Copying files to external drive takes 78 days

_emman1017 wrote:

I have bought an external drive and wanting to backup my files into it. The size of total files are around 25GB only and the copying process says it would take 78 days!? I just upgraded to MacOS Ventura on an M1 Pro Max.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/a32b6a88-dc5f-41f2-828a-78f3f076ad12

well as we know those time estimates can be widely off and jump widely...

however, if the drive is working in a state of failure— it may never complete.

I would simply try a different drive or verify you have it formatted correctly—

Any new drive should be erased/reformatted/initilized as new before use

Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac

Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

_emman1017 wrote:

"connecting it PnP into my Macbook" -> PnP = plug and play

I think I got it that Macs don't treat NTFS and exFAT "out of the box".

Meaning, I need to buy utility softwares.

Thank you all for the quick replies.

Cheers!

I am no expert here—however you can read more:

File system formats available in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

Hard to go wrong with APFS moving forward—

I know Time machine likes to see APFS for ex

Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support

_emman1017 wrote:

So, I have tried formatting a Sandisk 128Gb to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and tested copying some files. It is still very slow. Staggering 19 hours.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/9f2cf0fe-9043-458d-80e8-d6fd5cfeaf14

I would try a different drive and compare your results.

or

try a different cable, a different port, a different enclosure...

Drives can fail at any time, even new out of the box. If it is working in a state of failure it will get worse not better.

_emman1017 wrote:

Hello,

Its a new drive and I already have used it in my Windows laptop with no problems at all.

Is there anything special that I need to do aside from just connecting it PnP into my Macbook?

If it is working on your Windows computer then it is formatted NTFS for Windows. Macs can not write to NTFS drives. It will never finish copying files to it from your Mac.

Format the drive for your Mac. You will lose all data on the drive when you format it.

_emman1017 wrote:

Hello,

When you say "estimates can be widely off" I believe it is right now. I stopped the process and tried on a smaller set of files, around 6GB, and it says 140days. WatDaF....

Its a new drive and I already have used it in my Windows laptop with no problems at all.

Is there anything special that I need to do aside from just connecting it PnP into my Macbook?

Thank you for replying.

I am unclear what this is as written: "connecting it PnP into my Macbook? "

To add to BobTheFisherman from above...

If you already have data you do not want to loose—

For NTFS formatted drive you need third party software to have r/w access on a Mac.

Reformatting will erase all data.

there are a few options, which you will be dependent:

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/

http://www.tuxera.com/products/tuxera-ntfs-for-mac/

https://github.com/osxfuse/osxfuse/wiki/NTFS-3G

https://iboysoft.com/mac-drive-manager/ntfs-for-mac/free-software-read-write-ntfs-mac.html