External drive flukey

[Guest PanHandler]

Running XP Pro SP2, 2 GB RAM, P4 Dual Core 3GB.

 

Windows won't always open an external 500 GB USB2 HD with approx. 180 GB

free space. I hear the chime when it connects but it won't appear in My

Computer. If I then turn the drive off I hear the chime again. It takes

several (3 to 6 or 7) attempts and then it will behave normally. It was fine

until it got to about the 'half full' point and then started this behavior,

getting worse as it filled up. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If we say "forty, sixty, seventy, eighty and ninety", why don't we say

"twoty, threety and fivety"?

[Guest GlowingBlueMist]

Re: External drive flukey

 

"PanHandler" <Boon@digital.net> wrote in message

news:nkbBk.36691$Ep1.32712@bignews2.bellsouth.net...

> Running XP Pro SP2, 2 GB RAM, P4 Dual Core 3GB.

>

> Windows won't always open an external 500 GB USB2 HD with approx. 180 GB

> free space. I hear the chime when it connects but it won't appear in My

> Computer. If I then turn the drive off I hear the chime again. It takes

> several (3 to 6 or 7) attempts and then it will behave normally. It was

> fine until it got to about the 'half full' point and then started this

> behavior, getting worse as it filled up. Any suggestions will be greatly

> appreciated.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> If we say "forty, sixty, seventy, eighty and ninety", why don't we say

> "twoty, threety and fivety"?

>

A few things come to mind that can cause problems like you describe.

 

One is the drive is being powered by the computer's USB port. As some

drives age they take a little more power to run, especially if they have a

fan in the case that is starting to draw more power to overcome a growing

dirty bearing problem.

 

Another is a connector on one end or the other of the USB cable is not

making a good connection. Try another USB cable to see if that helps.

 

Try running a "chkdsk /R" on the drive to see if it is developing a problem

with the file system or surface area.

 

If your drive is hooked up to an external USB hub the hub itself might be

causing problems. Try bypassing it or test with another USB hub.

 

All of this assumes the computer itself is not the problem, like memory

problems, weak or dying power supply, etc.

[Guest Jason]

Re: External drive flukey

 

Surely the USB port won't provide enough power to run a HDD. I would expect

the enclosure to have a seperate power source.

"GlowingBlueMist" <nobody@invalid.com> wrote in message

news:48d55b60$0$33701$892e0abb@auth.newsreader.octanews.com...

> "PanHandler" <Boon@digital.net> wrote in message

> news:nkbBk.36691$Ep1.32712@bignews2.bellsouth.net...

>> Running XP Pro SP2, 2 GB RAM, P4 Dual Core 3GB.

>>

>> Windows won't always open an external 500 GB USB2 HD with approx. 180 GB

>> free space. I hear the chime when it connects but it won't appear in My

>> Computer. If I then turn the drive off I hear the chime again. It takes

>> several (3 to 6 or 7) attempts and then it will behave normally. It was

>> fine until it got to about the 'half full' point and then started this

>> behavior, getting worse as it filled up. Any suggestions will be greatly

>> appreciated.

>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>> If we say "forty, sixty, seventy, eighty and ninety", why don't we say

>> "twoty, threety and fivety"?

>>

> A few things come to mind that can cause problems like you describe.

>

> One is the drive is being powered by the computer's USB port. As some

> drives age they take a little more power to run, especially if they have a

> fan in the case that is starting to draw more power to overcome a growing

> dirty bearing problem.

>

> Another is a connector on one end or the other of the USB cable is not

> making a good connection. Try another USB cable to see if that helps.

>

> Try running a "chkdsk /R" on the drive to see if it is developing a

> problem with the file system or surface area.

>

> If your drive is hooked up to an external USB hub the hub itself might be

> causing problems. Try bypassing it or test with another USB hub.

>

> All of this assumes the computer itself is not the problem, like memory

> problems, weak or dying power supply, etc.

>

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: External drive flukey

 

Or perhaps he can get one of those special USB adapters which connects some

USB power connectors in parallel to allow for the increased current demand.

 

Jason wrote:

> Surely the USB port won't provide enough power to run a HDD. I would

> expect

> the enclosure to have a seperate power source.

>

> "GlowingBlueMist" <nobody@invalid.com> wrote in message

> news:48d55b60$0$33701$892e0abb@auth.newsreader.octanews.com...

>> "PanHandler" <Boon@digital.net> wrote in message

>> news:nkbBk.36691$Ep1.32712@bignews2.bellsouth.net...

>>> Running XP Pro SP2, 2 GB RAM, P4 Dual Core 3GB.

>>>

>>> Windows won't always open an external 500 GB USB2 HD with approx. 180 GB

>>> free space. I hear the chime when it connects but it won't appear in My

>>> Computer. If I then turn the drive off I hear the chime again. It takes

>>> several (3 to 6 or 7) attempts and then it will behave normally. It was

>>> fine until it got to about the 'half full' point and then started this

>>> behavior, getting worse as it filled up. Any suggestions will be greatly

>>> appreciated.

>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>> If we say "forty, sixty, seventy, eighty and ninety", why don't we say

>>> "twoty, threety and fivety"?

>>>

>> A few things come to mind that can cause problems like you describe.

>>

>> One is the drive is being powered by the computer's USB port. As some

>> drives age they take a little more power to run, especially if they have

>> a

>> fan in the case that is starting to draw more power to overcome a growing

>> dirty bearing problem.

>>

>> Another is a connector on one end or the other of the USB cable is not

>> making a good connection. Try another USB cable to see if that helps.

>>

>> Try running a "chkdsk /R" on the drive to see if it is developing a

>> problem with the file system or surface area.

>>

>> If your drive is hooked up to an external USB hub the hub itself might be

>> causing problems. Try bypassing it or test with another USB hub.

>>

>> All of this assumes the computer itself is not the problem, like memory

>> problems, weak or dying power supply, etc.