Thanks @peterrus! I can confirm that using swapoff completely removes the hanging and stuttering during heavy disk IO.
I don't see this only during file copy. Extracting archives, for example, or saving virtual machine state to disk cause the same kind of stuttering and hanging. It was impossible for me to import an .ova image into VirtualBox when swap was on because my system became unresponsive. After turning swap off, I can use virtualbox again!! -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Kernel Packages, which is subscribed to linux in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1208993 Title: Ubuntu slows down and hangs while copying file from/to USB Status in linux package in Ubuntu: Confirmed Bug description: Hi While copying many and large files to and from a USB drive, the system becomes incredibly slow and sometimes hangs. I watched the system monitor while it was running slowly but cpu was not above 50% at any time, the same for memory. I'm using the "WD my passport" HD with a USB3 port of my "ASUS K55VD" laptop. Description: Ubuntu 13.04 Release: 13.04 nautilus: Installed: 1:3.6.3-0ubuntu16 Candidate: 1:3.6.3-0ubuntu16 Version table: *** 1:3.6.3-0ubuntu16 0 500 http://ubuntu-archive.mirror.nucleus.be/ raring/main amd64 Packages 100 /var/lib/dpkg/status Steps to reproduce: 1) Aquire many large files (like your totally legit moviecollection) 2) Copy files to external HD 3) Open your browser and be sad when your system becomes incredibly slow after a few minutes This is my first bugreport so if I'm missing something, please tell me. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04 Package: nautilus 1:3.6.3-0ubuntu16 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-27.40-generic 3.8.13.4 Uname: Linux 3.8.0-27-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu8.1 Architecture: amd64 Date: Tue Aug 6 22:56:34 2013 EcryptfsInUse: Yes ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/nautilus GsettingsChanges: b'org.gnome.nautilus.window-state' b'geometry' b"'656x715+154+151'" b'org.gnome.nautilus.window-state' b'maximized' b'true' InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-05-31 (67 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.04 "Raring Ringtail" - Release amd64 (20130424) MarkForUpload: True SourcePackage: nautilus UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1208993/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages Post to : kernel-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
