front usb ports don't like external HDs? (old ocuk build)

aardvark · 7 Jan 2018 at 14:36

Hi guys,
my ocuk pc from a few years ago (3 years i think) is still going strong but i have noticed this problem.

The 2 front ports work fine for usb sticks and controllers etc, but they don't like any of the 2 external 2.5 inch external hard drives i have.
They never get recognised by the pc properly.
They work fine if i plug into the back or into the monitor usb port so i'm a bit confused.

Its not a massive deal as i plug them into the monitor (but i have to keep the monitor on obviously) and i've just bought a cable to permanently have plugged into the back to use for the hard drives, but i thought i'd ask in case there is a really obvious thing i'm missing?

harvey.l12 · 11 Jan 2018 at 11:54

Have you ever had them working before?

What is your HDD? Does it support 3.0? and is the HDD a 3.0 USB?

Do any lights come on the HDD when plugged in the front HDD? If it has been recognised before in those ports it sometimes causes issues as i have experienced with my devices. Re-installing the USB drivers usually works.

And have you tried over HDD's?

aardvark · 12 Jan 2018 at 12:53

I don't know if the ports ever worked for hard drives, i don't think they have, but they work for everything else.
The ports are usb 3 and both the drives are usb 3 (1tb samsung and a 4tb seagate) - the lights come on but windows just continuously tries to recognise the drives, and never does.
They work in back ports, monitor ports fine.
i don't have other drives to try but they work fine on other pcs as well, so i think its something to do with the front ports.
Surely the drivers affect all usb ports and not just the front ones?

As i said, i now have a long cable plugged into the back so the drives work fine on that, but it would be nice to figure out why they both have trouble in the front ports as its a bit of a mystery.

harvey.l12 · 12 Jan 2018 at 13:22

Yep the drivers should work for all ports. I think some CPU's also have USB drivers you can download... have you tried this? https://www.intel.co.uk/content/www...sb-3-0-extensible-host-controller-driver.html

What case and MOBO do you have? I take it the case came with the USB header cables to the front port?

memyselfandi · 12 Jan 2018 at 15:08

Could it be that the power output from those ports is not high enough to spin up the 2.5" drives properly? A flash stick or controller would need far less power than full hard disk.

harvey.l12 · 12 Jan 2018 at 16:16

Yep thats what I was thinking but they are USB 3.0 so generally powerful, and the lights on the device do light up but you could be correct.

Maybe contact the case manufacturer and ask?

mikedigitales · 12 Jan 2018 at 16:19

I've had front ports wear out on me before - might be worth giving the case manufacturer a message and see if they can send a replacement part.

Armageus · 12 Jan 2018 at 16:22

memyselfandi said:
Could it be that the power output from those ports is not high enough to spin up the 2.5" drives properly? A flash stick or controller would need far less power than full hard disk.

Depends somewhat on the length of the internal port cabling and the length of the cable for the 2.5" drive - as with long cabling comes more resistance

harvey.l12 · 12 Jan 2018 at 16:22

mikedigitales said:
I've had front ports wear out on me before - might be worth giving the case manufacturer a message and see if they can send a replacement part.

Yep agree with the above ^^^

Methos · 12 Jan 2018 at 16:22

trace the cables to the motherboard and check it's USB3

i've seen a worrying amount of "USB3" and 3.1 connectors that have the right front mounting kit, but are traced back to lower bandwidth / power motherboard adaptors that choke the speed and power heading to the front fittings.

aardvark · 13 Jan 2018 at 11:51

its a z97x-sli MB (gigabyte)
case is corsair 450D

ocuk built it so i'm assuming they did it properly.

I'll see if i can trace them, cheers