When transferring files between a PC and an external hard drive, you may encounter a message that reads "Error 0x800701B1, a non-existent device was specified".
There are several reasons for this error, including the USB port lacking the required transfer rate, the power supply not keeping up with the power demands, a damaged disk, or a problem with the operating system.
If you're running into the same error, we've listed a few fixes below that can help you out.
before starting
Here are some initial checks you should do before starting the troubleshooting process:
1. The connection of the hard disk is not loose, and the cables and ports are not damaged.
2. There is enough free space on the hard disk where you want to copy the data.
3. The amount of data being relocated is not too large.If you're moving a lot of data, cut it up and relocate small pieces of data.
4. Make sure the laptop's battery is not too low.
5. Make sure that the files you want to transfer are not encrypted and that the hard drive has no security permission restrictions.
6. Your computer is not connected to any other external drives at the same time.
7. No other data migration process occurs simultaneously on the same or different drives.
If the above checks don't help, try implementing the fixes below to find the culprit.
1. Troubleshoot hardware problems
The first step in troubleshooting errors is to rule out hardware problems.If you have another device, connecting your external hard drive to the other device is the easiest way.Once you do, try transferring the same amount and type of data to and from the hard drive to see if you experience the same problem.
If the error also occurs on other devices, then the problem is with your external hard drive, not your operating system.If it works on other devices, try applying the fixes below.
2. Connect your external hard drive to the USB 3.0 port
Compared to USB 2.0 ports, USB 3.0 ports provide more power and transfer speed.If you experience errors transferring files on a hard drive connected with a USB 2.0 port, then unplug it and connect it to a USB 3.0 port on your computer.
Doing this eliminates the possibility of errors due to low transfer speeds or insufficient power to the USB port.If you already have the hard drive connected to a USB 3.0 port, switch to another USB port and see if that helps.After changing the port, start transferring files again.If things don't get better, let's move on to the next step.
3. Update the driver of the disk drive
Some unforeseen operating system problems can be traced back to outdated system drivers.So make sure that's not the case here.You can do this by updating the disk drive's driver.To do this, follow these steps:
1. Right-click the Windows Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Disk Drives category.
3. To update the driver for the associated drive, right-click the drive's name and select Update Driver.
After that, follow the on-screen instructions to update your system drivers.If updating the driver doesn't help, try the fixes below.
4. Rescan the disk in Disk Management
Windows users can choose to rescan disks in Disk Management if those disks are still inaccessible after connecting.Although less likely, rescanning your disk may also resolve the 0x800701B1 error.Follow the steps below to run a rescan:
1. Right-click the Windows Start button and select Disk Management.
2. Click the Actions tab and select Rescan Disk.
The rescan process only takes a few seconds.Once the process is complete, transfer the data again to see if the problem is resolved.
5. Perform a disk scan on the source and target drives
The ScanDisk tool on Windows helps users identify file system errors on their drives and help them fix the problem.If none of the fixes you've tried worked, run a scandisk on both the source and destination drives.
Follow the steps below to run a disk scan:
1. From the taskbar, open the file manager.
2. Click This PC.
3. Right-click the external drive and select Properties.
4. Navigate to the Tools tab in the Properties window.
5. In the "Error Check" section, click the "Check" button.
Windows will notify you if it needs to scan the disk.Whatever it says, run a scan on an external drive and repeat the same procedure for the target drive.If the scan does not resolve the problem, proceed to the next repair.
6. Check your hard drive for damage
Damage to your hard drive can also cause your operating system to throw errors to you.When you try to relocate corrupt data files from your external drive, you may encounter error 0x800701B1.Therefore, you should scan your hard drive for data corruption to rule out this possibility.
7. Make sure security permissions are not the culprit
If the hard drive isn't damaged, but you suspect that the device you're trying to relocate data to may be encrypted or that its security permissions prevent your computer from accessing it, then you may want to adjust the hard drive's security permissions to gain exclusive ownership.To do this, follow these steps:
1. Right-click the disk drive and select Properties.
2. Navigate to the Security tab from the Properties window.
3. In the lower right corner, click the "Advanced" button.
4. Right next to "Owner," click the "Change" link.
5. In the "Select User or Group" window, click the "Advanced" button.
6. Click the "Find Now" button.
7. Once your username appears in the search results, double-click it and click OK.
8. Check the box next to "Replace permission entries for all child objects with inheritable permission entries for this object".
9. Press "Apply" and then click "OK".
Assuming that taking ownership doesn't solve the problem either, your next step should be to make sure the problem isn't related to the limited power supply.
8. Eliminate the possibility of insufficient power
Unless one of the fixes above has worked, a power issue may prevent the hard drive from functioning efficiently.This is even more likely to happen if you have half a dozen accessories connected to your computer and the USB ports they connect to draw so much power that the ports for the disk drives don't get enough power.
Rather than measuring the power yourself or having a technician check it right away, confirm that this is a low power issue.To do this, disconnect all peripherals connected to your computer and see if that makes a difference.Does disconnecting other peripherals solve the problem?So there must be something wrong with the power supply unit.
If the problem is the power supply, either limit the number of devices connected to the computer or replace the power supply.When you buy a new PSU, make sure it has a larger capacity than the one you currently own.
Fix Error 0x800701B1 on Windows
By implementing the above-mentioned fixes, you should be able to get rid of error 0x800701B1.Therefore, you can relocate your data without any worries.Failing that, if there is no precious file on it, just format it and then connect to transfer the file.
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