why does file explorer keep closing my external hard drive

3 min read 10-09-2024

why does file explorer keep closing my external hard drive

If you’ve ever tried to browse files on your external hard drive only to have File Explorer close unexpectedly, you’re not alone. Many users encounter this frustrating issue. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons behind File Explorer’s erratic behavior when dealing with external drives, based on insights from the Stack Overflow community, and provide tips on how to resolve it.

Common Causes and Solutions

1. Power Management Settings

One common reason for File Explorer to close when accessing an external hard drive is due to the power management settings in Windows. If your external drive is set to go to sleep after a period of inactivity, it can disconnect and cause File Explorer to crash.

Solution: To prevent this, you can adjust the power settings:

Open Control Panel.
Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
Click on Change plan settings next to your selected plan.
Click on Change advanced power settings.
Expand USB settings, then expand USB selective suspend setting.
Set it to Disabled.

2. Corrupted Drivers

Another frequent issue arises from corrupted or outdated drivers. If the drivers for your external hard drive are not functioning correctly, File Explorer may struggle to access the drive.

Solution: To update your drivers, follow these steps:

Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
Locate your external hard drive under Disk drives.
Right-click it and choose Update driver.
Follow the prompts to search automatically for updated driver software.

If you suspect the driver is corrupted, you may want to uninstall the device and then reconnect the external drive to allow Windows to reinstall the driver.

3. File System Errors

File system errors on the external hard drive can also cause File Explorer to behave unpredictably. If the disk has not been ejected properly or has experienced an unexpected shutdown, this can lead to corruption.

Solution: You can check and fix errors using the built-in Windows tool:

Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
Type chkdsk X: /f (replace X with the drive letter of your external hard drive).
Press Enter. This process will scan the drive for errors and repair them if possible.

4. Conflicting Software

Sometimes, third-party software can conflict with Windows File Explorer. This is particularly common with antivirus software or disk management tools that could lock files or interfere with access.

Solution: Try disabling or uninstalling any recently installed software to determine if it resolves the issue.

Practical Examples

Example 1: Adjusting Power Settings

Suppose you have a WD My Passport external hard drive. You notice that File Explorer crashes when you try to view files after a few minutes of inactivity. By following the steps to adjust the power settings as outlined above, you can prevent the drive from going to sleep.

Example 2: Checking for File System Errors

Imagine you’ve been using an external SSD for video editing. If you face frequent crashes while accessing files, running chkdsk can help you determine if there are corrupt files that need fixing, ensuring smoother performance moving forward.

Conclusion

File Explorer crashing when using an external hard drive can be irritating, but understanding the underlying issues can help you tackle the problem effectively. By adjusting power settings, updating drivers, checking for file system errors, and considering software conflicts, you can greatly improve your experience when accessing external drives.

Additional Tips

Backup Data Regularly: Always maintain backups of important data on your external drives to mitigate data loss risks.
Safely Eject Drives: Make sure to eject your external drives properly after use to avoid corruption.

References

This article draws upon discussions and solutions suggested by the Stack Overflow community, where users have shared their experiences regarding File Explorer crashes and external hard drives. Visit Stack Overflow for more community-driven insights.

By implementing these solutions, you can minimize the chances of File Explorer closing unexpectedly and enjoy a smoother experience with your external hard drives.