Slow performance with hangs reading SD card on XPS 8390

Question

I got a new XPS 8390 a couple weeks ago. It is mostly working well. But reading SD cards is now a lot slower than it was when I first set up the machine.

When I first set up the machine, I timed how long it took to copy the files from an SD card I have. 16GB of files took 9 minutes. I continued on with moving my data from my old PC, installing programs, etc.

About a week later, I did the same operation, with the same SD card (containing the same files). This time it took over 13 minutes. I watched the performance graphs in windows Task Manager, and saw that the data was being copied steadily for about 40 seconds, then there would be 20 seconds of no data movement, then it would resume and continue for 40 seconds, them pause again, etc.

The PC came with McAfee AV. I disabled the real-time scan, and that did not make much difference--maybe a couple seconds difference in the 40/20/40/20 sequence.

I booted in safe mode (without network), and the copy operation took 9 1/2 minutes--not quite as fast as when new, but good enough. Safe mode with network was the same.

Next I used msconfig to start in selective startup mode. The good new is, it ran without any pauses. But the elapsed time was 11 minutes 11 second--in between safe mode and normal mode.

Where do I go from here? It seems I need to narrow down what is different between safe mode, selective startup mode, and normal mode. But I don't know enough about those modes to plan my next actions.

Also, what drivers does this device use? I went to the Dell support page for this machine, and they don't list drivers for the SD card reader.

Other information which may or may not be relevant:

The PC has the Micron NVme drive as C:. It has an I7 processor and 24GB RAM. I added a Sandisk SSD as E:.

During the 20 second hangs, the rest of the machine is works OK.

The task manager performance graphs show "disk activity" in the high 90% range when the data is being copied. Then it goes to solid 100% when the data is not moving.

Since I also use CF memory cards, and this XPS does not have a built-in reader for them, I purchased an Insignia USB SD/CF card reader. It reads the SD card at more than twice the speed, but it also has the 40 second/20 second slowdown problem.

I have tried reading the SD card by using drag & drop in Windows Explorer, and with Xcopy and Adobe Lightroom. The 40/20 second problem happens the same with all of them.

The performance is the same whether I am copying to the C: drive or the E: drive.

I have tried copying from an external USB hard drive. That goes faster than the SD card and does not have the 40/20 second problem.

I have tried the Insignia card reader on a front USB port, the front USB C port, a back USB 3 port, the back USB 3 superspeed port, and a back USB 2 port. Always get the 40/20 problem.

FCloud25 · Accepted Answer

The 20 second hang problem is caused by WDDriveAgent.exe, which is installed by WD Discovery. That's utility software that came with my Western Digital external hard drive.

This is pretty annoying, because the first thing I did when I realized I had a problem copying data between storage devices, was to remove all disk-related utility software I had installed. That was Acronis True Image, Sandisk SSD Dashboard, and WD Discovery. But the uninstall for WD Discovery left WDDriveAgent still installed, and still set for automatic startup. There was no entry in the Windows Add/Remove Programs list for it.

So that problem is not caused by the Dell hardware or the software provided by Dell. I consider this issue closed as far as Dell Community goes.

I would also add that it sure would be nice if there was an easier way to diagnose something like this, especially as this problem was 100% recreatable.

fireberd · Answer

Card readers use the generic Windows 'plug and play' drivers. The one thing that sticks out, for me,  is the SD card reader adapter.  And the only way to confirm if it is the cause is to use a different brand.  Or try the card reader adapter on a different PC and see how it works. I've got a couple of external USB connected hard drive adapters (plug in a hard drive).  The two copy at different speeds and they are USB 3.0 interface units. One final thought, and its a hassle but something to consider.  Make a full drive (all partition) disc image to a separate drive.  That will preserve what you have now.  Then do a factory restore back to when you first got it and see if things change or improve and maintain the speed.  If it does then its something either in a Windows update or something that was added.  If the speeds change without adding anything then the adapter is the suspect.

Vic384 · Answer

You could try using Task Manager or Process Explorer (www.sysinternals.com) to see what processes are consuming CPU time during the 20 second pauses. Have you noticed any pauses during large file transfers from c: drive to e: drive? Just wondering if the pauses occur during other computer operations but you only notice it during SD card reading.

By the way you have a typo, I assure you have a XPS 8930.

savvy2 · Answer

remove McAfee, use only Microsoft, w10 built in, AV, called defender,

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17187/windows-10-protect-your-pc

no need for 2 AV on one PC, and do imagine if you do, the war you start there, with W10 upgates full. and McAfee.

shut it off fully, by removing it. (you can always put it back later if, unwise) when you click the task bar and did the Mcafee shut down this does not kill it fully, mostly for making games run faster. ok/
whats in your startup tab box in taskmanager.

best post (if free time is endless) is the post about system internals. (I do run that it is super good)

when you copy that large about of data. the AFEE must scan all that deep and at the same time Defender.

its is AV BOUND, end the AFEE> , id keep it off and add Malwarebytes, as tier 2 protection.

never run 2 AV same time, nothing but problems, will be the result now or next windows 10 release update.!!!

FCloud25 · Answer

Vic384,

I have looked closely at Task Manager's data. There is very little CPU being used during the active part or the stalled part of the copy operation. Just a fraction of a per cent for windows explorer and/or the desktop, and another fraction for the McAfee processes.

I have not tried Process Explorer. Thanks for the pointer to it.

Thanks for the correction on the product number.

FCloud25 · Answer

Fireberd,

The machine has a built-in card reader, and since this was provided by Dell and this is a Dell Forum, I'm focused on that. And yes, I do have a second one from Insignia (Best Buy house brand). They both show the same 40/20 problem.

The idea of saving off an image of the C: drive and rebuilding it is a bit scary, but I see your point. Thanks.

DELL-Cares · Answer

Hello, Tejashree here, and I will be assisting you. Could you tell us the SD card class you are using?Also, the SD card format?   Thanks

RoHe · Answer

Since it's faster when booting in Safe Mode, something loading during normal boot may be responsible.

Users have been reporting ~3-5 sec freezes while using the XPS 8930 which have been linked to some pre-installed Dell software. So try disabling that software on the Startup tab in Task Manager, eg, Dell SmartAssist, SmartAssist Remediation Service, Dell Update, Dell Mobile Connect, etc.

You may also have to disable their corresponding services by running services.msc from Start>Run. Change only these specific services to Disabled in services.msc. Don't change anything else! Then reboot normally and see if SD copying speeds are faster.

You can always go back and reset those services to Automatic in services.msc and re-enable them on the Startup tab in Task Manager if you want that stuff to run every time you reboot.

When you timed things the second time, was it the same source for the files being copied onto the SD card and the exact same files, or a different source for the same files or different files onto the SD card? And was the SD card empty or did it still have the original files you already copied on to it when you timed the second copying?

It's probably not fair to compare things this way when there are so many variables and possible combinations of them, so you have to repeat everything exactly the way you did the first time even to come close to matching the conditions and drawing any conclusions...

FCloud25 · Answer

savvy2,

I did try completely removing all three pre-installed mcAfee programs. The result was "interesting"

Instead of the 40 second/20 second behavior, I now get 60 to 120 seconds of steady data transfer, followed by 20 seconds of hang. So there is still something going on.

By the way, the McAfee was pre-installed, so it was active when I did my first test that ran in 9 minutes.

And when I was testing safe mode, there were several McAfee processes running. I was quite surprised by that. What is safe mode for if not disabling third-party programs?

FCloud25 · Answer

Tejashree and RoHe,

The SDcard is a 64GB SanDisk Extreme Pro model. It is labeled 95MB/s, Class 10, U3, V30.

I only use this card in my camera. It been formatted in the camera (a Canon 70D), not in Windows.

I have kept the contents of the card intact throughout all these tests, so the results would be consistent.

In between my various experiments, I have also tested the card in an HP laptop I have access to. It works fine there--9:32 to copy the card using its internal card reader.

I will now try turning off the Dell apps and see what happens.

DELL-Cares · Answer

Hi,   Thanks for getting back and sharing the information. Do get back to me if you need any assistance after trying the steps.   Regards, Dell-GopalD

DELL-Cares · Answer

Hi!   I have sent a private note.   Dell-Deepti

XPS Desktops

Slow performance with hangs reading SD card on XPS 8390

Was this post helpful?