Internal/External Hard Drive Freezes Computer: 5 Fixes

User Case: External HDD Freezing My Computer

If you are also troubled by internal or external hard drive freezes Windows 10/11 computer, don't worry. Walk through this guide to get some useful solutions to solve this issue right now!

How to Fix Internal/External Hard Drive Freezes Computer in 5 Solutions

In this section, we will explore 5 step-by-step methods to solve internal or external hard drive freezing computer in turn. Before that, you can try some simple quick fixes like connecting the disk with another cable or port, trying the disk on another computer, running antivirus software for malware or virus attacks, etc.

Way 1. Upgrade Hard Drive to SSD for a Faster Response

If hard drive is under heavy load, it may slow down or become unresponsive, causing your computer to freeze. This is because traditional HDDs rely on spinning platters and mechanical arms, which are prone to wear and lag. Over time, these delays can cause bottlenecks in system, especially on startup, during file transfers, or while running heavy applications. Upgrading hard drive to SSD, which has no moving parts and offers significantly faster data access and transfer speeds, is a great solution to Seagate/WD/Toshiba external hard drive freezes computer.

AOMEI Cloner is a handy disk cloning tool for hassle-free data migration from HDD to SSD. It integrates multiple features, including disk clone, system clone, and partition clone. And this tool stands out in the following ways:

Step-by-Step: Upgrade your hard drive using AOMEI Cloner

Step 1. Connect the new SSD and your current hard drive to the computer. Then, download and launch AOMEI Cloner, and go to Clone > Disk Clone.

Step 2. Choose your current HDD as the source drive, and the connected new SSD as the destination.

Step 3. Tick SSD Alignment to optimize the performance of the target SSD and prolong its lifespan. Then, tap on Start Clone.

Useful Tips:

• If you wish to copy everything from the old hard drive, including hidden files and unused space, you can tick the Sector By Sector Clone option. Or, this software will run Intelligent Clone to copy only used space.
• When cloning to a larger SSD, you could utilize Edit Partitions to resize partitions to fully utilize the storage space on the target SSD.

Way 2. Check Disk Health with CHKDSK

Hard drive freezes Windows Explorer can be caused by file system errors and bad sectors on the disk. The CHKDSK (Check Disk) utility is a built-in Windows tool that scans and repairs problems.

Step 1. Press Windows + R keys simultaneously, and then type cmd in the Run dialog box to open the Command Prompt.

Step 2. Enter chkdsk C: /f /r /x (Replace X with the drive letter of your problematic hard drive) and press Enter to check disk errors and initiate repairs.

Step 3. If prompted, type Y to schedule the scan on the next system restart. Then, reboot your system to allow CHKDSK to run and fix any detected issues.

Way 3. Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

Windows includes a Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter that can detect and fix problems with connected hardware. To run the troubleshooter for fixing the hard drive keeps freezing issue, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open the Run dialog, and copy and paste the msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic command to launch the Hardware and Devices program.

Step 2. Click on the Next button. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.

Way 4. Update the Hard Drive Driver

There may be problems with your disk drivers that lead to internal or external hard disk hangs computer when connected.

Step 1. Press Windows + X keys and choose Device Manager.

Step 2. Expand the Disk drives option and right-click the target hard drive.

Step 3. Choose Update Driver, and then select Search automatically for drivers to get and install any available driver update.

Way 5. Format Hard Drive for Reuse

If none of the foregoing methods work for the internal/external hard drive freezes computer on Windows 10/11 problem, there may be something wrong with the hard drive. In such a case, you could try formatting the disk for a proper connection. It should be noted that disk format will erase all data on it. You can use the foregoing AOMEI Cloner software or a backup tool to backup the hard drive in advance.

Step 1. Right-click the Start button and select Disk Management.

Step 2. Then, right-click the hard drive and choose Format.

Step 3. Opt for a File system, uncheck quick format if you want a deeper clean, and click OK to confirm it.

Why Internal/External Hard Drive Freezes Computer on Windows 10/11?

That's all about how to resolve HDD freezing PC. If you are still wondering why internal/external hard drive freezes computer, here are the most common reasons:

• Disk fragmentation and aging: Old, heavily fragmented drives take longer to read/write, causing your system to freeze.
• Bad sectors or file system corruption: Prevent smooth access to data and cause Windows Explorer to hang.
• Incompatible USB port or cable: Especially with external drives, bad connections can lead to systemlag.
• Driver conflicts or outdated drivers: Outdated or incompatible drivers can interfere with the proper functioning of the hard drive.
• Virus or Malware: Malicious software can corrupt files and disrupt normal operations.

Summary

HDD freezing everything, like Toshiba external hard drive freezes computer, can significantly disrupt computer operations and probably lead to data loss. Luckily, you are able to apply the solutions outlined above to fix it. But we always consider replacing the hard drive with a new one to be the ultimate solution.

With the help of AOMEI Cloner, a professional and reliable cloning utility, you can migrate all data, including the Windows OS and individual files, from old hard drive to SSD/HDD with simple clicks. This software is also applicable to cloning hard drive with bad sectors, and ensuring a secure boot.