>>1554782The drive is going bad.
Quite likely it's a mechanical failure. The longer you keep using it, the worse it gets.
Back up anything you can, using data salvage programs if you got access to them, and have the device replaced.
SSDs are more resistant to physical wear and damage, since there's no moving parts. BUT they're more expensive + MUST be plugged-in every few months, or else you risk losing data.
t. Just lost 5TB of files and memories last December.
It was a similar external WD USB3 drive as that; served me fine for 6 years, then constant connection issues... now nothing.
>>1555056>Moral of my story: backup your backups on OTHER FORMATSFTFY.
The good old 3-2-1 rule is a fine rule of thumb:
Keep 3 copies of your important shit, on two different kinds of formats (ie. cloud and physical), one of them always "off-site" (ie. at your office, inside your car's glove box...) in case your house burns down.
I kid you not: it's 100% worth burning important shit on a DVD or even BD if you got the means. Unless you punch a hole through them or live in the Amazon rain forest, that data will outlive you and is immune to EMPs.
