit: Well, I was able to make some progress. If I move a folder or files that equal less than 30MB in size, it will transfer okay. Anything, larger, and the hard drive just switches off. I have about 20GB of files in the HDD, so it may take a while making backups of everything 30MB at a time.

Well, I guess the problem was solved. My HDD works perfectly now, for some reason. Thank you guys for your help. A moderator can lock this now.