Fix Calculating the Time Required to Copy the Files - 2024 Tutorial

I'm trying to back up my entire 20GB of data on my PC before I wipe it. I use my USB for this and plug it to my PC. But as soon as I try to copy a folder, or multiple folders, it just gets stuck on "calculating the time required to copy the files". Even if I only select two folders that only have a single file, it cannot complete copying. A file copy should not take too much time. What can I do?

Did you receive the same message when trying to copy files to your USB or any other external devices? It can be frustrating when you fail to copy the files. Don't worry. EaseUS is here to help you. On this page, we will focus on this error and provide you with effective ways to copy the files successfully.

How to Fix Calculating the Time Required to Copy the Files

In this section, you will learn how to fix the issue of calculating the time required to copy the files. Read on to solve the problem and copy the files successfully.

Fix 1. Alternative for Copying Files - EaseUS Todo PCTrans

If you are using the traditional way of copy and paste to transfer files, you might get stuck on calculating the time required to copy the files. To make the transfer easier, you can consider using a third-party tool. There is a file transfer tool called EaseUS Todo PCTrans, which helps transfer files, regardless of file size, to computers and external flash drives.

🔎Advantages of EaseUS Todo PCTrans:

• Simple interface.
• Fast transfer speed.
• A secure transfer without data loss.
• Choose what you want to transfer freely.

Connect your USB to the computer and follow the steps to copy files with EaseUS Todo PCTrans:

On the old PC:

Step 1. Launch EaseUS Todo PCTrans and click "Data Transfer" on the main screen. Select "This is Old PC" and click the "Next."

Step 2. Choose the "Transfer via backup" method and click the "Next."

Step 3. Confirm the backup file name and backup location (Please save your files to a location where the new PC can access, like an external hard disk or shared network location.)

Step 4. Tick the Applications, Files, and Accounts that you wnat to backup. Click the "Backup" option to execute the process.

On the new PC:

Step 1. Lauch EaseUS Todo PCTrans on your new PC, and choose "This is New PC" in the "Data Transfer" section.

Step 2. Selcet "Transfer via backup" and click "Next."

Step 3. Browse the "Backup location" of your existing backup files.

Step 4. Select the wanted Applications, Files , and Accounts to "Restore."

With the help of EaseUS Todo PCTrans, you can copy the files to your USB or other devices quickly and safely. You will enjoy fast file transfer with no data loss. Moreover, If you choose to copy the files to another computer, you can consider transferring the files directly to another PC with the PC to PC Transfer feature. As long as you put the two computers under the same network, you can easily transfer the files to it. You are welcome to download and explore more. 

Fix 2. Copy the Files in Small Chunks 

It can take a longer time when you copy large files to your USB or any other external device. Thus, it is more likely to get stuck in the process. To make it smoother, you can try to copy the files or folders in small chunks instead of copying the entire data. If you have a total file size of 20 GB, you can try to divide it into smaller chunks and copy them separately. The transfer time will be reduced. If not, you can continue to try other means.      

Click to learn more about file transfer:

Fix 3. Check for Errors on Storage Devices 

There can be problems existing on your USB or other external storage device. So you can check for errors on your storage device. Read on to learn how.

Guide 1. Check Disk Error in CMD

A problematic storage device is less likely to function well when you copy files to it. Thus, you can check for errors on it. The Windows built-in tool Command Prompt can perform such a task. There is a specific command line for this task.

Here is a guide for you:

Step 1. Search for Command Prompt from the Start Menu. Click "Run as administrator".

Step 2. In the command window, type chkdsk c: /f/r /x and press Enter. (C represents the system partition here. Enter the correct letter for your system partition if it is not C drive.) Click to get help when you find CHKDSK not working.

Step 3. Wait until the process is complete. Restart your PC afterward and copy the files once again.

If you find this tutorial useful, don't forget to share it with your friends and families.

Guide 2. Check Disk Error with EaseUS Partition Master 

You should take caution when typing the commands in CMD. If you find it too hard, consider using a third-party tool in this section. EaseUS Partition Master Professional is a user-friendly tool designed to deal with disk issues. A Surface Test feature can scan a drive for bad sectors and repair it to bring it back to work. When encountering the error of calculating the time required to copy the files, you can perform a test on the USB drive.

Follow the steps to check the drive via EaseUS Partition Master:

Step 1. Open EaseUS Partition Master. Right-click the disk that you want to check, and then click "Surface Test".

Step 2. The operation will be immediately performed and all bad sectors will be marked as red.

Within a few clicks, your USB drive will be examined and repaired. No complex command lines will be needed. The errors will be fixed at ease.

Fix 4. Disable the Antivirus Temporarily 

The Windows Defender protecting your computer from virus attack might interfere with the process of copying files to your USB or other flash drives. You can try to disable it temporarily and copy the file afterward to see if the error of calculating the time required to copy the files persists.

Here is a step-by-step guide for you:

Step 1. Select "Settings" from the Start Menu and click "Update and Security".

Step 2. On the Windows Security section, click "Open Window Defender Security Center".

Step 3. On the new window, click "Virus & threat protection".

Step 4. Click off on the options: Real-time protection, Cloud-delivered protection, and Automatic sample submission.

After this, you can try to copy the files again. Don't forget to turn Windows Defender on after copying the files successfully.   

Read the article below if you want to know how to speed up file transfer on Windows 11/10.

Conclusion 

In this article, we focused on how to fix the issue of calculating the time required to copy the files. You can choose to fix the problem manually or use third-party tools to save time and energy. If you want to transfer the data more quickly, you can choose EaseUS Todo PCTrans. If you want to check the errors on your USB flash drive, EaseUS Partition Master can also meet your needs. We hope that you can fix the issue and transfer the files without hassle.

Fix Calculating the Time Required to Copy the Files FAQs 

If you still have questions about how to fix the issue, you can continue to read the FAQ section. Here, we provide some questions and answers relating to this topic for you.

1. Why is copying files taking so long?

The issue of slow file transfer can be caused by several factors, such as insufficient storage, client issues, and server issues. Also, file size can directly affect transfer speed. The performance of your drive can also influence the transfer speed.    

2. How do I speed up file transfer?

There are several ways to speed up the file transfer. On your Windows system, you can disable the auto-tuning feature, disable the antivirus, disable the drive indexing. You can also make adjustments on your USB drive, such as check the USB drivers and use a newer USB port. Upgrading your drive from HDD to SSD will help increase the speed significantly. A third-party file transfer tool such as EaseUS Todo PCTrans can also make the speed faster.

3. How long does it take to copy 2 TB of data?

The time it takes to copy files will depend on a lot of factors. On average, using the 3.0 USB interface and having a reliable disk clone tool can take about 1-4 hours. If you want to transfer at a high speed, remember to use newer USB ports and SSD on your computer.