Problem copying TM backups to new drive
MacBookPro OS 10.6.8
I have borrowed a new and larger external HD to copy off my TM backups so I can repartition my backup drive and then copy them back. I did the recommended prep, though since it was new I didn't zero it out. The initial copying process is taking a long time and showing no results! a) the "copying" status window shows the rippling bar with "Copying 8,799,534 items" and "Zero KB of 141.11 GB Estimated time remaining…" — seemingly no progress; b) the in operation light on the destination external drive is flickering, indicating action inside; c) the Info on the destination drive shows increasing GB used, though the date modified doesn't change; d) the finder view of the destination drive does show that more structure is being built, though the size of each new folder is 0 bytes. This is a USB 2.0 drive, so it isn't as fast as my usual FW. Question: Are these symptoms consistent with a copying process that will ultimately be successful?
Second problem, perhaps, is that I left it on all night and nothing happened (lid open) — is it possible that the copying process stops when the computer is not otherwise in use?
Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.5)