Question Both external HDD's not backing up well after using on a USB strip. Trashed or just reformat?

[shawnc]

3 year old Windows desktop HP i7 16GM Ram. I was using Macrium Reflect for regular backups. Is there a simpler backup? I'm never quite sure of my backups as it's fairly complex. I bought an unpowered USB strip and after using that for backups both external HDD's started not working well at all (5TB 1 year old Western Digital USB 3.0 HDD's). Not using strip anymore, but HDD's not working well. Backups always fail. I just want to get the HDD's working well with the tower again, as they did for a year before ever using the strip. Now manual copying of folders onto the HDD run at very very low Mb/s where it will say 1% complete after 2 hours, or permanently pause. Sometimes manual copying will still work quickly for smaller folders. I'm also getting a lot of "file/folder name too long. skip?" type error messages which I've never seen before. Did the unpowered USB strip harm the HDD's? running a simple diskcheck says "no errors". What should I use to test drives? Would reformatting perhaps help? Is there an easy, simple way to copy the HDD onto the desktop SSD to backup before reformatting external drive? Or do I just buy a new backup drive? The $100 is worth the worry. Thank You!

 

[Ralston18]

This:

"I bought a USB strip"

What product did you buy? Make, model, source?

Clarify what is meant by "low power".

 

[USAFRet]

"file/folder name too long. skip?"

This indicated a path problem, not a physical drive problem.

 

[shawnc]

This:

"I bought a USB strip"

What product did you buy? Make, model, source?

Clarify what is meant by "low power".

I was assuming the issue was not enough power getting through the USB splitter. Could be incorrect, idk. "qty: 1,700 - 5-star ratings" on Amazon - USB Hub,VKUSRA 7 Port USB Hub 3.0 up to 5Gbps. with 4FT Long Cord USB Splitter for Laptop & PC

Amazon.com

 

[USAFRet]

I was assuming the issue was not enough power getting through the USB splitter. Could be incorrect, idk. "qty: 1,700 - 5-star ratings" on Amazon - USB Hub,VKUSRA 7 Port USB Hub 3.0 up to 5Gbps. with 4FT Long Cord USB Splitter for Laptop & PC

Amazon.com

And the external drives also have wall power?

 

[SkyNetRising]

I bought a USB strip and after using that for backups both external HDD's started not working well at all (5TB 1 year old Western Digital USB 3.0 HDD's). Backups fail.

If problems started with use of this USB strip,
then USB strip is to be blamed.

Did you connect extra power to your USB strip?

Extra 5V Power Port​

When there are multiple devices working at the same time, connect the power adapter will achieve more stable and faster data transfer performance.The adapter is only suitable for 5V voltage, current 1~5A (package not include power adapter).

 

[shawnc]

If problems started with use of this USB strip,
then USB strip is to be blamed.

Did you connect extra power to your USB strip?

No extra power. I am no longer using the strip. My question is how do I move forward, I just want my HDD's to work correctly with tower. diskcheck says "no errors". HDD's don't backup from tower when plugged in directly. How do I better diagnose/check HDD's? reformat and try again? Thanks

 

[SkyNetRising]

I'm also getting a lot of "file/folder name too long. skip?" type error messages which I've never seen before.

Fix names for those extra long folder/file names. Make them shorter.

 

[shawnc]

And the external drives also have wall power?

no option for that. plenty of power from tower I believe. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VP5X239/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1