External laptop HDD is only recognized when connected AFTER Windows loads...?

**azzurro** · 11-28-2005, 11:01 PM

Hi all,

I've noticed an issue with my laptop HDD (I'm using an external enclosure... it's not the primary drive, just a supplement).

When I plug in the laptop HDD after the computer has booted, it works perfectly fine.

When I plug in the laptop HDD before the computer boots, it will not be "recognized" by Windows. I have "recognized" in quotations because I'm not sure what state the drive is in.

I can remove it using the "Safely remove hardware" option, and can see the drive (as "Uninitialized") if I run Disk Management.

If I remove the drive and re-connect it, everything is fine.

I have verified this on two different computers: my car pc and my laptop. Both are running XP.

The enclosure itself is completely powered via USB. I haven't had any power issues using a single USB connector on either the car pc or my laptop (provided the device is connected after the computer boots).

I thought that this might be an issue with the jumper settings. I was under the impression that external drives were supposed to be set as Master though? That's what the drive is currently set at. I was going to try slave or CS, but the drive didn't come with the plastic jumper piece, and I'm at my other house, so my hardware museum isn't available to me. I don't think that this is the issue anyways though...

Has anyone encountered anything similar? Is it actually a jumper issue, or is the enclosure at fault? Or is it a BIOS or XP issue?

Thanks very much for any help.

**azzurro** · 12-01-2005, 09:23 AM

Bump...

Any ideas?

**pip** · 12-01-2005, 09:28 AM

It sounds like on boot-up the 5V line is weak and USB isn't supplying enough power fo the drive to be active on startup. If you plug it in when the PC is running, or unplug & re-insert it it is probably then getting enough power. Try hooking up a 5v supply to the enclosure independant of the USB & see what happens.

**azzurro** · 12-01-2005, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by pip

It sounds like on boot-up the 5V line is weak and USB isn't supplying enough power fo the drive to be active on startup. If you plug it in when the PC is running, or unplug & re-insert it it is probably then getting enough power. Try hooking up a 5v supply to the enclosure independant of the USB & see what happens.

That makes sense, thanks for the response!

The enclosure didn't come with a power supply, so I'll try and find a plug that fits and connect the rest to the Opus' molex.

Do you think that it would be a good idea to try connecting the device such that it uses two USB connections? I'll need to look around for a USB "Y-Cable".