Wikiposts
Search
Computer/Internet Issues & Troubleshooting Anyone with questions about the terribly complex world of computers or the internet should try here. NOT FOR REPORTING ISSUES WITH PPRuNe FORUMS! Please use the subforum "PPRuNe Problems or Queries."

External Hard drive freezes

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 25th Sep 2005, 08:31
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Earth (just)
Posts: 722
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
External Hard drive freezes

Again chaps,

bought one of these fab little 2.5" USB hard drives off ebay. It's a 60 gig unit and was wondering why a private guy not trader would be selling one....... Fact is that if I'm pulling data from it and running the odd other program the computer consistently freezes solid (ctrl+alt+delete to no avail). Any ideas? Is it gimpt or can sumfink be dun other than bung it in the bin or ebay again hehe!

Cheers
Wing Commander Fowler is offline  
Old 25th Sep 2005, 10:35
  #2 (permalink)  
TheVillagePhotographer.co.uk
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Cotswolds UK
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Check the manufacturers website for any software downloads and whilst there, see if there are any FAQs. With a drive, be it internal or external - if you can't trust it above 99.99% then it is a paperweight and nothing more.

Also, have a swap around with the USB ports. Unplug and replug it to see whether it is correctly identified by your system. See what the device manager makes of your little bargain.

Hope it all checks out.


Conan
Conan the Librarian is offline  
Old 25th Sep 2005, 11:37
  #3 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Earth (just)
Posts: 722
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Conan,

system seems to be identifying it ok. It appears to be an ex compaq Hitachi unit and lives now in one of those "Vaio" (NOT) enclosures. Where should I look for the donload - compaq, hitachi or not sony hehe???
Wing Commander Fowler is offline  
Old 25th Sep 2005, 13:14
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: where ever i wake up!!!!
Posts: 608
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i found that if i ran my external drive thru a powered hub it would freeze but if i plugged it straight into the usb on the computer it ran fine, dunno what the reason is for this as not computer expert but think it was some overloading prob
marlowe is offline  
Old 25th Sep 2005, 13:21
  #5 (permalink)  
TheVillagePhotographer.co.uk
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Cotswolds UK
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
WCF,the suggestion made by Marlowe is a goody. Sometimes, USB devices seem to play up on some hub ports but not others. I have the same problem with a USB headset and that responds well to plugging in directly.

Let us know how it goes


Conan
Conan the Librarian is offline  
Old 25th Sep 2005, 14:09
  #6 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Earth (just)
Posts: 722
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanx chaps - not using a hub and same result on either of the 2 usb ports. Have two of these drives and the other one is a brand new 40 gig unit which behaves perfectly.
Have looked on the hitachi website and they provide a disc check program but it loads to a boot diskette and works through dos so not going to examine a usb device AFAIK. I could (but won't) get a caddy and link the disk up to the ide chain on my PC I suppose and then would be able to try the hitachi dos program to check that side of things...... I WILL try swapping the discs inside the 2 caddies I have and see if the problem goes with the caddy or the disc...... watch this space hehe!

\'twould seem to be the hard disc since swapping caddies carried the problem with the disc...... May have to wait for Hitachi\'s considerations now unless anyone\'s aware of any disc checking utilities which will function with a usb device???
Wing Commander Fowler is offline  
Old 25th Sep 2005, 23:23
  #7 (permalink)  

Official PPRuNe Chaplain
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Witnesham, Suffolk
Age: 80
Posts: 3,498
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
They said it. USB devices can be picky about power supply - they like a nice, stiff supply of steady volts, which most "powered" (read: underpowered) hubs won't deliver.

If it won't work properly plugged directly into your computer (and particularly if another USB one will), then you have a nice paperweight. Stop wasting time, and find another one.
Keef is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.