Internal SATA HDD keeps disconnecting in windows 7 when copying large files??

[malice19]

Hi All

I have a 3TB Seagate 3.5 internal SATA drive in my Win 7 pro PC and for some reason when i go to copy large files say over 10GB the copy will stop after about 10 minutes and then about a minute later windows makes that sound like you have unplugged an item and the drive disappears from my computer.

If i then reboot windows the drive will come back. The drive is used as secondary storage that is why my PC does not BSOD as OS is on my SSD.

I have tried using a New SATA cable.
Tried plugging into different SATA port on motherboard.
Tried using a different SATA power off PSU.

There is a firmware update for the drive but want to get the DATA off before i try that...

Only thing i can think of is that my drive is on its way out but odd that it works when loading games off it and playing media without problem

Only thing i can think of to try next is taking the drive out and putting it into a USB caddy to see if it is more stable but USB 2 is so slow for all that data to copy off so would be good if i can fix it inside my PC.

Thanks for the help.

[Bonebreaker777]

What does the SMART say (HDD scan for surface testing + SMART report)? Also, I would try the caddy or another PC.

Did you turned off HDD hibernation (or HDD going to sleep)? In 'Control Panel' > 'Power settings'.

[ik9000]

I had this with external USB. I ditched the case header board and ran cables from the back panel. Not ideal but the fault has disappeared. Oh and I reinstalled the relevant drivers. That might also have helped.

[Bonebreaker777]

I rarely had the instance that driver reinstallation was required. Rather update. And external case issues only when my sweat dripped onto the exposed PCB while running. Funny, that it after I cleaned and dried the PCB, was working fine again.

[SUMMONER]

That fault sounds somewhat similar to what my old Crucial M4 did, which was replaced by the retailer under warranty without question, when I returned it.
In my case the SSD was the boot drive. Windows would randomly freeze, usually still allowing me to use the mouse and click through menus of open apps, but not open new things or browse for files. Upon resetting the PC the SSD would not show up during POST/in the bios screen. Turning the PC off for a few seconds would make it work again for a few hours, after which the same problem would happen again.

Next step would be to test it on another computer or may be by connecting it via USB instead.