Windows 10: File Explorer stops responding when I plug a specific External Drive into my Windows 10 System

I am running Windows 10. I have an external 970 PRO NVMe M.2 SSD 1TB in an Asus External Case. All of a sudden, unless I boot with it in the system, plugging it in with a USB-C cable or a USB 3.0 cable causes the File Explorer to stop responding and I have to Hard Boot the system... which I don't like doing. This doesn't happen on other computers. I am able to plug it in and it works fine... I have done so on two different laptops and another computer running Windows 10. One of the laptops was running Windows 11. I have attached a Disk Management view of the drive. I'm unsure of all of

:)

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.

 

external drive crashing Windows File Explorer

Hello,

I'm trying to reuse old WD Scorpion WD2500BEVS 250GB HDD, as external HDD drive. Its been in my old laptop whose motherboard died of old age, no water damage.

When i plug it in the laptop, Windows 10 recognizes the drive as 2 different drives. Drive(F), that OS shows no details about, and Drive(H), That has 110GB of free, and 110GB of total storage. Also, the green loading bar of File Explorer, never stops loading,
it reaches about 90-something % and then just hovers there. I can freely access Drive(H), but if i try anything with Drive(F), File explorer goes to "Not-Responding".

Let me just say what I've tried, and what it isn't:

1. I'ts not to the external rack, since I've just bought it from the store, i still have warranty for the rack.

2. I've already tried sfc/scannnow, it fixed something and I restarted my laptop and issue still exists.

3. If i try restart File Explorer service or just restart File Explorer from Task Manager, Screen goes black and unresponsive until i unplug External HDD, and then it goes back to normal.

4. I've tried manufacturers repair utility for my specific type of HDD, but it also get unresponsive when drive is plugged in.

5. I've tried running CHKDSK on both Drive(F) and Drive(H), from both Admin and regular user CMD, and as soon as i press Enter CMD gets "Not-Responding".

6. I've tried using format from CMD on Drive(F) but it also causes "Not-Responding" to occur.

7. I've Run thorough check on malware, spyware and viruses with several antivirus apps but none of them found anything.

8. I've Tried different USB ports on my laptop, and same thing happens on all of them.

9. All of my other external HDD-s work fine on my laptop, and all of them are from same manufacturer as this one, Western Digital (WD).

10. I've tried Disk Management, but if External Drive is plugged in, it never loads any drives in to the list of available drives, and if Disk Management is open before External Drive is plugged in, as soon as External Drive is plugged in, Disk Management
goes "Not-Responding".

EDIT:

11. DISKPART Doesnt work either, similar performance as Disk Management.

12. Safe mode makes no difference either.

13. Tried troubleshooting external usb devices, goes forever and gives no results while this External HDD is plugged in.

14. Right click on Drive(F) also causes File explorer to "Not-Responding".

15. Transferring files to Drive(H) gets stuck on 99%.

I don't care what happens to files on the drive, i just want to format it and use it as external storage, to the full capacity of the drive and not just 110GB its showing now.

Please help

Djordje

 

external drive crashing Windows File Explorer

Edit:

I forgot to add, but DiskPart also doesnt work when this External HDD is plugged in, but ive tried now, again, and got same results, wont load DISKPART> line in cmd if opened after plugging in, and stops responding if "list disk" is called in open DiskPart
after this External drive is plugged in.