eSATA - problems help please

Trackerman

Trackerman

Trackerman

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I have a new 1TB Seagate FreeAgent Pro (the one with eSATA).
It works well on USB but not in eSATA.

After following many hints and tips on the web (eSATA seems to be very problematic) I now have it recognised in XP, but it’s still not working well…

Even though the drive is recognised by XP… the drive seems to stop and re-start whenever I try to read or write large (> 1mb) files.
The orange light also dies away when this happens.
The only way out is a re-boot of XP.
This then results in the blue-screen CHKDSK running….
So I assume the problem is corrupting the drive data.

Things I have tried so far.
1. Update motherboard BIOS to latest (P5B Deluxe)
2. Checked eSATA cable is correct one, plugs into the socket with no interference from the plastic shroud.
3. Updated the JMicron driver on Motherboard.
4. Set the FreeAgent sleep timer on never.

What else could be causing the problem?
Any and all ideas are really appreciated because I’m pulling my hair out !!!!

Many Thanks in advance.

PS, I have three other SATA internal drives that work well.

Ray
 
sorry about the stupid question,but i assume your using a esata to sata converter cable? didn't think many board came with esata connections?

zia
 
Thanks,
Zia- The cable is eSATA to eSATA, the motherboard has an eSATA port on the rear.

Nightmare99- I've tried all modes, RAID, AHIC and ISA, with no difference.
When I use RAID mode the JMmicron application just lets me use the drive as Non-RAID.
When I use AHIC or ISA the JMicron application reports that it can't see any RAID drives, this is to be expected I guess.

In all three modes XP can "see" the drive and infact I can transfer small amounts of data. But whenever I try to copy over a large file like an AVI movie.... it just hangs FreeAgent... after that happens the drive needs CHKDSK run on it to clear the errors.
 
What motherboard are you running?

I know that the ICH9 controllers are renowned for being picky with esata. I had a very similar problem with an Akasa Integral and sold it due to it driving me crazy.

AHCI is used for hotswapping drives.
 
The motherboard is a ASUS P5B Deluxe Wifi version...

By the way, when I loaded the latest BIOS, my overclocking failed and now I can't get anywhere near the speed I had on the old BIOS, but anyway that for another thread....
 
I had endless trouble on my P5K-E using my jmicron controller, after updating it to version "R1.17.31.00" which fixed the issue I was having which made it very very slow (as in a few kb/s for transfer rate). However it didn't fix my problems with sound so I bought a cheap PCI-E x1 controller card (using silicon 3132 chipset) and thats been fine since.

Why not use a spare intel port if you have one, and get a sata -> esata PCI backplate adapter.
 
Good idea Fobose... I will first try eSATA to SATA directly to the Motherboard.
If that works then I can go for the adaptor....

but my guess is that the SATA from the MB will not be hot-plugable...
 
Tried it last night, but ran into a problem...
I would need a eSATA to SATA cable to perform the test, there is a difference between eSATA and SATA, the latter has a small notch at one end.
I tried to open the FreeAgent but there are no screws and I hate to snap it open while it's still under warrantee.

By the way, for an external high speed connector the eSATA design is a POS, I can't beleive it passed acceptance testing... both firewire and USB are far better mechanical designs.

I'm really ****** at Seagate, I paid extra for the eSATA, then it came without a eSATA cable and when I finally get a cable it does not work!
The drive seems to have several eSATA problems according to threads I've read.
 
Trackerman said:
The motherboard is a ASUS P5B Deluxe Wifi version...

By the way, when I loaded the latest BIOS, my overclocking failed and now I can't get anywhere near the speed I had on the old BIOS, but anyway that for another thread....
Click to expand...

same as mine. i have a drive plugged in via e-sata. i remember the first time i tried it months ago, it crashed the PC to try it :eek:. this time i turned it on with the drive attached and it works fine. turned the drive off and on with the pc turned on with no ill effects.
 
Trackerman said:
Tried it last night, but ran into a problem...
I would need a eSATA to SATA cable to perform the test, there is a difference between eSATA and SATA, the latter has a small notch at one end.
I tried to open the FreeAgent but there are no screws and I hate to snap it open while it's still under warrantee.

By the way, for an external high speed connector the eSATA design is a POS, I can't beleive it passed acceptance testing... both firewire and USB are far better mechanical designs.

I'm really ****** at Seagate, I paid extra for the eSATA, then it came without a eSATA cable and when I finally get a cable it does not work!
The drive seems to have several eSATA problems according to threads I've read.
Click to expand...

Same boat as you. I purchased my Freeagent some time ago and got a 750gig with eSATA have never managed to get it working on two different mobos. Can only use USB. Have had it replaced by Seagate and it still don't work.
Seagate told me that it will not work under eSATA if you use the Akasa SATA to eSATA Adapter Kit. You have to use a real eSATA connection. Well my mobo prior to this one had eSATA and it never worked
 
gary996 said:
Seagate told me that it will not work under eSATA if you use the Akasa SATA to eSATA Adapter Kit.
Click to expand...

I got told that also by Akasa themselves. Idiots!!!

Finally sold my Akasa Integral as I wasn't going to spend another £20 on an Esata Controller Card.
 
make sure you have AHCI set up and correct me if i am wrong this has to be done at windows installation, so if you have not done it allready then reformat and start again.
After all is done and you have every thing connected boot computer (i had my drive switched on). I went into the bios but found nothing on the Esata port 6 which my drive was on so i switched it to the Esata port 2 and still nothing. Thought to myself great still don't work. Booted into windows and it come up with the found new hardware and installed my Drive. Every thing working as it should be thnk god
 
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