USB device startup problem

[Tony]

I'm runing XP SP2 fully up to date and USB drivers apparently up to date, on
a standard Dell machine. I'm using the factory installed USB sockets.

I have just bought a HDD in a USB2 caddy. It works fine if I plug it in
when
the PC is already on. But it won't work if it is already plugged in when
the PC starts up, nor on return from Hibernate.

On a cold start it is not given a drive letter and I cannot access it, but
the "safe remove" icon is shown. If I click this it shows a mass storage
device and "this device is working properly". On return from Hibernate the
caddy LED shows disk activity for a long time, the drive letter shows at
first, but then it fails usually with a "delayed write failed" error and the
drive letter vanishes from Explorer.

I have disabled power saving in all USB roots in Device Manager and I have
also tried a double USB lead in case it is running out of power. I also
have "optimize for quick removal". All other ideas welcome! Also I am not
sure what the normal behaviour should be but surely USB should support
permanently connected devices?

 

[Dave Cohen]

I'm runing XP SP2 fully up to date and USB drivers apparently up to date, on
a standard Dell machine. I'm using the factory installed USB sockets.

I have just bought a HDD in a USB2 caddy. It works fine if I plug it in
when
the PC is already on. But it won't work if it is already plugged in when
the PC starts up, nor on return from Hibernate.

On a cold start it is not given a drive letter and I cannot access it, but
the "safe remove" icon is shown. If I click this it shows a mass storage
device and "this device is working properly". On return from Hibernate the
caddy LED shows disk activity for a long time, the drive letter shows at
first, but then it fails usually with a "delayed write failed" error and the
drive letter vanishes from Explorer.

I have disabled power saving in all USB roots in Device Manager and I have
also tried a double USB lead in case it is running out of power. I also
have "optimize for quick removal". All other ideas welcome! Also I am not
sure what the normal behaviour should be but surely USB should support
permanently connected devices?

My Sandisk flash drive messes up on a cold start. OK on a reboot. Not
aware of a fix.
Dave Cohen