My WD 8TB drive is much slower than expected, and I’m wondering if the file system could be the issue. Could fragmentation or using an outdated file system impact speed? Any advice on how to check or fix this would be greatly appreciated!
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How old is the drive? What were your expectations? What file format is it now? How is it connected (USB2, USB3, USB 3.x, Type A, Type C)?
How much stuff is on it? How did you measure it’s speed?
Yes, you can “optimize” the drive (defragment). How much improvement you get depends on a lot of factors.
Fragmentation and an old file system can slow down your WD 8TB drive. To fix fragmentation, go to Optimize in Windows. Check if your file system is NTFS by right-clicking the drive and choosing Properties. If it’s not, you can reformat it to NTFS (just remember to back up your data first). Run CHKDSK to check for errors and use a USB 3.0 or higher port and cable for better speed.
Large files take longer to transfer, and many small files can lead to slower speeds due to the overhead involved in handling each file.
Yes, an outdated or fragmented file system can slow down your WD 8TB drive. Check the file system type (NTFS, exFAT, or FAT32) and consider reformatting to NTFS for better performance. Use Windows Defragmenter (defrag command) or Optimize Drives if it’s an HDD. Also, check for bad sectors with chkdsk /f /r in Command Prompt. If it’s an external drive, ensure you’re using a USB 3.0 port for faster speeds. 
