External Hard Drives - Page 7

Mark · 09-01-2009, 18:05

Disk Utility will take care of things on the Mac. It's probably easier actually.

Not sure what's going on with eSATA. Sounds like you may well have to use the Samsung firmware trick.

Daz · 09-01-2009, 18:07

A full format creates the file system and then performs a surface scan (or maybe the other way around), quick format just creates the file system and skips the scan. Usually a good idea to do a full one first time round and leave it after that - if a problem with the drive develops later you'd be using other tools to find out what, format's useless for it!

Burble · 09-01-2009, 20:06

Mac stuff is easy, Kate. Go to Applications / Utilities then fire up Disk Utility. Feel free to give me a shout if you get stuck.

lostkat · 09-01-2009, 22:24

Right all formatted and fully accessible on USB2.0, but still hangs on eSATA so I'm going to try this BIOS fix thingy. Fingers crossed!

lostkat · 09-01-2009, 22:56

BIOS patch didn't work. System will not boot when the hard drive is connected via eSATA and hangs if I connect it after I've booted it. This is really annoying.

Can anyone help???

Kainz · 10-01-2009, 02:36

Hmm any idea what motherboard you have? My 3 machines hang for a good few seconds when I switch on my eSata externals as mentioned but just for 5seconds at the most.

lostkat · 10-01-2009, 05:51

It's a MSI MS-7309 (K9N6SGM-V). I updated to all the latest drivers etc. when I did the reinstall last wk.

Mondo · 10-01-2009, 15:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostkat

BIOS patch didn't work. System will not boot when the hard drive is connected via eSATA and hangs if I connect it after I've booted it. This is really annoying.

Can anyone help???

I have the same problem with a USB2 one........but my pc is being funny in all kinds of ways (6 years old, 2 years since last format) and it's due to be retired...

Pumpkinstew · 12-01-2009, 19:09

I'm guessing the e-sata plug you're using simply connects to a SATA plug on the mobo?

Effectively you're hotplugging the drive in this way and not all chipsets support this function. This might cause the system lock you describe if you plug it in while the computer is on. Does your mobo support SATA hotplugging/hotswapping.

I'm not sure why it would cause the system to hang on boot, as it should recognise the drive in JBOD configuration even if you don't have a raid controller. I have an external USB drive and it causes the box to lock at boot (Xp Sp2) even though the boot sequence doesn't list USB boot above HDD. Edit: this is an Asus board with Via chipset.
I know a fresh install requires SATA drivers on a floppy since the XP install disc won't pick them up. Is your boot disc PATA or SATA?

Mark · 12-01-2009, 19:22

That's a fair point actually, but I don't think it's an issue here.

My suggestion - open up the case and plug the drive straight into the motherboard to see if it works like that (not a permanent solution - just a test).

09-01-2009, 18:07	#62
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	A full format creates the file system and then performs a surface scan (or maybe the other way around), quick format just creates the file system and skips the scan. Usually a good idea to do a full one first time round and leave it after that - if a problem with the drive develops later you'd be using other tools to find out what, format's useless for it! __________________ apt-get moo

09-01-2009, 22:24	#64
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	Right all formatted and fully accessible on USB2.0, but still hangs on eSATA so I'm going to try this BIOS fix thingy. Fingers crossed! __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?

09-01-2009, 22:56	#65
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	BIOS patch didn't work. System will not boot when the hard drive is connected via eSATA and hangs if I connect it after I've booted it. This is really annoying. Can anyone help??? __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?

10-01-2009, 02:36	#66
Kainz Long Island Iced Tea Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hiding outside Nokkon's bedroom window Posts: 129	Hmm any idea what motherboard you have? My 3 machines hang for a good few seconds when I switch on my eSata externals as mentioned but just for 5seconds at the most. __________________ Abit AW9D-MAX \| Conroe E6600 @ 3.7Ghz \| 4GB GeIL DDR2 PC6400C4 \| Auzentech X-Meridian 7.1 \| ATI Radeon 4870 1GB \| 2x WD RaptorX 150GB SATA \| 7x Samsung F1 1TB \| Coolermaster Stacker 830 \| Windows 7 \| www.kainzy.org \| x360 GT: Kainz UK \| Excited Wombat!

10-01-2009, 05:51	#67
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	It's a MSI MS-7309 (K9N6SGM-V). I updated to all the latest drivers etc. when I did the reinstall last wk. __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?

09-01-2009, 18:05	#61
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Disk Utility will take care of things on the Mac. It's probably easier actually. Not sure what's going on with eSATA. Sounds like you may well have to use the Samsung firmware trick.

09-01-2009, 20:06	#63
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	Mac stuff is easy, Kate. Go to Applications / Utilities then fire up Disk Utility. Feel free to give me a shout if you get stuck.

12-01-2009, 19:09	#69
Pumpkinstew Absinthe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mostly Oxford, Sometimes Bristol Posts: 1,156	I'm guessing the e-sata plug you're using simply connects to a SATA plug on the mobo? Effectively you're hotplugging the drive in this way and not all chipsets support this function. This might cause the system lock you describe if you plug it in while the computer is on. Does your mobo support SATA hotplugging/hotswapping. I'm not sure why it would cause the system to hang on boot, as it should recognise the drive in JBOD configuration even if you don't have a raid controller. I have an external USB drive and it causes the box to lock at boot (Xp Sp2) even though the boot sequence doesn't list USB boot above HDD. Edit: this is an Asus board with Via chipset. I know a fresh install requires SATA drivers on a floppy since the XP install disc won't pick them up. Is your boot disc PATA or SATA? __________________ Get old, or die tryin' PSTEWREVIEWS - Chunks of Meaty Reviews, Mixed with Your Five a Day of News, Comment and Opinion, Floating in a Broth of Suspect Grammar and Seasoned Liberally with Mixed Metaphor. Tasty. Last edited by Pumpkinstew; 12-01-2009 at 19:14.

12-01-2009, 19:22	#70
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	That's a fair point actually, but I don't think it's an issue here. My suggestion - open up the case and plug the drive straight into the motherboard to see if it works like that (not a permanent solution - just a test).