Firefox is slow, and hangs when transfering large files to USB flash drive, why?

[OCNewbie]

Why does my browser lag/hang when I'm transferring files to my flash drive from one of my main disks? Is this normal, or does it sound like some sort of conflict or configuration issue?

Update: For anybody having this issue, try the free (or paid) version of TeraCopy, and the problem will disappear! Thanks, Rifter!

 

[VirtualLarry]

Are you directly using your web browser to save the file, or are you copying the file in Windows Explorer (file explorer, not internet explorer), and happening to be browsing in Firefox at the same time, and it suddenly becomes slow?

It could be just that your disk subsystem is slow.

 

[OCNewbie]

Perhaps more info than you need, but just covering the basics...

I'm running Win 7 64-bit Pro, on a 96GB Kingston SSD, AHCI enabled.

Using Windows Explorer (not IE), I copy/paste a large movie file to an 8GB Verbatim flash drive, formatted NTFS. At first, Windows reports a ridiculous transfer rate of like 150 MB/sec. I switch back to Firefox, and I have frequent hangs/pauses using the browser while the file is actively transferring from HDD to the flash drive. I will try to switch tabs, and I will get the "(Not Responding)" text at the top of the window. A few seconds later it is responsive again for a few moments.

I am transfering FROM a 7200RPM 1.5TB Hitachi SATA drive.

 

[mfenn]

Do you have any issues when copying files between your HDD and SSD or SSD and USB?

 

[OCNewbie]

Still having this issue. I'm not for sure yet, but it might only occur when the USB drive is formatted NTFS. I'm transferring a large file now (~1.4 GB), with the drive formatted FAT 32, and there are no hang ups.

 

[mfenn]

Did you do the test I recommended in post #4?

 

[exospire7]

Finally, I found someone who has the EXACT same problem as me, except I use Chrome.

I have a Crucial Gizmo 16GB USB FLASH Drive

Went to my moms to transfer some files, she just got a new laptop, Lenovo B570 (its the new one thats been all over slickdeals) i3-2330/4GBRAM/W7...

So I formatted my Crucial Gizmo to NTFS and went to transfer a 8GB file. It started at 120MB/s then went to 70MB/s and bottomed out to about 10MB/s... the PROBLEM IS THAT it freezes or hangs every so often for about 15 seconds... and then continues transferring for about 5 seconds and then hangs for another 15 seconds and then continues for 5 seconds and ON and ON and ON. It's STOP AND GO the entire time. While the progress bar is stopped or frozen or stalled... it's not like the transfer window stopped responding... I can still move it around the screen or click More Info/Less Info and so on. It's just that the remaining time and speed indicators STOP and GO throughout the entire transfer process.

The first day this happened I researched and found out about changing the Policy of the USB drive to speed rather than quick removal... and after that VOILA... I retransferred the large file and it stayed responsive the WHOLE TIME.

That was a week AGO, and today it's doing the same STOP AND GO thing. I've tried formatting it and making sure the speed option for policy is checked... every settings seems FINE so I can't figure out why it keeps STOPPING and GOING through the whole transfer process. Happens with 8GB files and 1GB files and all files I've tried (except files that are ~10mb or so).

The reason I'm posting this here is because WHILE the remaining time/speed indicator is STOPPED or frozen... I can't browse websites on Chrome... it's like while its stopped my internet is also stopped... yet I can do other computer tasks like play games/music/etc.

What gives?

edit: Forgot to add, if I format to FAT32, it's responsive the WHOLE time, this problem only happens when it's formatted to NTFS.

 

[Rifter]

I had this issue as well. I switched to terracopy and it solved all my issues. You should switch too its alot faster than the standard windows copy program, at least 30% faster sometimes more.

 

[OCNewbie]

Did you do the test I recommended in post #4?

Sorry. Yes, same issue. It seems to depend heavily on how the flash drive is formatted. NTFS causes issues. The file does transfer, but it does so in bursts. The file transfer window displays ridiculously high transfer speeds of like 100MB/sec or higher, and the progress bar progresses rapidly for a few moments, then it hangs for a bit, until it bursts again. When the flash drive is formatted under FAT-32, the displayed transfer rate is a steady ~15 or so MB/sec.

I have tested this with multiple flash drives.

Edit: Just read exospire7's post. He pretty much nailed exactly what is happening. My browser is unresponsive while the file transfer hangs/delays, but resumes responsiveness when the file is transferring as expected. Also, my system never hangs, like exospire7 mentioned, it's just my browser (that I've noticed).

 

[OCNewbie]

I had this issue as well. I switched to terracopy and it solved all my issues. You should switch too its alot faster than the standard windows copy program, at least 30% faster sometimes more.

Is the free version of TeraCopy sufficient?

 

[mfenn]

Sorry. Yes, same issue.

Same issue as in it has problems when the USB drive is in the mix but is OK when copying between HDD and SSD, or the other way around?

 

[Rifter]

Is the free version of TeraCopy sufficient?

yes thats what i am using.

 

[OCNewbie]

Same issue as in it has problems when the USB drive is in the mix but is OK when copying between HDD and SSD, or the other way around?

Oops... misread what you asked I think.

Anyway, it's only an issue with the usb flash drive, when writing to it (I don't believe it affects reads). No other drive to drive transfers cause me issues that I've noticed.

 

[mfenn]

OK, it sounds like there is not a deeper problem with your system then, that's good. Definitely try TeraCopy and see if that improves things, it completely bypasses the normal Windows file copying functions. You could also try doing the copy from the command line with "copy" instead of using explorer, that would tell you whether or not the issue is with the fancy progress bars and such that explorer tries to do or if the issue is indeed with the low-level Windows copy functions.

 

[exospire7]

Just want to add that this problem happens with my mom's laptop, my laptop, my office comp, and even my media comp (i7/8gb/ssd)... only when formatted to NTFS, (FAT32 works fine)... so it must just be certain usb sticks that cause this. Will try TeraCopy and report back sometime this week.

 

[OCNewbie]

Update! I finally downloaded and tried TeraCopy, and while using it to copy files instead of the integrated one in Windows 7, I no longer have this problem!

Rifter, thanks so much for the tip! I just wish I had tried it out sooner!