Getting error code 0x800701E3 when copying files from laptop to external hard disk

Anonymous
2014-02-22T16:03:35+00:00

Original title: error 0x800701E3

I have this WD ext hard drive 300 gb for pat 3 years. recently I am getting the above error message whenever I try to copy or send files from laptop to external hard drive. I tried different USB ports on laptop with same error message coming up. I ran chkdsk from laptop on the external drive but the problem persists. I backed up the files from the ext hard drive and formatted the drive. but no success. any suggestions to rectify the problem? thanks

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2014-03-31T17:13:43+00:00

Hi Mirle,

What was the exact scan report that was generated after you ran the ‘Error check’?

Did it provide you an option to delete the files that couldn’t be recovered?

It appears that Windows has tried to recover some of the files in the bad sectors. If they are corrupt and beyond repair, then Windows might fail to open the file or delete it. If you are unable to delete these files, then you can copy the other files to a different location, format the external drive completely to remove all corrupt files, and then copy the other files back to the External hard drive. Right click on the External hard drive in File Explorer and select ‘format’ to format the drive.

Hope this helps. Let us know the results.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-03-09T07:07:08+00:00

    hi   I tried the problem external HD on a Toshiba satellite laptop 1.67 ghz, 32 bit os  windows vista. it worked ok and the dialog box opened after plugging in the ext drive. I was able to transfer jpeg files to and from the ext drive. but when I plug in to my dell laptop, 1.8 ghz, 64 bit os, windows 8.1, the dialog box does not come up. but when I go to computer and click on my passport, the file list opens, but individual folder is not opening and I get 'fatal hardware error' message. transfer of file from laptop to passport gives the error code 0x800701E3.  

    I can open the event viewer but the things mentioned there, frankly, I could not make out. any suggestions ?  the ext hdd, I guess, has FAT 32 file system and the laptop has NTFS which is supposed to be backward compatible with FAT 32.  any suggestions. thanks  mirle

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-03-29T20:38:10+00:00

    Hi Mirle,

    I see that there are many error reports showing the Event ID 154. Event ID 154 is generally displayed when an input/out operation failed due to a hardware error. To check if this is the cause, I would suggest you to double click one of these Event logs. This will bring up a new window with more information about the event. Click on the ‘Copy’ button to copy the contents and paste them in your reply.

    I would also suggest you to run an error check on this external hard drive to check the health of the hard drive and to check if there are any bad sectors causing this issue. Refer to these steps:

    1. Right click on the external hard drive displayed in the File Explorer and select properties.
    2. In the properties window, click on the ‘Tools’ tab.
    3. Now click on ‘Error check’ and follow the prompts.

    Get back to us with these results for further assistance.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-03-19T06:16:10+00:00

    hi   thanks for the help. I updated ths chipset drivers yesterday for the widows 8.1 os yesterday and tried again. my external drive appears on the my computer screen. I can also see the file icons when I click on "my passport". but he individual files do not open "fatal device error" is the response I get. 

    below is event log, when I tried to transfer files  from and to The ext drive,

     Error 19-03-2014 11:26:45 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:45 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:43 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:42 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:41 disk 154 None

    Warning 19-03-2014 11:26:40 Ntfs (Microsoft-Windows-Ntfs) 140 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:40 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:40 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:39 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:38 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:37 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:35 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:35 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:34 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:33 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:31 disk 154 None

    Warning 19-03-2014 11:26:30 Ntfs (Microsoft-Windows-Ntfs) 140 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:30 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:30 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:30 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:30 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:30 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:30 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:30 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:30 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:30 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:30 disk 154 None

    Warning 19-03-2014 11:26:30 Ntfs (Microsoft-Windows-Ntfs) 140 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:30 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:30 disk 154 None

    Warning 19-03-2014 11:26:30 Ntfs (Microsoft-Windows-Ntfs) 140 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:30 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:30 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:30 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:30 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:29 disk 154 None

    Error 19-03-2014 11:26:29 disk 154 None

    Information 19-03-2014 11:25:41 Ntfs (Microsoft-Windows-Ntfs) 98 None

    Information 19-03-2014 11:24:12 Power-Troubleshooter 1 None

    Information 19-03-2014 11:24:07 Kernel-Power 131 (33)

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-02-23T06:03:13+00:00

    Hi Mirle,

    1. Did you insert the external device into another computer and try to send files from that computer and check if the issue persists
    2. Did you insert another external device into this computer  and checked if the issue persists?
    3. What is the make and model of the computer?

    I appreciate the efforts you took to get the issue resolved. Updating the chipset drivers may help to get the issue fixed.

    Please check for event viewer logs.

    a: Right click at the bottom left of the desktop.

    b: Select Event viewer.

    c: Look for any error messages related to the external hard disk

    You can update the chipset drivers from the computer manufacturers website and see if it helps.

    Please do reply with more information regarding this issue. We’ll be glad to assist

    you further.

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