500 Gig USB not always work

[Rod Speed]

I have a 500Gig WD w/16MB cach. The problem is I can only format it
when its attached as an IDE internal device. Once its formated I
then reattach it to the usb external and it will work SOMETIMES. I
had a A-BYTE external usb and had big problems with it. I recently
upgraded the external usb to a VANTEC NEXSTAR 3 and it works better. I think its a power supply problem. I have a
number of usb devices
like webcam and printer. I was wondering if I upgrade my computers
P/S to a 550W would that supply better power to the usb devices and
ensure that my usb HD would always connect on startup?

If it is a power supply problem, the PC power supply is irrelevant.

The problem is that quite a few USB ports dont supply anything like the
full 500mA and some of the stuff powered from the USB port arent getting
enough power and so you can get a low voltage for the other stuff.

The fix for that if that is the problem is a powered USB hub.

 

[iws]

|I have a 500Gig WD w/16MB cach. The problem is I can only format it when
| its attached as an IDE internal device. Once its formated I then reattach
| it to the usb external and it will work SOMETIMES. I had a A-BYTE
external
| usb and had big problems with it. I recently upgraded the external usb to
a
| VANTEC NEXSTAR 3 and it works better. I think its a power supply problem.
| I have a number of usb devices like webcam and printer. I was wondering
if
| I upgrade my computers P/S to a 550W would that supply better power to the
| usb devices and ensure that my usb HD would always connect on startup?
|
Assuming it's a 3.5" drive, you'll almost certainly need a separate power
supply but that would likely come with the enclosure. The USB ports are
limited in current capability by design so your internal power supply is
unlikely to be the cause. Do you have a USB card reader? If so how many
drive letters does your PC show? If the drive letter on your USB HD has been
set to be the same as one of the existing drives (including the card reader
"drives") then you can run into problems. One solution is to set your USB
HD to a drive letter low in the alphabet e.g. R, S, T, or etc.

 

[Hugh Sutherland]

I have a 500Gig WD w/16MB cach. The problem is I can only format it when
its attached as an IDE internal device. Once its formated I then reattach
it to the usb external and it will work SOMETIMES. I had a A-BYTE external
usb and had big problems with it. I recently upgraded the external usb to a
VANTEC NEXSTAR 3 and it works better. I think its a power supply problem.
I have a number of usb devices like webcam and printer. I was wondering if
I upgrade my computers P/S to a 550W would that supply better power to the
usb devices and ensure that my usb HD would always connect on startup?

 

[TM]

|I have a 500Gig WD w/16MB cach. The problem is I can only format it when
| its attached as an IDE internal device. Once its formated I then
reattach
| it to the usb external and it will work SOMETIMES. I had a A-BYTE
external
| usb and had big problems with it. I recently upgraded the external usb
to
a
| VANTEC NEXSTAR 3 and it works better. I think its a power supply
problem.
| I have a number of usb devices like webcam and printer. I was wondering
if
| I upgrade my computers P/S to a 550W would that supply better power to
the
| usb devices and ensure that my usb HD would always connect on startup?
|
Assuming it's a 3.5" drive, you'll almost certainly need a separate power
supply but that would likely come with the enclosure. The USB ports are
limited in current capability by design so your internal power supply is
unlikely to be the cause. Do you have a USB card reader? If so how many
drive letters does your PC show? If the drive letter on your USB HD has
been
set to be the same as one of the existing drives (including the card
reader
"drives") then you can run into problems. One solution is to set your USB
HD to a drive letter low in the alphabet e.g. R, S, T, or etc.

And not all "powered" USB drives/enclosures are created equal. My Coolmax
enclosure (SATA-to-USB) craps out (unrecognized/recognized/unrecognized,
etc.) regularly at the most inopportune times. OTOH, my Iomega (IDE-to-USB)
external HD is rock-solid.

 

[Hugh Sutherland]

I recently upgraded from an A-Byte usb enclosure to a NexStar 3 usb
enclosure. It works alittle better but if I turn off the computer and usb
HD then turn all back on the data on my usb HD won't show up. HD devices
show up and the usb drive says its healthy but will not show as NTFS and my
data seems to be gone. I have my HD jumpered as master as its says in the
manual. I even have the NexStar 3 enclosure opened so its not a heating
problem or power problem ...hmm

any ideas?

 

[Hugh Sutherland]

I probably should of told you my specs:
Epox 8rda+ w/AMD 1800 cpu
2 gig memory
120 Gig HD and a 30 Gig backup
ATI 9550 256 video
logitech webcam usb and Lexmark 1270 USB printer

some say older m/b can't handle big USB drives like my 500Gig wd w/16MB
cache in my NexStar3 case

 

[Rod Speed]

I recently upgraded from an A-Byte usb enclosure to a NexStar 3 usb enclosure. It works alittle better but if I turn
off the computer
and usb HD then turn all back on the data on my usb HD won't show up. HD devices show up and the usb drive says its
healthy but will not show as NTFS and my data seems to be gone.

Are you safely removing the USB drive before you shut down ?