Portable Hard drive issue

pcknight

pcknight

pcknight

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I have a 40g USB powered Portable hard drive. When i plug it into the front USB on my case or any case it says there was a problem recognising it. It is fine when i plug it into the rear USB ports on a PC! It comes up as 'unknown' in device manager when it is plugged into the front USB. I tried uninstalling the USB root hubs and then reboot PC. This works sometimes but then when i start the PC again i ghet the same problem1

Any ideas? Thanks
 
This is because it's using a 2.5" lappy Hd which draws it's power from USB. The front USB port has longer cable and more connectors then when using the one on the back which is soldered direct to the mobo or PCI card.

Basically the front USB port cannot supply the juice required to power the 2.5" drive properly.
 
But the unit comes with 2 USB connectors which i plug into the front. It has worked on occasions. Just cannot understand why it is not working now!

Is this the same for all External USB powered Hard Drives?
 
I find USB sockets on PCs to be finicky little sods sometimes. I can be using a socket for weeks for a USB pen, then one day decides it's bored and wont work for a while.

However, the front USB sockets on a PC are on a long cable so this might explain why you can't always get your USB HDD to work.

SiriusB
 
Ok, so hit and miss then. Would i be better off getting a 2.5 external hard drive enclosure that has firewire on it too? Is it gauranteed to be more reliable with firewire?

Anyone with any answers? Thanks
 
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Ok, just ordered a 2.5 enclosure that has USB, Firewire and an external power connector just in case the USB from the PC is not powerful enough. Comes with all cables and a leather carry case £26 all in!! Someone on another forum was after the same thing and pointed me in the right direction!!
 
Last edited:
rpstewart said:
Don't recall ever seeing firewire on a 2.5" enclosure. Firewire would require an external PSU for the enclosure which negates the benefit of 2.5" externals.

I may of course be wrong....
Click to expand...
Ironically, my Nexto (PSD for CF) can operate and charge off a 6-pin Firewire connection but needs to use some of its own battery if using the USB connection. Apparently the current from 1394 is higher than the USB.

A 6-pin Firewire connection provides power just as the USB connection does, but what exact difference exists between the power provision of the 1394 and USB, I'm not sure...
 
Received my unit today and well impressed. Easy to set up and comes with all cables and a leather case, all for £25!! Also came with an external power supply too!!
 
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