Question Unexpected External HDD Behavior when plugged in to USB-A ports — 100% Usage and Stuttering ?

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Ironash

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Apr 14, 2019
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The problem:

When either of my external hard drives are plugged in to any of the three USB-A ports they go to a 100% usage and stutters, this is particularly obvious when a playing video as the video stops to load the content and at the time it stops you can observe a 100% HDD usage in the task manager.

The trigger: Plugging any storage devices to any of my USB-A ports make it "stutter".
Current make-do solution: Plug the devices on the usb-c ports instead.
Expected Behavior: There should be no stuttering and the drives should works properly under USB-A ports.

Things I have verified:

  • Inspected the external hard drives smart values and confirmed that they are in good condition (CrystalDisikInfo)
  • Hearing the drives (No ticking sound or odd sounds).
  • Updated Windows System.
  • Plugging in the laptop.
  • Using different cables.
  • Defragmenting and troubleshooting the drives.
  • Disabling the USB selective suspend setting.
  • Changing the power mode to "Best performance" under Power, Sleep, and Battery settings.

System specifications:
Laptop model: Acer Nitro 5 AN515-50YE
Operating System: Windows 11 22H2 (2261.2283)

Systeminfo:


Code: 
Host Name:                 LAPTOP-OMCN7CK7
OS Name:                   Microsoft Windows 11 Home Single Language
OS Version:                10.0.22621 N/A Build 22621
OS Manufacturer:           Microsoft Corporation
OS Configuration:          Standalone Workstation
OS Build Type:             Multiprocessor Free
Registered Owner:          D4L3
Registered Organization:   N/A
Product ID:                00356-24602-84731-AAOEM
Original Install Date:     11/04/2022, 10:09:08 am
System Boot Time:          09/26/2023, 5:52:04 pm
System Manufacturer:       Acer
System Model:              Nitro AN515-58
System Type:               x64-based PC
Processor(s):              1 Processor(s) Installed.
                           [01]: Intel64 Family 6 Model 154 Stepping 3 GenuineIntel ~3100 Mhz
BIOS Version:              Insyde Corp. V1.09, 05/06/2022
Windows Directory:         C:\WINDOWS
System Directory:          C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device:               \Device\HarddiskVolume1
System Locale:             en-us;English (United States)
Input Locale:              en-us;English (United States)
Time Zone:                 (UTC+08:00) Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
Total Physical Memory:     16,088 MB
Available Physical Memory: 5,573 MB
Virtual Memory: Max Size:  31,448 MB
Virtual Memory: Available: 17,125 MB
Virtual Memory: In Use:    14,323 MB
Page File Location(s):     C:\pagefile.sys
Domain:                    WORKGROUP
Logon Server:              \\LAPTOP-OMCN7CK7
Hotfix(s):                 4 Hotfix(s) Installed.
                           [01]: KB5029921
                           [02]: KB5012170
                           [03]: KB5030219
                           [04]: KB5028756
Network Card(s):           5 NIC(s) Installed.
                           [01]: Killer(R) Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i 160MHz Wireless Network Adapter (201NGW)
                                 Connection Name: Wi-Fi
                                 DHCP Enabled:    Yes
                                 DHCP Server:     192.168.178.139
                                 IP address(es)
                                 [01]: 192.168.178.230
                                 [02]: fe80::1415:b315:1c5c:487b
                           [02]: Killer E2600 Gigabit Ethernet Controller
                                 Connection Name: Ethernet
                                 Status:          Media disconnected
                           [03]: Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
                                 Connection Name: Bluetooth Network Connection
                                 Status:          Media disconnected
                           [04]: Windscribe VPN
                                 Connection Name: Local Area Connection
                                 Status:          Media disconnected
                           [05]: Windscribe Windtun420
                                 Connection Name: Local Area Connection 2
                                 Status:          Media disconnected
Hyper-V Requirements:      A hypervisor has been detected. Features required for Hyper-V will not be displayed.


Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
hedwar2011 said:
What are the make/model of all 3 of your external HDDs so we have a reference point to start with?
Sounds like the speeds aren't matching up but only way to be certain is to verify.
Click to expand...
It is the Seagate Expansion HDD USB 3.0 regulatory model: SRD0NF1
I have 2 of these, both behave the same in USB-A ports.
 
Make sure that the options under Power Management by right-clicking the USB root hub(s) in Device Manager are all disabled.
Do any other USB devices experience strange issues when connected to these ports?
 
hedwar2011 said:
Make sure that the options under Power Management by right-clicking the USB root hub(s) in Device Manager are all disabled.
Do any other USB devices experience strange issues when connected to these ports?
Click to expand...
Already tried. Still same results. There is no other strange issues except for the slow and stuttering speed.
 
How long are the USB-A cables? Anything over 1ft (30cm) might give problems due to crosstalk or excessive voltage drop. Use short USB-A cables. Presumably the USB-C cables you're using a shorter than the USB-A cables?
 
Misgar said:
How long are the USB-A cables? Anything over 1ft (30cm) might give problems due to crosstalk or excessive voltage drop. Use short USB-A cables. Presumably the USB-C cables you're using a shorter than the USB-A cables?
Click to expand...
The cables are the ones included with the External HDDs. They are very short.
 
hedwar2011 said:
What about if you go into Safe Mode and try to access them there? Does the stuttering still occur? It's almost like they are buffering their read/write speeds when connected via USB-A.
Click to expand...
I just tried booting into safe mode, and the aforementioned issue does not exist. What do you think is the problem here?

Do i need to reinstall some drivers or reformat the entire PC?
 
Ironash said:
I just tried booting into safe mode, and the aforementioned issue does not exist. What do you think is the problem here?

Do i need to reinstall some drivers or reformat the entire PC?
Click to expand...
I would try doing a clean boot first (Instructions found HERE) and see if the issue still occurs. That will eliminate any 3rd party programs, etc. that might be interfering with them. If the issue still hasn't occurred, start slowly adding things back in via MSConfig until you get the issue again. Once you get the issue, identify what the last thing was that you re-enabled.
 
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hedwar2011 said:
I would try doing a clean boot first (Instructions found HERE) and see if the issue still occurs. That will eliminate any 3rd party programs, etc. that might be interfering with them. If the issue still hasn't occurred, start slowly adding things back in via MSConfig until you get the issue again. Once you get the issue, identify what the last thing was that you re-enabled.
Click to expand...
I apologize for the late response, I tried your suggestion and found the culprit

It was the WD Drive Manager service. I disabled the said service and it fixed my problem.
 
Ironash said:
I apologize for the late response, I tried your suggestion and found the culprit

It was the WD Drive Manager service. I disabled the said service and it fixed my problem.
Click to expand...
Awesome to hear. Go ahead and mark your issue as solved if you feel like it's taken care of. If you're not sure how, click the link in my signature and it will guide you through doing it.
 
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