Very slow file transfers on Windows 11 devices.
Very slow file transfers on Windows 11 devices.
In the afternoon I faced a problem with my dad's Windows 11 laptop (Acer Aspire A514-54). Since I don’t use Windows 11, I checked if others experienced similar issues. The main challenge was moving a huge file—110GB worth of TV seasons—from an external HDD to an internal NVMe PCI-e Gen 3 SSD (Kingston OM8PCP3512F-AA). After roughly 8% completion, the transfer stopped completely and only reached about 10MB/s. I thought it might be due to cache issues, so I paused the transfer and tried a smaller file (around 1GB), which also froze at around 25%. I assumed the old external HDD was the culprit, even though I didn’t notice problems with it before. I looked for solutions online and tried several fixes, but nothing resolved the issue. His Windows 11 is fully updated, and all firmware is current. He uses the external HDD on his own system to move large files without such delays (e.g., transferred 40GB in under 10 minutes). I’m wondering if others using Windows 11 and an Acer laptop are facing the same problem. This has been a frustrating experience, especially since the laptop is only a few years old and runs smoothly otherwise. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.
This doesn’t seem to function properly and isn’t related to Windows 11. When transferring a file on his laptop, have you verified the Task Manager for any issues? You might find useful details in the drive information there. This is what I see when copying a ~14GB file from my SSD to another SSD. If the process runs at full speed but read/write speeds drop to zero, it likely points to an SSD problem. You could use Crystaldisk Info to assess the SSD’s health (https://crystalmark.info/en/software/crystaldiskinfo/). I’d prefer options without names that sound like Japanese characters, otherwise you might end up with a lot of anime girls in your SSD details. Unless you’re into that, of course.
This process involves loading the SLC cache into an SSD, but it can only operate at a certain level depending on the drive size—bigger drives support bigger caches. That’s why I switched back to SATA SSDs for handling large files; slower SATA transfers can actually improve perceived speed since filling the cache takes time and full caching can slow down the system when IO demands rise. https://www.techpowerup.com/review/kings...ssd/6.html Many reviews say speeds stay above 100MB/s, but my experience shows performance can drop significantly, often due to erase cycles and incomplete TRIM operations.
SSDs in laptops warm up quickly, worsening the problem. When they reach their temperature limit, performance drops to avoid overheating and damage. You might pause transfers temporarily and let them run again later to check if it improves. Still, your options are constrained by the device's hardware capabilities.
I reviewed the Task Manager during file transfers and noticed the SSD was at full capacity, yet transfer speeds remained low. It periodically spikes up to around 10MB/s but only briefly. I plan to download Crystal Disk Mark to investigate any disk issues. Appreciate your prompt response.
Thank you for sharing this. I keep all my media files on my local HDD and move them over to an external drive to avoid cache-related problems. I use a WD Blue NVMe PCIe Gen 3 SSD as my primary storage and don’t experience the same transfer speed issues as my dad’s laptop. I usually move big files from my media HDD to the main SSD, but sometimes it causes delays. My dad runs Norton Anti-Virus, which he gets for free through his internet service and needs it for security reasons. Could this software be affecting the transfer? For the other two systems I use, I don’t run any antivirus except Windows Defender. Thanks for the details and the help.
It doesn't appear to warm up much and offers solid cooling and airflow. Appreciate the response.