ESATA box doesn't work??

Anna,
How I can prove to the vendor that the dock is defective,
as you suspect? What I've seen is just the contrary -
the dock works with another machine, so I would like
to test my eSATA port on the mobo with
another eSATA device, _OR_ , as you advice,
find a SATA to eSATA converter.

( Still can't find either. I no longer
work for a big corp, where you could find all sorts of
hardware... )

This vendor sells also Thermaltake, so I'd try to exchange the Sedna.

Thanks again

Pavel



Anna wrote:
"Pavel A." wrote
in message ...
Anna,
thanks you for the reply. My answers inline - P.


"Pavel A." wrote in message
...
I've bought an ESATA + USB disk dock by Sedna
http://www.sednacomputer.com/products/se-ehd-03.html

and it does not work with my desktop PC
( Gigabyte GA-G33M-S2H board with built-in ESATA connector, XP SP3).

It works almost well with a new Dell laptop which also
has a buil-in ESATA port.
( However, even in the laptop, the disk is detected only
after manually scanning for new devices in dev. manager)

With the desktop, the ext. disk is detected - also
after manually scanning for new devices in dev. manager -
but then it does not show up in the disk manager, and several seconds
later disappears from device manager.

Two internal SATA disks in this machine work well.
I have not installed any special SATA drivers besides of the
mobo drivers package. In BIOS, SATA is set to legacy mode.

So what could be wrong with this mobo?
Any adivce will be appreciated.

-- pa


"Anna" wrote in message
...
Pavel A.
Actually it doesn't sound to me as if there's anything wrong with the
Gigabyte MB with the possible exception of its eSATA port. (And I've yet
to come across a motherboard where its eSATA port was a defective
component. But it's possible, of course). Conceivable you might be
dealing with a defective external SATA dock, no?


"Pavel A." wrote
Not likely, because the same dock, disk and cable work well
with another computer (the Dell laptop). But I forgot to
mention that the Dell has Vista SP2.


"Anna" wrote in message...
You have indicated that there's no device recognition problem affecting
your internally-connected SATA HDDs, right?

"Pavel A." wrote
Yes.


"Anna" wrote in message...
Assuming you have a SATA data cable that has the eSATA connector on one
end and a "normal" SATA connector on the other end...

"Pavel A." wrote
No, the cable is eSATA to eSATA. The GB mobo has eSATA connector.
I don't have eSATA to SATA cables.


"Anna" wrote in message...
When you connect the enclosure to the eSATA port on your Dell laptop,
power-on the device and boot, are you indicating there's a device
recognition problem with that laptop? That the device is not recognized
until you "Scan for hardware changes" in Device Manager?

"Pavel A." wrote
Right. Neither connection or removal are auto detected.
This is a bit surprising, as the dock spec says "plug and play",
the laptop is new, and it has Vista.
However, after being detected, it works well.


"Anna" wrote in message...
Or are you indicating that this problem *only* arises if the device is
*not* powered-on at bootup, and following the boot you power-on the
device? If it's the latter situation, that's not unusual for an
Intel-based system involving an eSATA (or SATA) external HDD in an XP OS
environment.

"Pavel A." wrote
I tried also to boot the desktop with the eSATA connected.
Same behavior.


"Anna" wrote in message...
But (with reference to your desktop machine)...once the drive is detected
in Device Manager there should be no further problem. But you've
indicated that even *after* device recognition in DM, the external SATA
HDD "disappears" from the system, right? And, of course, it's not listed
in Disk Management, right? That's what you're indicating, yes?

"Pavel A." wrote
Yes. And lot of disk errors and timeout messages in the eventlog.


"Anna" wrote in message...
Have you tried different HDDs in the enclosure? Both 2 1/2" & 3 1/2"?
Same problem?

"Pavel A." wrote
Two 3.5" disks: WD 1 TB and older Seagate 160 GB.
Almost same behavior; the new WD stays in dev. manages a bit longer.


"Anna" wrote in message...
Until now I've never heard of this Sedna product. Apparently it's not a
device marketed here in the U.S. Have you consulted the device's
manufacturer about this problem?

"Pavel A." wrote
Not yet; I'm now suspecting the mobo ESATA port, but you're saying that
it is unlikely to go bad... Will try to find another ESATA disk.

Thanks again and regards,

Pavel


Pavel...
It's hard to escape the conclusion that it's the SATA dock that's the
problem. It's surely worth exploring with the device's manufacturer.

While like anything else involving a PC component it's possible that the
motherboard's eSATA port is defective and that's causing the problem(s)
you're experiencing. The reason I'm doubtful about that is because I'm
hard-pressed to think of a single incident where I experienced a defective
motherboard's eSATA port (as the *only* defect involving a particular
motherboard), and I've worked with a fair number of MBs equipped with that
type of port.

I realize the SATA data cable that was included with your SATA dock would
obviously have eSATA connectors on each end of the cable, but I was hoping
you had available a SATA-eSATA data cable which would allow you to bypass
the motherboard's eSATA port & *directly* connect the dock to one of the
motherboard's SATA connectors. So you could diagnose whether the problem
was, in fact, with the motherboard's eSATA port.

I don't understand your final comment re "Will try to find another ESATA
disk."

Incidentally, I've worked with two different models of that type of external
SATA dock (apparently similar to your Sedna product) - a Thermaltake &
Vantec, both of which performed flawlessly.
Anna

Anna,
How I can prove to the vendor that the dock is defective,
as you suspect? What I've seen is just the contrary -
the dock works with another machine, so I would like
to test my eSATA port on the mobo with
another eSATA device, _OR_ , as you advice,
find a SATA to eSATA converter.

( Still can't find either. I no longer
work for a big corp, where you could find all sorts of
hardware... )

This vendor sells also Thermaltake, so I'd try to exchange the Sedna.

Thanks again

Pavel



Anna wrote:
"Pavel A." wrote
in message ...
Anna,
thanks you for the reply. My answers inline - P.


"Pavel A." wrote in message
...
I've bought an ESATA + USB disk dock by Sedna
http://www.sednacomputer.com/products/se-ehd-03.html

and it does not work with my desktop PC
( Gigabyte GA-G33M-S2H board with built-in ESATA connector, XP SP3).

It works almost well with a new Dell laptop which also
has a buil-in ESATA port.
( However, even in the laptop, the disk is detected only
after manually scanning for new devices in dev. manager)

With the desktop, the ext. disk is detected - also
after manually scanning for new devices in dev. manager -
but then it does not show up in the disk manager, and several seconds
later disappears from device manager.

Two internal SATA disks in this machine work well.
I have not installed any special SATA drivers besides of the
mobo drivers package. In BIOS, SATA is set to legacy mode.

So what could be wrong with this mobo?
Any adivce will be appreciated.

-- pa


"Anna" wrote in message
...
Pavel A.
Actually it doesn't sound to me as if there's anything wrong with the
Gigabyte MB with the possible exception of its eSATA port. (And I've yet
to come across a motherboard where its eSATA port was a defective
component. But it's possible, of course). Conceivable you might be
dealing with a defective external SATA dock, no?


"Pavel A." wrote
Not likely, because the same dock, disk and cable work well
with another computer (the Dell laptop). But I forgot to
mention that the Dell has Vista SP2.


"Anna" wrote in message...
You have indicated that there's no device recognition problem affecting
your internally-connected SATA HDDs, right?

"Pavel A." wrote
Yes.


"Anna" wrote in message...
Assuming you have a SATA data cable that has the eSATA connector on one
end and a "normal" SATA connector on the other end...

"Pavel A." wrote
No, the cable is eSATA to eSATA. The GB mobo has eSATA connector.
I don't have eSATA to SATA cables.


"Anna" wrote in message...
When you connect the enclosure to the eSATA port on your Dell laptop,
power-on the device and boot, are you indicating there's a device
recognition problem with that laptop? That the device is not recognized
until you "Scan for hardware changes" in Device Manager?

"Pavel A." wrote
Right. Neither connection or removal are auto detected.
This is a bit surprising, as the dock spec says "plug and play",
the laptop is new, and it has Vista.
However, after being detected, it works well.


"Anna" wrote in message...
Or are you indicating that this problem *only* arises if the device is
*not* powered-on at bootup, and following the boot you power-on the
device? If it's the latter situation, that's not unusual for an
Intel-based system involving an eSATA (or SATA) external HDD in an XP OS
environment.

"Pavel A." wrote
I tried also to boot the desktop with the eSATA connected.
Same behavior.


"Anna" wrote in message...
But (with reference to your desktop machine)...once the drive is detected
in Device Manager there should be no further problem. But you've
indicated that even *after* device recognition in DM, the external SATA
HDD "disappears" from the system, right? And, of course, it's not listed
in Disk Management, right? That's what you're indicating, yes?

"Pavel A." wrote
Yes. And lot of disk errors and timeout messages in the eventlog.


"Anna" wrote in message...
Have you tried different HDDs in the enclosure? Both 2 1/2" & 3 1/2"?
Same problem?

"Pavel A." wrote
Two 3.5" disks: WD 1 TB and older Seagate 160 GB.
Almost same behavior; the new WD stays in dev. manages a bit longer.


"Anna" wrote in message...
Until now I've never heard of this Sedna product. Apparently it's not a
device marketed here in the U.S. Have you consulted the device's
manufacturer about this problem?

"Pavel A." wrote
Not yet; I'm now suspecting the mobo ESATA port, but you're saying that
it is unlikely to go bad... Will try to find another ESATA disk.

Thanks again and regards,

Pavel


Pavel...
It's hard to escape the conclusion that it's the SATA dock that's the
problem. It's surely worth exploring with the device's manufacturer.

While like anything else involving a PC component it's possible that the
motherboard's eSATA port is defective and that's causing the problem(s)
you're experiencing. The reason I'm doubtful about that is because I'm
hard-pressed to think of a single incident where I experienced a defective
motherboard's eSATA port (as the *only* defect involving a particular
motherboard), and I've worked with a fair number of MBs equipped with that
type of port.

I realize the SATA data cable that was included with your SATA dock would
obviously have eSATA connectors on each end of the cable, but I was hoping
you had available a SATA-eSATA data cable which would allow you to bypass
the motherboard's eSATA port & *directly* connect the dock to one of the
motherboard's SATA connectors. So you could diagnose whether the problem
was, in fact, with the motherboard's eSATA port.

I don't understand your final comment re "Will try to find another ESATA
disk."

Incidentally, I've worked with two different models of that type of external
SATA dock (apparently similar to your Sedna product) - a Thermaltake &
Vantec, both of which performed flawlessly.
Anna

Thanks, Paul,

I have two eSATA cables, one about 40 cm and another ~ 70 cm.
The short cable does not improve anything.
Will try to set 1.5 GBit mode, though the mobo brochure
states it does support 3 Gbit.
The mobo has two SATA controllers with two ports each;
one port external and three internal.
So all they are using same driver. I've set SATA to legacy mode for XP.
When the next Win7 RC comes out, will install it on that machine
and set all SATA controllers to native mode
(hope this won't require to reformat the disks?)

--pa


Paul wrote:
Pavel A. wrote:
Anna,
thanks you for the reply. My answers inline - P.

"Anna" wrote in message
...

"Pavel A." wrote in message
...
I've bought an ESATA + USB disk dock by Sedna
http://www.sednacomputer.com/products/se-ehd-03.html

and it does not work with my desktop PC
( Gigabyte GA-G33M-S2H board with built-in ESATA connector, XP SP3).

It works almost well with a new Dell laptop which also
has a buil-in ESATA port.
( However, even in the laptop, the disk is detected only
after manually scanning for new devices in dev. manager)

With the desktop, the ext. disk is detected - also
after manually scanning for new devices in dev. manager -
but then it does not show up in the disk manager, and several
seconds later disappears from device manager.

Two internal SATA disks in this machine work well.
I have not installed any special SATA drivers besides of the
mobo drivers package. In BIOS, SATA is set to legacy mode.

So what could be wrong with this mobo?
Any adivce will be appreciated.

-- pa


Pavel A.
Actually it doesn't sound to me as if there's anything wrong with the
Gigabyte MB with the possible exception of its eSATA port. (And I've
yet to come across a motherboard where its eSATA port was a defective
component. But it's possible, of course). Conceivable you might be
dealing with a defective external SATA dock, no?

Not likely, because the same dock, disk and cable work well
with another computer (the Dell laptop). But I forgot to
mention that the Dell has Vista SP2.

You have indicated that there's no device recognition problem
affecting your internally-connected SATA HDDs, right?

Yes.

Assuming you have a SATA data cable that has the eSATA connector on
one end and a "normal" SATA connector on the other end...

No, the cable is eSATA to eSATA. The GB mobo has eSATA connector.
I don't have eSATA to SATA cables.

When you connect the enclosure to the eSATA port on your Dell laptop,
power-on the device and boot, are you indicating there's a device
recognition problem with that laptop? That the device is not
recognized until you "Scan for hardware changes" in Device Manager?

Right. Neither connection or removal are auto detected.
This is a bit surprising, as the dock spec says "plug and play",
the laptop is new, and it has Vista.
However, after being detected, it works well.

Or are you indicating that this problem *only* arises if the device
is *not* powered-on at bootup, and following the boot you power-on
the device? If it's the latter situation, that's not unusual for an
Intel-based system involving an eSATA (or SATA) external HDD in an XP
OS environment.

I tried also to boot the desktop with the eSATA connected.
Same behavior.

But (with reference to your desktop machine)...once the drive is
detected in Device Manager there should be no further problem. But
you've indicated that even *after* device recognition in DM, the
external SATA HDD "disappears" from the system, right? And, of
course, it's not listed in Disk Management, right? That's what you're
indicating, yes?

Yes. And lot of disk errors and timeout messages in the eventlog.

Have you tried different HDDs in the enclosure? Both 2 1/2" & 3 1/2"?
Same problem?

Two 3.5" disks: WD 1 TB and older Seagate 160 GB.
Almost same behavior; the new WD stays in dev. manages a bit longer.

Until now I've never heard of this Sedna product. Apparently it's not
a device marketed here in the U.S. Have you consulted the device's
manufacturer about this problem?

Not yet; I'm now suspecting the mobo ESATA port, but you're saying that
it is unlikely to go bad... Will try to find another ESATA disk.

Thanks again and regards,

Pavel


Have you considered jumpering the SATA drive in the enclosure for
1.5Gbit/sec operation ?

It could be that the Gigabyte signal level on the ESATA port, is only
at SATA levels. Either a shorter cable should be used, or jumper the
drive so that the drive operates at 1.5Gbit/sec. This will not affect
the drive performance, but may improve signal properties between
the enclosure and the Gigabyte desktop.

For hot-plug operation, you may want AHCI mode. But I don't know the
details, about how you'd mix AHCI on some ports, with legacy on others.
It may require running all the ports AHCI, using a different driver, and
so on. A real mess.

If you purchased a separate SATA/ESATA plug-in card, at least the
driver issues would be separated. You could leave the drivers of
the existing internal hard drives in place, and install a separate
driver for the ESATA card.

AMS 2-Port eSATA PCI-E Host Controller Model SP-PCIE3132 - Retail $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815342001

Paul

Thanks, Paul,

I have two eSATA cables, one about 40 cm and another ~ 70 cm.
The short cable does not improve anything.
Will try to set 1.5 GBit mode, though the mobo brochure
states it does support 3 Gbit.
The mobo has two SATA controllers with two ports each;
one port external and three internal.
So all they are using same driver. I've set SATA to legacy mode for XP.
When the next Win7 RC comes out, will install it on that machine
and set all SATA controllers to native mode
(hope this won't require to reformat the disks?)

--pa


Paul wrote:
Pavel A. wrote:
Anna,
thanks you for the reply. My answers inline - P.

"Anna" wrote in message
...

"Pavel A." wrote in message
...
I've bought an ESATA + USB disk dock by Sedna
http://www.sednacomputer.com/products/se-ehd-03.html

and it does not work with my desktop PC
( Gigabyte GA-G33M-S2H board with built-in ESATA connector, XP SP3).

It works almost well with a new Dell laptop which also
has a buil-in ESATA port.
( However, even in the laptop, the disk is detected only
after manually scanning for new devices in dev. manager)

With the desktop, the ext. disk is detected - also
after manually scanning for new devices in dev. manager -
but then it does not show up in the disk manager, and several
seconds later disappears from device manager.

Two internal SATA disks in this machine work well.
I have not installed any special SATA drivers besides of the
mobo drivers package. In BIOS, SATA is set to legacy mode.

So what could be wrong with this mobo?
Any adivce will be appreciated.

-- pa


Pavel A.
Actually it doesn't sound to me as if there's anything wrong with the
Gigabyte MB with the possible exception of its eSATA port. (And I've
yet to come across a motherboard where its eSATA port was a defective
component. But it's possible, of course). Conceivable you might be
dealing with a defective external SATA dock, no?

Not likely, because the same dock, disk and cable work well
with another computer (the Dell laptop). But I forgot to
mention that the Dell has Vista SP2.

You have indicated that there's no device recognition problem
affecting your internally-connected SATA HDDs, right?

Yes.

Assuming you have a SATA data cable that has the eSATA connector on
one end and a "normal" SATA connector on the other end...

No, the cable is eSATA to eSATA. The GB mobo has eSATA connector.
I don't have eSATA to SATA cables.

When you connect the enclosure to the eSATA port on your Dell laptop,
power-on the device and boot, are you indicating there's a device
recognition problem with that laptop? That the device is not
recognized until you "Scan for hardware changes" in Device Manager?

Right. Neither connection or removal are auto detected.
This is a bit surprising, as the dock spec says "plug and play",
the laptop is new, and it has Vista.
However, after being detected, it works well.

Or are you indicating that this problem *only* arises if the device
is *not* powered-on at bootup, and following the boot you power-on
the device? If it's the latter situation, that's not unusual for an
Intel-based system involving an eSATA (or SATA) external HDD in an XP
OS environment.

I tried also to boot the desktop with the eSATA connected.
Same behavior.

But (with reference to your desktop machine)...once the drive is
detected in Device Manager there should be no further problem. But
you've indicated that even *after* device recognition in DM, the
external SATA HDD "disappears" from the system, right? And, of
course, it's not listed in Disk Management, right? That's what you're
indicating, yes?

Yes. And lot of disk errors and timeout messages in the eventlog.

Have you tried different HDDs in the enclosure? Both 2 1/2" & 3 1/2"?
Same problem?

Two 3.5" disks: WD 1 TB and older Seagate 160 GB.
Almost same behavior; the new WD stays in dev. manages a bit longer.

Until now I've never heard of this Sedna product. Apparently it's not
a device marketed here in the U.S. Have you consulted the device's
manufacturer about this problem?

Not yet; I'm now suspecting the mobo ESATA port, but you're saying that
it is unlikely to go bad... Will try to find another ESATA disk.

Thanks again and regards,

Pavel


Have you considered jumpering the SATA drive in the enclosure for
1.5Gbit/sec operation ?

It could be that the Gigabyte signal level on the ESATA port, is only
at SATA levels. Either a shorter cable should be used, or jumper the
drive so that the drive operates at 1.5Gbit/sec. This will not affect
the drive performance, but may improve signal properties between
the enclosure and the Gigabyte desktop.

For hot-plug operation, you may want AHCI mode. But I don't know the
details, about how you'd mix AHCI on some ports, with legacy on others.
It may require running all the ports AHCI, using a different driver, and
so on. A real mess.

If you purchased a separate SATA/ESATA plug-in card, at least the
driver issues would be separated. You could leave the drivers of
the existing internal hard drives in place, and install a separate
driver for the ESATA card.

AMS 2-Port eSATA PCI-E Host Controller Model SP-PCIE3132 - Retail $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815342001

Paul

Pavel A. wrote:
snipped
How I can prove to the vendor that the dock is defective,
as you suspect? What I've seen is just the contrary -
the dock works with another machine
snipped

Didn't you originally say, "It works almost well with a new Dell laptop
which also has a buil[t]-in ESATA port. ( However, even in the laptop, the
disk is detected only after manually scanning for new devices in dev.
manager)"...

I would say that is *not* working as intended.

I have several eSATA devices and mine work immediately upon plugging them
into my Windows XP and Windows Vista (32 and 64-bit) machines.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Pavel A. wrote:
snipped
How I can prove to the vendor that the dock is defective,
as you suspect? What I've seen is just the contrary -
the dock works with another machine
snipped

Didn't you originally say, "It works almost well with a new Dell laptop
which also has a buil[t]-in ESATA port. ( However, even in the laptop, the
disk is detected only after manually scanning for new devices in dev.
manager)"...

I would say that is *not* working as intended.

I have several eSATA devices and mine work immediately upon plugging them
into my Windows XP and Windows Vista (32 and 64-bit) machines.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Ian D wrote:
"Pavel A." wrote in message
...
I've bought an ESATA + USB disk dock by Sedna
http://www.sednacomputer.com/products/se-ehd-03.html

and it does not work with my desktop PC
( Gigabyte GA-G33M-S2H board with built-in ESATA connector, XP SP3).

It works almost well with a new Dell laptop which also
has a buil-in ESATA port.
( However, even in the laptop, the disk is detected only
after manually scanning for new devices in dev. manager)

With the desktop, the ext. disk is detected - also
after manually scanning for new devices in dev. manager -
but then it does not show up in the disk manager, and several seconds
later disappears from device manager.

Two internal SATA disks in this machine work well.
I have not installed any special SATA drivers besides of the
mobo drivers package. In BIOS, SATA is set to legacy mode.

So what could be wrong with this mobo?
Any adivce will be appreciated.

-- pa


The eSATA port is most likely on an auxilliary controller, usually
from JMicron or Marvell. Are you sure this is enabled in BIOS?
If your eSATA drive is in AHCI mode you can usually hot plug
it, but if it's in compatibility (IDE) mode, the external drive will
need to be connected and powered on before starting XP,
otherwise it will not be recognized.

The controller is definitely enabled, because it initially
detects the disk and fails later due to i/o errors
(probably bad signal level, as Paul suggests)
According to Gigabyte brochure, the SATA controllers
are on ICH9. There is also a JMicron PATA controller.

When I connect the dock before starting XP,
it fails already in the BIOS IDE config screen.

Thanks,
-- pa

Ian D wrote:
"Pavel A." wrote in message
...
I've bought an ESATA + USB disk dock by Sedna
http://www.sednacomputer.com/products/se-ehd-03.html

and it does not work with my desktop PC
( Gigabyte GA-G33M-S2H board with built-in ESATA connector, XP SP3).

It works almost well with a new Dell laptop which also
has a buil-in ESATA port.
( However, even in the laptop, the disk is detected only
after manually scanning for new devices in dev. manager)

With the desktop, the ext. disk is detected - also
after manually scanning for new devices in dev. manager -
but then it does not show up in the disk manager, and several seconds
later disappears from device manager.

Two internal SATA disks in this machine work well.
I have not installed any special SATA drivers besides of the
mobo drivers package. In BIOS, SATA is set to legacy mode.

So what could be wrong with this mobo?
Any adivce will be appreciated.

-- pa


The eSATA port is most likely on an auxilliary controller, usually
from JMicron or Marvell. Are you sure this is enabled in BIOS?
If your eSATA drive is in AHCI mode you can usually hot plug
it, but if it's in compatibility (IDE) mode, the external drive will
need to be connected and powered on before starting XP,
otherwise it will not be recognized.

The controller is definitely enabled, because it initially
detects the disk and fails later due to i/o errors
(probably bad signal level, as Paul suggests)
According to Gigabyte brochure, the SATA controllers
are on ICH9. There is also a JMicron PATA controller.

When I connect the dock before starting XP,
it fails already in the BIOS IDE config screen.

Thanks,
-- pa

Shenan Stanley wrote:
Pavel A. wrote:
snipped
How I can prove to the vendor that the dock is defective,
as you suspect? What I've seen is just the contrary -
the dock works with another machine
snipped

Didn't you originally say, "It works almost well with a new Dell laptop
which also has a buil[t]-in ESATA port. ( However, even in the laptop, the
disk is detected only after manually scanning for new devices in dev.
manager)"...

I would say that is *not* working as intended.

I have several eSATA devices and mine work immediately upon plugging them
into my Windows XP and Windows Vista (32 and 64-bit) machines.

Is your computer's SATA controller in native (AHCI) mode?

-- pa

Shenan Stanley wrote:
Pavel A. wrote:
snipped
How I can prove to the vendor that the dock is defective,
as you suspect? What I've seen is just the contrary -
the dock works with another machine
snipped

Didn't you originally say, "It works almost well with a new Dell laptop
which also has a buil[t]-in ESATA port. ( However, even in the laptop, the
disk is detected only after manually scanning for new devices in dev.
manager)"...

I would say that is *not* working as intended.

I have several eSATA devices and mine work immediately upon plugging them
into my Windows XP and Windows Vista (32 and 64-bit) machines.

Is your computer's SATA controller in native (AHCI) mode?

-- pa

Pavel A. wrote:
Is your computer's SATA controller in native (AHCI) mode?

On my XP machine - no. Legacy.
On my Vista 32-bit machine, yes.
On my Vista 64-bit laptop, yes.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Pavel A. wrote:
Is your computer's SATA controller in native (AHCI) mode?

On my XP machine - no. Legacy.
On my Vista 32-bit machine, yes.
On my Vista 64-bit laptop, yes.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Shenan Stanley wrote:
Pavel A. wrote:
Is your computer's SATA controller in native (AHCI) mode?

On my XP machine - no. Legacy.
On my Vista 32-bit machine, yes.
On my Vista 64-bit laptop, yes.


Thanks a lot for this info. Then the dock
may be defective. Their user guide does not
mention ACHI or legacy mode at all.

-- pa

Shenan Stanley wrote:
Pavel A. wrote:
Is your computer's SATA controller in native (AHCI) mode?

On my XP machine - no. Legacy.
On my Vista 32-bit machine, yes.
On my Vista 64-bit laptop, yes.


Thanks a lot for this info. Then the dock
may be defective. Their user guide does not
mention ACHI or legacy mode at all.

-- pa

Pavel



"Pavel A." wrote
in message ...
Anna,
thanks you for the reply. My answers inline - P.


"Pavel A." wrote in message
...
I've bought an ESATA + USB disk dock by Sedna
http://www.sednacomputer.com/products/se-ehd-03.html

and it does not work with my desktop PC
( Gigabyte GA-G33M-S2H board with built-in ESATA connector, XP SP3).

It works almost well with a new Dell laptop which also
has a buil-in ESATA port.
( However, even in the laptop, the disk is detected only
after manually scanning for new devices in dev. manager)

With the desktop, the ext. disk is detected - also
after manually scanning for new devices in dev. manager -
but then it does not show up in the disk manager, and several seconds
later disappears from device manager.

Two internal SATA disks in this machine work well.
I have not installed any special SATA drivers besides of the
mobo drivers package. In BIOS, SATA is set to legacy mode.

So what could be wrong with this mobo?
Any adivce will be appreciated.

-- pa


"Anna" wrote in message
...
Pavel A.
Actually it doesn't sound to me as if there's anything wrong with the
Gigabyte MB with the possible exception of its eSATA port. (And I've
yet to come across a motherboard where its eSATA port was a defective
component. But it's possible, of course). Conceivable you might be
dealing with a defective external SATA dock, no?


"Pavel A." wrote
Not likely, because the same dock, disk and cable work well
with another computer (the Dell laptop). But I forgot to
mention that the Dell has Vista SP2.


"Anna" wrote in message...
You have indicated that there's no device recognition problem affecting
your internally-connected SATA HDDs, right?

"Pavel A." wrote
Yes.


"Anna" wrote in message...
Assuming you have a SATA data cable that has the eSATA connector on one
end and a "normal" SATA connector on the other end...

"Pavel A." wrote
No, the cable is eSATA to eSATA. The GB mobo has eSATA connector.
I don't have eSATA to SATA cables.


"Anna" wrote in message...
When you connect the enclosure to the eSATA port on your Dell laptop,
power-on the device and boot, are you indicating there's a device
recognition problem with that laptop? That the device is not recognized
until you "Scan for hardware changes" in Device Manager?

"Pavel A." wrote
Right. Neither connection or removal are auto detected.
This is a bit surprising, as the dock spec says "plug and play",
the laptop is new, and it has Vista.
However, after being detected, it works well.


"Anna" wrote in message...
Or are you indicating that this problem *only* arises if the device is
*not* powered-on at bootup, and following the boot you power-on the
device? If it's the latter situation, that's not unusual for an
Intel-based system involving an eSATA (or SATA) external HDD in an XP
OS environment.

"Pavel A." wrote
I tried also to boot the desktop with the eSATA connected.
Same behavior.


"Anna" wrote in message...
But (with reference to your desktop machine)...once the drive is
detected in Device Manager there should be no further problem. But
you've indicated that even *after* device recognition in DM, the
external SATA HDD "disappears" from the system, right? And, of course,
it's not listed in Disk Management, right? That's what you're
indicating, yes?

"Pavel A." wrote
Yes. And lot of disk errors and timeout messages in the eventlog.


"Anna" wrote in message...
Have you tried different HDDs in the enclosure? Both 2 1/2" & 3 1/2"?
Same problem?

"Pavel A." wrote
Two 3.5" disks: WD 1 TB and older Seagate 160 GB.
Almost same behavior; the new WD stays in dev. manages a bit longer.


"Anna" wrote in message...
Until now I've never heard of this Sedna product. Apparently it's not a
device marketed here in the U.S. Have you consulted the device's
manufacturer about this problem?

"Pavel A." wrote
Not yet; I'm now suspecting the mobo ESATA port, but you're saying that
it is unlikely to go bad... Will try to find another ESATA disk.

Thanks again and regards,

Pavel


Anna wrote:
Pavel...
It's hard to escape the conclusion that it's the SATA dock that's the
problem. It's surely worth exploring with the device's manufacturer.

While like anything else involving a PC component it's possible that the
motherboard's eSATA port is defective and that's causing the problem(s)
you're experiencing. The reason I'm doubtful about that is because I'm
hard-pressed to think of a single incident where I experienced a
defective motherboard's eSATA port (as the *only* defect involving a
particular motherboard), and I've worked with a fair number of MBs
equipped with that type of port.

I realize the SATA data cable that was included with your SATA dock would
obviously have eSATA connectors on each end of the cable, but I was
hoping you had available a SATA-eSATA data cable which would allow you to
bypass the motherboard's eSATA port & *directly* connect the dock to one
of the motherboard's SATA connectors. So you could diagnose whether the
problem was, in fact, with the motherboard's eSATA port.

I don't understand your final comment re "Will try to find another ESATA
disk."

Incidentally, I've worked with two different models of that type of
external SATA dock (apparently similar to your Sedna product) - a
Thermaltake & Vantec, both of which performed flawlessly.
Anna


"Pavel A." wrote in message
...
Anna,
How I can prove to the vendor that the dock is defective,
as you suspect? What I've seen is just the contrary -
the dock works with another machine, so I would like
to test my eSATA port on the mobo with
another eSATA device, _OR_ , as you advice,
find a SATA to eSATA converter.

( Still can't find either. I no longer
work for a big corp, where you could find all sorts of
hardware... )

This vendor sells also Thermaltake, so I'd try to exchange the Sedna.

Thanks again


Pavel...
As Shenan has inferred, the device is functioning erratically, or so it
seems. The fact that the device (apparently) works in one PC and not in
another (although there's no problems with the PCs themselves other than the
problem under discussion) is *not* an indication that the device is
non-defective.

We experience time & time again external enclosures (or flash drive devices)
that work fine in one machine but not in others. To be sure, most of the
time these involve USB-connected devices and not SATA-eSATA devices. As far
as we're concerned a device that performs erratically is a *defective*
device.

As I previously indicated I've never worked with this Sedna product nor have
ever heard of this make before you mentioned it. My advice would be exchange
it for the Thermaltake product if you can do so. The Thermaltake dock I
worked with was their model ST0005U. While I used that device for only a
short time (it belonged to a customer), it performed without any problems
both with respect to 2 1/2" & 3 1/2" drives.

If you're still uncomfortable with the idea of exchanging the device for
another brand or returning it for refund and you want to bypass your
motherboard's eSATA port (as we've discussed), see...
http://www.satacables.com/html/sata_...al_cables.html
http://www.cooldrives.com/sata-cable...-external.html
for SATA data cables having a SATA connector on one end and a eSATA
connector on the other end. Note these are not "converters". I'm sure there
are other online vendors for this type of cable.
Anna