External hardrives with older computers

[mungbeanz]

Can external hard drives slow down Vista? I have three plugged in; a 1TB, 500gb and 240 gb. Copying and opening folders seems to use all of the computer's CPU, whatever that is. e.g. If I copy and paste something the ram usage is at about 60%, but the CPU is at 100% Sometimes if i open a folder or application the computer freezes for about 10 seconds and nothing reponds. Then it's all back to normal.

[Hymie]

If the drives are connected by USB ports, then this is likely to be the weakest link in the transfer path. I have two separate physical hard drives in my ageing PC. Transfer between the drives is reasonably swift.

Transferring data to/from a USB connected device is somewhat pedestrian by comparison.

[Old_Geezer]

I'd be surprised that copying would raise the CPU level to 100%. If the link is slow then presumably the CPU has loads of free cycles while it is waiting. Have to say the times the PC opts to go to 100% CPU is a mystery to me. Happens to us all I think.