How long are these external drives supposed to last? My drive, which has been fine since 2019 when it was new, suddenly started exhibiting bizarre behavior, such as not showing up in File Explorer, refusing to allow files to be copied to, and giving me the 0x800701E3 error when I copy files to it. I have error checked, scanned using SFC and DISM, and Quick formatted it numerous times. However, it will not allow me to do a full format, taking forever to do anything. Currently, it does show up in File Explorer. I have started Error checking from within Windows but though it says “scanning”, the status bar has not registered a thing. Also, when I have it connected to my PC, it freezes up occasionally and refuses to do any tasks until I unplug the drive. Any ideas would be gratefully accepted. I just now ran Windows Scan and Repair which said no issues were found! But when I try to copy files to it, it repeatedly gives me the error indicated in the screenshot. What am I missing? Thanks.
Hey there! It sounds like you’re dealing with quite a frustrating situation with your drive.
First of all, kudos to you for trying various troubleshooting steps like error checking, SFC, DISM, and formatting – you’re definitely being proactive! However, it seems like your drive is being quite stubborn and not cooperating.
When a drive starts acting up suddenly, it can be a sign of underlying issues. The fact that it occasionally freezes up when connected to your PC and refuses to perform any tasks until unplugged is a red flag.
The error code 0x800701E3 you’re encountering during file copy suggests that there might be some bad sectors or corrupt data on the drive. Running Windows Scan and Repair without finding any issues is a bit surprising, but sometimes these tools may not detect all problems.
Since you’ve tried quick formatting multiple times, it’s possible that it hasn’t been able to resolve the deeper issues. However, attempting a full format can take quite some time, especially if there are underlying problems causing delays.
Here are a few more things you could try:
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Test the drive on a different computer: Connect the drive to another PC and see if it exhibits the same strange behavior. This can help determine if the issue is specific to your current computer or if it’s a problem with the drive itself.
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Use a different USB cable and port: Sometimes, a faulty cable or USB port can cause problems. Swap them out and see if that makes any difference.
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Check for firmware updates: Visit the manufacturer’s website to see if there are any firmware updates available for your drive. Sometimes, these updates can fix known issues and improve compatibility.
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Backup important data: Before attempting any drastic measures like a full format, make sure to back up any important data on the drive. You never know what might happen during the process, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
If none of the above steps help, and the drive is still giving you headaches, it might be time to consider the possibility that the drive is failing and needs to be replaced. Drives can wear out over time, and it’s not uncommon for them to start acting weird before eventually failing altogether.
Remember to take good care of your data and make backups whenever possible! If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask. Good luck!
Symptoms
- It does the same thing on all my PCs and laptops
- Unfortunately, the cable tip is a very proprietary one and I have only one of it - not the standard USB-B, etc.
- Checked - no firmware of any consequence for this model at the site
- I am not concerned about the data as I have another backup. I am willing to format it as many times as needed.
Needless to say, the drive is visible with an assigned letter and can be opened.
Tests
Test 1
SFC /scannow
Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.
Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 0% complete.
…
Verification 100% complete.
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Test 2
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Image Version: 10.0.19045.3208
No component store corruption detected.
The operation completed successfully.
Test 3
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Image Version: 10.0.19045.3208
[== 4.9% ]
[===========================97.2%======================== ]
[==========================100.0%==========================]
No component store corruption detected.
The operation completed successfully.
Test 4
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Image Version: 10.0.19045.3208
[== 3.8% ]
[===========================84.9%================= ]
[==========================100.0%==========================]
The restore operation completed successfully.
The operation completed successfully.
Outcome
After the tests, I started a copy on to the drive. For the first time since it started causing issues, it is WORKING WITHOUT ERRORS!
Touch wood, fingers (not eyes) crossed, and holding my breath! WHEW!
Thank you for your suggestions.
Unfortunately, my euphoria was short-lived. 
It worked perfectly all day, but once I rebooted the PC, it has gone back to its old ways. I am thinking of replacing the data cable but it has an unusual tip. Can you please tell me what cable I would look for to fit the My Book?
Tossing it into the trash. 
It is hopeless.
