Try connecting it directly, using SATA, to a machine running a flavor of linux, like ubuntu. I have found that they are much more forgiving. You might try a different USB adapter, but that just adds more to the troubleshoot chain.
anonproblem
joined 9 months ago
Avoid SMR drives. Limit the use of refurbished drives, no more than 1 less of your fault tolerance, but try to keep it to just 1. You can guess the life remaining based on the hours reported from SMART.