USB 3.0 External Hard Drive Help

kuroneko808

kuroneko808

kuroneko808

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Following the untimely death of my last computer I decided to purchase a Titan Exodus (cool machine by the way). One of the reasons for that was that it came with two USB 3.0 ports, which neatly brings me onto my question/request for help...

I'm hoping someone here may be able to offer me some assistance with a problem I've encountered. I've recently picked up a Western Digital My Book Essentials 3TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive, but when I connect it to my computer via the USB 3.0 port nothing happens - the drive lights up and spins but my computer doesn't realise anything is connected. It doesn't appear under My Computer or in Device Manager. If I plug the drive into one of the USB 2.0 ports it works fine. Oddly, I've tried some of my USB 2 drives and the all work fine in the USB 3 port.

I've updated both the USB 3 Root Hub and Host Controller drivers from the Gigabyte website - although I noticed that they were previously labelled as being NEC and now they're Renesas (company name change?). I've also checked in BIOS to make sure that USB 3.0 is enabled (and it is).

Has anyone else encountered this problem and does anyone know how to fix it. All assistance will be greatly received.

(Oh, I'm using Windows 7 Home Premium (fully updated) if that matters).
 
Yep, I'm using a USB 3 cable. It's the one that came with the drive and it has the blue coloured connector at the end and a label attached to it proclaiming it's USB 3.
 
I'm afraid I'm on a bit of a learning curve here. I think it's the motherboard, I've always assumed it is, but I wouldn't want to swear to it. My motherboard is (according to Speccy) a Gigabyte P55-USB3 (Socket 1156) if that helps.
 
The more I research this online the more examples I come across of people with similar problems. Sadly, I have yet to find a solution that works for me. :(

I'm assuming that as a USB 2 device works fine in the USB 3 port that it means there is nothing physically wrong with the port and that it must therefore be either a driver issue or an issue with the external hard drive itself.
 
Unfortunately I don't know anyone else with a USB 3 port on their PC and it's a bit of a trek to the nearest computer shop, which is PC World. :(

I might try picking up a different (super cheap) USB 3 drive and see if that works.
 
In all fairness I have to say that WD did respond to me quite quickly. However, they weren’t able to offer a great deal of help beyond the obvious i.e. “try a different cable” (not really possible as they seem to use a proprietary connection), “do other USB 3.0 devices work” (sadly, the WD drive is the only USB 3.0 device have). Having said that, I have now ordered a Seagate USB 3.0 Drive which should arrive early next week, so I shall give that a whirl and see if it works. If it doesn’t then I must have a problem (or be very unlucky).
 
Looks like it may have been the WD Drive as the Seagate one that arrived this morning seems to be working fine (touch wood). Mind you, even that didn't go 100% smoothly. Initially the PC would only recognise it as a USB 2 drive even when connected via the USB 3 port (a step up from not recognising it at all I guess). After reinstalling the USB 3 drivers a couple of times and getting the driver for the external HDD itself to install a few times, I am pleased to say that I now have my USB 3 drive up and running. Yay!
 
Looks like I spoke to soon. The Seagate drive does work in the USB 3 port. However, it only operates at USB 2 speeds - everytime it starts up I get a little message saying that the drive could transfer data faster if plugged into a superspeed usb 3 port (which of course it is). :(
 
Jordan97 said:
I've seen PC's with USB 3.0 on the front of the case. Just as long as they are the blue ports, and not black, it does not matter where they are.
Click to expand...

The OP's motherboard only has 2 USB 3.0 ports on the back panel.

It doesn't have a USB 3.0 header on the motherboard to connect any front mounted USB 3.0 ports to.
 
Surveyor said:
The OP's motherboard only has 2 USB 3.0 ports on the back panel.

It doesn't have a USB 3.0 header on the motherboard to connect any front mounted USB 3.0 ports to.
Click to expand...

It would not be a good thing though if no one used the USB 3.0 ports on the front of their case because they thought that they would be 2.0 ;)
 
Jordan97 said:
It would not be a good thing though if no one used the USB 3.0 ports on the front of their case because they thought that they would be 2.0 ;)
Click to expand...

:confused:

I don't recall saying everyones USB 3.0 ports on the front of their case will be USB 2.0.

We're talking about the OP's specific problem.
 
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