Transferring files from desk to ext.drive through USB 2.0 Why would it take so long? What can I do to speed it up. USB is straight into a high speed socket. A 4gig file can take 15-30, 1 hour etc. Makes no sense. The Hard drive is a 2TB Western Digital. Sometime s it will move faster. What windows program controls the transfers?
Thanks
Don:confused:

The only way to speed up this would be to have a FireWire installed. Otherwise it's slow going.

The only way to speed up this would be to have a FireWire installed. Otherwise it's slow going.

USB 2.0 is raged at 480 Mbps. Firewire is rated at 400 Mbps. So I don't see Firewire improving the speed. There is a newer version of Firewire (1394b or Firewire 800) that doubles the previous speed. But such devices are just hitting the market.

To the OP: are you sure you are using a USB 2.0 port? If the port is 1.1, it may support the external drive but at slower speeds.

It also has to do with the current load of the processor the program that handles the transfer is windows explorer

USB 2.0 does have a speed of 480 mbps at a sustained throughput.
Firewire does have a speed of 400mbps at a sustained throughput.

Although it seems that USB 2.0 is faster the architecture that makes up each of these interfaces make the sustained throughput more successful on firewire cables.

The following link will explain!

FireWire - USB Comparison (http://www.usb-ware.com/firewire-vs-usb.htm)

Hope this helps!