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I've got some issues when copying larger files to my USB drive. First of all, my system stopped recognizing my USB drives automatically. I now have to run modprobe usb-storage in order for my USB drive to be recognized.

Once this is run, I can properly access my USB drives (USB pen drives). However, when I try to copy a larger file, the copying process will hang. My USB drive indicates to be busy, and my program also indicates it is writing information, but it simply hangs and does not move. Details:

  • I tried using a GUI tool and the command line. Results are the same.
  • I tried using different USB drives. Results are the same.
  • I tried decreasing the max_sectors setting, as indicated here. This has one main result: instead of hanging at 200 MB, the file now copies for 60 MB instead before hanging.

Given the last observation, I feel it might have to do something with the max_sectors setting, but even lowering this does not help, so I'm not sure exactly where the issue can be. Please note that the system will copy a certain amount of information (60 or 200 MB, or whatever I set max_sectors to), and then act as if more info is being written, while in fact nothing happens. I have to manually remove the USB drive in order to be able to shut down my computer.

EDIT:

Please note that at this moment very few times I'm actually able to have my USB recognized. I am running modprobe usb-storage a dozen times, taking the USB out and connecting it again, and opening my file browser frequently, to try to 'force' recognition/mounting of the drive. It only happens once in many times. I feel this whole thing is related to one main issue with the USB drivers or something else in common, but I'm just not sure what it is. Any ideas?

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You sure you connected to a e.g USB2.0 port, and the drive works on e.g Windows ? – warl0ck Aug 7 '12 at 6:43
Yes, these same ports have worked for the same devices for years. Nothing has physically changed. Also, the same drives work perfectly fine on other computers. Also, other devices (keyboard, scanner, etc) work fine on the same USB ports. – user Aug 7 '12 at 12:50
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The question was does your USB-drive work on other systems? Not: Do your ports work with other devices. It could be that your USB-drive is "dying" (sounds pretty much like a electronic defect of the drive to me)... – Nils Aug 7 '12 at 20:18
Check my comment: "Also, the same drives work perfectly fine on other computers." I have tried many different USB drives and they all show the same behavior on the PC in question, whereas they work fine on other machines. – user Aug 7 '12 at 22:10

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