Front USB ports not recognizing Ext HDD ??? Only Rear Ones Recognize

plainman007 · 04-09-2008, 02:18 AM

My thumb drives are all recognized by the front 2 usb ports. But my slim external HDD isnt recognized on the front side usb's. It works well on the rear side usbs. But its a pain reaching around into the wooden cabinet and feeling my way everytiime i want to plug in my HDD. How can i set right this situation ?

Drufuss · 04-09-2008, 03:44 AM

Hi plainman007!

A few details about your problem would help anybody help you.

What pc or what motherboard are you using?
What slim external hdd are you using?

Your problem can be related to USB1.1 /USB2.0 compatibility or to the usb-controllers ability to provide enough power (thumb drives need less current than external hdd's for example)

Greetings

Dru

*Bofinn* · 04-09-2008, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drufuss

Your problem can be related to USB1.1 /USB2.0 compatibility

That was my first thought.

*SRTDodge05* · 04-09-2008, 10:10 AM

I have had a few problems getting my external 2.5 hard drive to work on a few systems with front usb. Seems like the front usb cant deliver enough power to the hard drive to power it up. Never had a problem with the usb ports right on the motherboard.

plainman007 · 04-09-2008, 01:44 PM

Hi Guys !

My motherboard is an Intel 945 GNTL.
The Ext HDD is ....mmmm i really dont know i can faintly remember it being a seagate baracuda 7200 rpm.
Or is there a way to hook it up to the working USB port and right click and find out or something ?

zman88 · 04-09-2008, 04:22 PM

I assume that since you dont remember what hd it is you are using a hd enclosure? If you are you might try installing the drivers off the disc it should have come with.

zman88 · 04-09-2008, 04:34 PM

What about just leaving the cable plugged into the rear port and disconnecting it from the hd ? The ones I own have a little plastic cap to protect the end.

Drufuss · 04-09-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zman88

What about just leaving the cable plugged into the rear port and disconnecting it from the hd ? The ones I own have a little plastic cap to protect the end.

Gee, what a simple solution

That's what i do with my ext. hdd cause my case has no front firewire port. Maybe he would need the cable when carrying his ext. hdd elsewhere? My usb2 cable is connected to the pc at work, the firewire cable is connected to the pc at home.

Do you have a power supply to your ext. hdd case? If you have one, and the hdd works with front usb + power supply it would clearly be insufficient power at the front usb ports. Some motherboards have that.
The manual to your motherboard should also have to infomation about possible restrictions.

Greetings

Dru

zman88 · 04-10-2008, 06:38 AM

Well if it is definitely not usb 1 or 2 related and just power, then I would just buy another cable.

FightingChance · 04-10-2008, 11:27 AM

I have had cases that the cable that ran to the front ports, or the ports themselves were not shielded enough to support USB 2.0 speeds. I bet that's what is going on here.

3 of 7 · 04-10-2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FightingChance

I have had cases that the cable that ran to the front ports, or the ports themselves were not shielded enough to support USB 2.0 speeds. I bet that's what is going on here.

That sounds logical, one of my externals (2.5") has the usb cable split into two at the computer end so you can plug it into 2 usb ports to use the power from both of them.... It doesn't work on the cases where this problem is evident..
My 3.5 Seagate Free-agent external sometimes won't work on a front usb as well and it has it's own power supply...

I wonder if there's a way the data cables could be twisted ( like cat 5-6 ) so this doesn't happen?

plainman007 · 04-10-2008, 04:08 PM

Ummmm, im a little naive here technically. I mean how does one find out if the hdd has a power supply. All i know in my tech challenged mind is that the thing is a small laptop hdd with a aluminium silver slim case to it. Its one of these carry in your pocket types. And it has a usb cable that splits into 2 usb plugs. The split cables are of unequal length. One being long and the other being short.

Can i try plugging in the short cable into the front usb port ?

3 of 7 · 04-10-2008, 04:11 PM

The reason your cable is split is so you can use it on low power hubs, you can try plugging both of the short leads into the front ports and the single long one into the drive and see if that works...
The 3.5 inch drives have a cord that plugs into the 110v wall plug ( some of them have a power brick like a laptop does)

zman88 · 04-10-2008, 06:52 PM

3 of 7's post was why I was asking if you had an enclosure or not.

plainman007 · 04-11-2008, 02:14 AM

No. In that case my HDD is not powered. But it does have a forked wire. Ill try the shorter end thing right away and keep you all posted. Thanks.

04-09-2008, 02:18 AM	#1
plainman007 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 167	Front USB ports not recognizing Ext HDD ??? Only Rear Ones Recognize My thumb drives are all recognized by the front 2 usb ports. But my slim external HDD isnt recognized on the front side usb's. It works well on the rear side usbs. But its a pain reaching around into the wooden cabinet and feeling my way everytiime i want to plug in my HDD. How can i set right this situation ?
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04-09-2008, 03:44 AM	#2
Drufuss CUSL2-C -> P5Q ? Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Österreich Posts: 2,772	Re: Front USB ports not recognizing Ext HDD ??? Only Rear Ones Recognize Hi plainman007! A few details about your problem would help anybody help you. What pc or what motherboard are you using? What slim external hdd are you using? Your problem can be related to USB1.1 /USB2.0 compatibility or to the usb-controllers ability to provide enough power (thumb drives need less current than external hdd's for example) Greetings Dru __________________ System specs: Asus P5Q Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83 GHz @ 3.42 GHz 4 x 2GB DDR2-Ram PC2-1066 Corsair Dominator @ 800MHz 3 x Seagate 7200.ESII 500GB SATA Sapphire HD4870X2 2048MB Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS, Hauppauge HVR4000 DVB-S/S2/T, Dlink DWL-G510, Logitech Z-5450 5.1 THX Wireless Enermax Modu82+ 625W Win XP MCE 2005, openSuse Linux 11 64bit, Vista Home Premium 64bit CUSL2-C ruled! ..äh... RulEd! Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana.
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04-09-2008, 10:10 AM	#4
SRTDodge05 Grab Life By The Balls Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,830	Re: Front USB ports not recognizing Ext HDD ??? Only Rear Ones Recognize I have had a few problems getting my external 2.5 hard drive to work on a few systems with front usb. Seems like the front usb cant deliver enough power to the hard drive to power it up. Never had a problem with the usb ports right on the motherboard. __________________
(Online)

04-09-2008, 01:44 PM	#5
plainman007 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 167	Re: Front USB ports not recognizing Ext HDD ??? Only Rear Ones Recognize Hi Guys ! My motherboard is an Intel 945 GNTL. The Ext HDD is ....mmmm i really dont know i can faintly remember it being a seagate baracuda 7200 rpm. Or is there a way to hook it up to the working USB port and right click and find out or something ?
(Offline)

04-09-2008, 04:22 PM	#6
zman88 I'll race the truck! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: NH Posts: 491	Re: Front USB ports not recognizing Ext HDD ??? Only Rear Ones Recognize I assume that since you dont remember what hd it is you are using a hd enclosure? If you are you might try installing the drivers off the disc it should have come with. __________________ Turn Left,Go Fast I spend most of my money on wild women,booze and computers....... The rest I just waste!
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04-09-2008, 04:34 PM	#7
zman88 I'll race the truck! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: NH Posts: 491	Re: Front USB ports not recognizing Ext HDD ??? Only Rear Ones Recognize What about just leaving the cable plugged into the rear port and disconnecting it from the hd ? The ones I own have a little plastic cap to protect the end. __________________ Turn Left,Go Fast I spend most of my money on wild women,booze and computers....... The rest I just waste!
(Offline)

04-10-2008, 06:38 AM	#9
zman88 I'll race the truck! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: NH Posts: 491	Re: Front USB ports not recognizing Ext HDD ??? Only Rear Ones Recognize Well if it is definitely not usb 1 or 2 related and just power, then I would just buy another cable. __________________ Turn Left,Go Fast I spend most of my money on wild women,booze and computers....... The rest I just waste!
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04-10-2008, 11:27 AM	#10
FightingChance Yes, I am better than you Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 4,068	Re: Front USB ports not recognizing Ext HDD ??? Only Rear Ones Recognize I have had cases that the cable that ran to the front ports, or the ports themselves were not shielded enough to support USB 2.0 speeds. I bet that's what is going on here.
(Offline)

04-10-2008, 04:08 PM	#12
plainman007 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 167	Re: Front USB ports not recognizing Ext HDD ??? Only Rear Ones Recognize Ummmm, im a little naive here technically. I mean how does one find out if the hdd has a power supply. All i know in my tech challenged mind is that the thing is a small laptop hdd with a aluminium silver slim case to it. Its one of these carry in your pocket types. And it has a usb cable that splits into 2 usb plugs. The split cables are of unequal length. One being long and the other being short. Can i try plugging in the short cable into the front usb port ?
(Offline)

04-10-2008, 04:11 PM	#13
3 of 7 You can run..... Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,660	Re: Front USB ports not recognizing Ext HDD ??? Only Rear Ones Recognize The reason your cable is split is so you can use it on low power hubs, you can try plugging both of the short leads into the front ports and the single long one into the drive and see if that works... The 3.5 inch drives have a cord that plugs into the 110v wall plug ( some of them have a power brick like a laptop does) __________________
(Offline)

04-10-2008, 06:52 PM	#14
zman88 I'll race the truck! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: NH Posts: 491	Re: Front USB ports not recognizing Ext HDD ??? Only Rear Ones Recognize 3 of 7's post was why I was asking if you had an enclosure or not. __________________ Turn Left,Go Fast I spend most of my money on wild women,booze and computers....... The rest I just waste!
(Offline)

04-11-2008, 02:14 AM	#15
plainman007 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 167	Re: Front USB ports not recognizing Ext HDD ??? Only Rear Ones Recognize No. In that case my HDD is not powered. But it does have a forked wire. Ill try the shorter end thing right away and keep you all posted. Thanks.
(Offline)

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