Quickest way of copying large file to external hard drive

[OM2]

I have an Acronis backup that is 140GB.
I have an external hard drive that I am trying to copy to (on a USB 3 port).
I have Teracopy installed which is doing the copying.
It's saying it will take 2 hours +.
External hard drive is a WD My Passport Ultra.

What am doing wrong?
Why is it taking so long?
How can I speed up?

Aside: how do programs like Acronis backup an ENTIRE hard drive in a matter on minutes? Say 20-30 minutes a whole hard drive will have been backed up.

Thanks.

 

[SkyNetRising]

What am doing wrong?
Why is it taking so long?
How can I speed up?

You have connected your external drive to USB 2.0 port.
USB 2.0 has significantly lower transfer speed than USB 3.0.
Connect your external drive to USB 3.0 port.

140GB in 2h ~= 20MB/s

 

[OM2]

i was 100% sure it's the USB 3 port i have plugged into
how can i confirm if i am plugged into the USB 3 port?
thanks

EDIT: i unlugged and plugged into another port.
it started off saying 38 minutes.
does that sound right?

 

[Rocky Bennett]

Do you have the schematic to your motherboard? I just looked at my homemade system and there is no physical difference in looks between my 2.0 and 3.0 USB jacks. I just know mine are different because I can refer to my original plans.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Yes. Sounds right.
140GB in 38min = 63 MB/s

 

[OM2]

thanks for the replies guys.
the laptop i have has 'SS' next to 2 ports.
the port on the other side does not have this.
my laptop has 2 USB ports.
i guess SS means USB 3.

the thing is... the first port i was plugged into was the other SS port.
weird.

 

[karenjoly]

n/m

 

[Peter Martin]

Usb 3 ports are Blue. Teracopy is garbage. Use built in Robocopy