driver issues with usb to ide adapter

jermkesler · 09-26-2004, 10:40 PM

I recently purchased a ide to usb adapter, no clue what brand, just came in box with no drivers. I pluged my dvd drive into it, and then into the computer, via usb 2.0 extension cable, and I just extended the power wires to the front of my car from the opus. when I plug it in, windows xp starts installing a "mass storage device" it installs it, and then in the device manager there is a little yellow question mark and it says the device can not be started. I have reinstalled windows, and tried everything I can think of in order to get it to work but havn't had any luck. I was just wondering if anyone else has any drivers for the usb adapter, or has some usefull information.

thanks

by the way the drive works fine when plugged in via ide. I ONCE got the drive to work(no clue what I did, but it started working) copied some files over, restarted my computer and then had this same problem.

gospeed.racer · 09-26-2004, 10:47 PM

I have had a similar problem when I plug my usb laptop hard drive into a front panel usb; on some machines they dont provide enough power to run my drive, it will try to load but says that it was not installed properly, and i get the caution thingy too. As soon as I plug it into a motherboard usb, it is fine. I think you need more power to the device (buy a usb hub that is powered for one example)

Tidder · 09-26-2004, 10:52 PM

Could be the device has a problem. I would guess that if it came without drivers it's used. Yes I know win xp has built in support for stuff like that but it should have came with 98/ME/2000 drivers. Try it on a different computer too.

jermkesler · 09-26-2004, 11:10 PM

I'm almost positive its getting enough power, I have a volt meter and the readouts are almost exactly the 12 and 5 volts required, I also don't think its used, it came in a brand new box, with an instruction manuel ect.

ppgt94 · 09-26-2004, 11:32 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jermkesler

I'm almost positive its getting enough power, I have a volt meter and the readouts are almost exactly the 12 and 5 volts required, I also don't think its used, it came in a brand new box, with an instruction manuel ect.

I think he meant power in the USB line. USB has 500ma inline and if you run it too far without a power hub it can cause data transfer issues.

gospeed.racer · 09-26-2004, 11:35 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by ppgt94

I think he meant power in the USB line. USB has 500ma inline and if you run it too far without a power hub it can cause data transfer issues.

Thats what I was getting at but I wasnt gonna argue

jermkesler · 09-26-2004, 11:41 PM

Is a 6 foot extension to far? I just don't understand why it worked once and never again

gospeed.racer · 09-26-2004, 11:45 PM

6 foot is quite a bit for the power that a drive requires. Especially since the wire size is around 28-30 guage, maybe even smaller. Those extensions are great for very low power devices, but thats about it. I bet if you try to install it without the extension it would power up fine....and if so, then a powered hub is the easy way to fix it.

jermkesler · 09-26-2004, 11:50 PM

alright, I'll go try that now, how would I go about powering the hub, and how much do they cost?

ppgt94 · 09-26-2004, 11:59 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jermkesler

Is a 6 foot extension to far? I just don't understand why it worked once and never again

I'm pretty sure 6 feet isn't too much. USB is good for at LEAST 10ft (some would argue 16ft) before you may run into problems. Besides now that I think of it the drive already has seperate power from the Opus going to it. I have a similar setup. I run power to the front from my Opus to a slimline drive and gutted a IDE -> USB 2.0 drive enclosure for my adpater.

gospeed.racer · 09-26-2004, 11:59 PM

An Ebay example can be had for about $8. Probably even cheaper if you search ebay more, that was just a quickie. Most will have a 110 to 5v adaptor, which you will toss, just grab a good 5v source, like from the opus, and run a pair of 14 or so guage wires up to the hub.

I hadnt thought about the comment PPGT94 made, but that is true, i was thinking of my usb hard drive, and it draws the power from the usb, where your rom will have external power. In that case, look at this thread I bet it is a similar problem to yours. I think maybe the wires that you ran are too small to send good power. Just cause it measures 5v doesnt mean it gets 5v at load. Again though, cut out all the extensions and retry. That will help narrow it down.

jermkesler · 09-27-2004, 12:19 AM

well I just plugged it in directly to the motherboard, without the extension and I still have the exact same problem

jermkesler · 09-27-2004, 12:21 AM

and my extensions are only 6 feet, I wouldn't think this would be much of a problem would it?

gospeed.racer · 09-27-2004, 12:31 AM

How about your power wire, are you using the same 6 foot long power wire or did you power it right off the opus connector? That will help rule out the wire size issue

jermkesler · 09-27-2004, 12:34 AM

nope, I powered it directly off of the opus

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