Troubleshooting an External Hard Drive: When File Explorer Freezes

Hello, and welcome to the blog! Today, I wanted to share a common issue that many users face with external hard drives, particularly those who are still learning the ins and outs of computer technology. If you’ve ever encountered your File Explorer crashing or freezing while trying to access an external hard drive, you’re not alone.

The Problem: External Drive Causing a Freeze
Recently, I encountered a frustrating issue with my Seagate 2TB portable external hard drive. Upon connecting it to my Windows 11 PC via USB, I noticed that although the drive appeared to function normally—making typical sounds and showing accessible data—my attempts to interact with the files led to endless freezing of File Explorer. Whether I was trying to move files off the drive or open them directly, the system would get stuck in an endless calculation phase, making it impossible to proceed. This ultimately forced me to either close File Explorer entirely or physically disconnect the drive just to restore my PC’s functionality.

Understanding the Symptoms
This external drive seemed perfectly fine just 24 hours earlier. Without having made any recent changes—no new software downloads or alterations—I was puzzled as to what might have triggered this problem. I even discovered that rebooting my PC with the drive still connected could prevent my system from booting at all, unless I used Safe Mode or reinstalled Windows 11.

In my troubleshooting efforts, I also attempted to connect the drive to another laptop, only to encounter the same frustrating behavior. It was evident that the issue lay with the drive and not my computer.

Initial Troubleshooting Steps
As someone still gaining confidence in computer troubleshooting, I started with some basic commands. Running CHKDSK didn’t yield any positive results. I also tried using Disk Utility in hopes of resolving any issues, but unfortunately, to no avail.

It’s important to note that the data on this drive holds some significance for me. However, being conscious of my limited budget, I’m hesitant to resort to professional data recovery services, which can cost upwards of $300. Therefore, I am reaching out for advice and potential solutions from those who may have faced a similar situation.

Community Input Request
I’ve seen references to “Disk Drill” in various forums, but there are mixed opinions on its effectiveness, leading me to question if it’s a viable option. Any insights, suggestions, or first-hand