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#1
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USB harddisk problem
For some time now I'm using an external harddisk which often disbehaves.
The problem is that after some time it seems to go in some stand by mode. Then, when I try to access this drive (or another external drive) it often disconnects (hearing the disconnect sound) I can hear the sound of the drive starting up slowly, but seemingly often too late. I suppose this has to do with some kind of time-out parameter? Can I increase this setting somewhere? BTW This problem only occurs when using the drive with the (Windows XP) PC. Using the drive connected to the (Vista) notebook it never fails. - Medion USB harddisk with its own power adaptor. -- regards, |\ /| | \/ |@rk \../ \/os |
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#2
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USB harddisk problem
On 2/28/2012 4:39 AM, Linea Recta wrote:
For some time now I'm using an external harddisk which often disbehaves. The problem is that after some time it seems to go in some stand by mode. Then, when I try to access this drive (or another external drive) it often disconnects (hearing the disconnect sound) I can hear the sound of the drive starting up slowly, but seemingly often too late. I suppose this has to do with some kind of time-out parameter? Can I increase this setting somewhere? BTW This problem only occurs when using the drive with the (Windows XP) PC. Using the drive connected to the (Vista) notebook it never fails. - Medion USB harddisk with its own power adaptor. I have the same problem with my two Samsung Story external drives. Mine does it under all OS and will timeout in about 5 minutes when not being used and then spin down. In my case, they programmed mine this way. And there is nothing the end user can do about it. -- Bill Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Thunderbird v3.0 Centrino Core Duo T2400 1.83GHz - 2GB - Windows XP SP3 |
#3
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USB harddisk problem
On 2/28/2012 5:39 AM, Linea Recta wrote:
For some time now I'm using an external harddisk which often misbehaves. The problem is that after some time it seems to go in some stand by mode. Then, when I try to access this drive (or another external drive) it often disconnects (hearing the disconnect sound) I can hear the sound of the drive starting up slowly, but seemingly often too late. I suppose this has to do with some kind of time-out parameter? Can I increase this setting somewhere? BTW This problem only occurs when using the drive with the (Windows XP) PC. Using the drive connected to the (Vista) notebook it never fails. - Medion USB harddisk with its own power adaptor. Here's something you can try: Open Device Manager, open the properties on each USB hub, click the Power tab, and deselect "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". -- Joe =o) |
#4
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USB harddisk problem
"BillW50" schreef in bericht ... On 2/28/2012 4:39 AM, Linea Recta wrote: For some time now I'm using an external harddisk which often disbehaves. The problem is that after some time it seems to go in some stand by mode. Then, when I try to access this drive (or another external drive) it often disconnects (hearing the disconnect sound) I can hear the sound of the drive starting up slowly, but seemingly often too late. I suppose this has to do with some kind of time-out parameter? Can I increase this setting somewhere? BTW This problem only occurs when using the drive with the (Windows XP) PC. Using the drive connected to the (Vista) notebook it never fails. - Medion USB harddisk with its own power adaptor. I have the same problem with my two Samsung Story external drives. Mine does it under all OS and will timeout in about 5 minutes when not being used and then spin down. In my case, they programmed mine this way. And there is nothing the end user can do about it. I suppose that's what they mean with "SMART"... leaving the user with no control of any sort. My condolences! -- regards, |\ /| | \/ |@rk \../ \/os |
#5
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USB harddisk problem
"Elmo" schreef in bericht ... On 2/28/2012 5:39 AM, Linea Recta wrote: For some time now I'm using an external harddisk which often misbehaves. The problem is that after some time it seems to go in some stand by mode. Then, when I try to access this drive (or another external drive) it often disconnects (hearing the disconnect sound) I can hear the sound of the drive starting up slowly, but seemingly often too late. I suppose this has to do with some kind of time-out parameter? Can I increase this setting somewhere? BTW This problem only occurs when using the drive with the (Windows XP) PC. Using the drive connected to the (Vista) notebook it never fails. - Medion USB harddisk with its own power adaptor. Here's something you can try: Open Device Manager, open the properties on each USB hub, click the Power tab, and deselect "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". I got this advice more often, but... switching off powersaving altogether isn't quite what I had in mind. Is there no way to permit the drive more time to wake up? -- regards, |\ /| | \/ |@rk \../ \/os |
#6
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USB harddisk problem
"Elmo" schreef in bericht ... On 2/28/2012 5:39 AM, Linea Recta wrote: For some time now I'm using an external harddisk which often misbehaves. The problem is that after some time it seems to go in some stand by mode. Then, when I try to access this drive (or another external drive) it often disconnects (hearing the disconnect sound) I can hear the sound of the drive starting up slowly, but seemingly often too late. I suppose this has to do with some kind of time-out parameter? Can I increase this setting somewhere? BTW This problem only occurs when using the drive with the (Windows XP) PC. Using the drive connected to the (Vista) notebook it never fails. - Medion USB harddisk with its own power adaptor. Here's something you can try: Open Device Manager, open the properties on each USB hub, click the Power tab, and deselect "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". I just checked all USB hubs and all power saving boxes where already unchecked. I suppose the problem is due to in-the-drive integrated stupidity? -- regards, |\ /| | \/ |@rk \../ \/os |
#7
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USB harddisk problem
On 2/29/2012 9:19 AM, Linea Recta wrote:
"Elmo" schreef in bericht ... On 2/28/2012 5:39 AM, Linea Recta wrote: For some time now I'm using an external harddisk which often misbehaves. The problem is that after some time it seems to go in some stand by mode. Then, when I try to access this drive (or another external drive) it often disconnects (hearing the disconnect sound) I can hear the sound of the drive starting up slowly, but seemingly often too late. I suppose this has to do with some kind of time-out parameter? Can I increase this setting somewhere? BTW This problem only occurs when using the drive with the (Windows XP) PC. Using the drive connected to the (Vista) notebook it never fails. - Medion USB harddisk with its own power adaptor. Here's something you can try: Open Device Manager, open the properties on each USB hub, click the Power tab, and deselect "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". I just checked all USB hubs and all power saving boxes where already unchecked. I suppose the problem is due to in-the-drive integrated stupidity? But only on XP.. ;o) -- Joe =o) |
#8
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USB harddisk problem
Linea Recta wrote:
For some time now I'm using an external harddisk which often disbehaves. The problem is that after some time it seems to go in some stand by mode. Then, when I try to access this drive (or another external drive) it often disconnects (hearing the disconnect sound) I can hear the sound of the drive starting up slowly, but seemingly often too late. I suppose this has to do with some kind of time-out parameter? Can I increase this setting somewhere? You can. Add the following to the registry (I hope you know how): [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\Disk] "TimeOutValue"=dword:00000020 It makes the timeout value 32 seconds (20 hex). I researched and added that, because my external HD (WD Elements) was getting timeout errors, *but it never disconnected* ! I could see that there had been a problem only when looking at the event log. I would have been really worried if it was disconnecting the way you write. See if adding the timeout fixes the disconnect. BTW This problem only occurs when using the drive with the (Windows XP) PC. Using the drive connected to the (Vista) notebook it never fails. - Medion USB harddisk with its own power adaptor. -- You'd be crazy to e-mail me with the crazy. But leave the div alone. * Whoever bans a book, shall be banished. Whoever burns a book, shall burn. |
#9
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USB harddisk problem
"Patok" schreef in bericht ... Linea Recta wrote: For some time now I'm using an external harddisk which often disbehaves. The problem is that after some time it seems to go in some stand by mode. Then, when I try to access this drive (or another external drive) it often disconnects (hearing the disconnect sound) I can hear the sound of the drive starting up slowly, but seemingly often too late. I suppose this has to do with some kind of time-out parameter? Can I increase this setting somewhere? You can. Add the following to the registry (I hope you know how): [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\Disk] "TimeOutValue"=dword:00000020 It makes the timeout value 32 seconds (20 hex). I researched and added that, because my external HD (WD Elements) was getting timeout errors, *but it never disconnected* ! I could see that there had been a problem only when looking at the event log. I would have been really worried if it was disconnecting the way you write. See if adding the timeout fixes the disconnect. I just added the value to the registry as you wrote and rebooted. It would be great if this resolves the issue! I'll be back with the results. -- thanks, |\ /| | \/ |@rk \../ \/os |
#10
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USB harddisk problem
Linea Recta wrote:
"Elmo" schreef in bericht ... On 2/28/2012 5:39 AM, Linea Recta wrote: For some time now I'm using an external harddisk which often misbehaves. The problem is that after some time it seems to go in some stand by mode. Then, when I try to access this drive (or another external drive) it often disconnects (hearing the disconnect sound) I can hear the sound of the drive starting up slowly, but seemingly often too late. I suppose this has to do with some kind of time-out parameter? Can I increase this setting somewhere? BTW This problem only occurs when using the drive with the (Windows XP) PC. Using the drive connected to the (Vista) notebook it never fails. - Medion USB harddisk with its own power adaptor. Here's something you can try: Open Device Manager, open the properties on each USB hub, click the Power tab, and deselect "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". I just checked all USB hubs and all power saving boxes where already unchecked. I suppose the problem is due to in-the-drive integrated stupidity? The stupidity is inside the box, and I don't think software has control of it. It was done in this way, to reduce the incidences of drive high operating temperatures, as a result of designing 3.5" hard drive housings without cooling solutions on them. You're trying to force 6-12W through a sealed plastic box. Spindown was seen to be "better", than providing proper cooling. Now, if you're running a backup that writes at 5MB/sec for two hours, the drive remains spinning, and the "toasting" of the drive will continue (because this brain dead feature can't help in that case). Spindown as a cooling solution, only helps for "quiet desktops", where you don't use the drive much. But I can't give you any implementation details. While the hard drive standard itself has options like that, in cases when this happens, I can't be sure it is the drive, or the USB chip that is doing it. In terms of a division of labor, it makes sense for the drive itself to be doing this (short timeout followed by spindown). But in cases where the manufacturer wants to enforce this in all cases, I suppose they could add a feature to the USB adapter chip, to issue the command as well. The long spinup time for the drive, might be responsible for a timeout. Drives are allowed 35 seconds in the BIOS, to spin up (and 35 seconds may be allocated in the ATA/ATAPI spec), but in Windows, a delayed write failure (happening because the OS thinks the drive is running), occurs in about 5 seconds or so. Whatever that number is, they don't wait 35 seconds before declaring a problem. I suppose, as experimenters, we could take a drive we regularly use in a desktop computer, and pop it into the Seagate or WD housing, and see if the same bad behavior is still present. If that was the case, then we'd know it was the USB chip doing it. Paul |
#11
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USB harddisk problem
"Paul" schreef in bericht
... Linea Recta wrote: "Elmo" schreef in bericht ... On 2/28/2012 5:39 AM, Linea Recta wrote: For some time now I'm using an external harddisk which often misbehaves. The problem is that after some time it seems to go in some stand by mode. Then, when I try to access this drive (or another external drive) it often disconnects (hearing the disconnect sound) I can hear the sound of the drive starting up slowly, but seemingly often too late. I suppose this has to do with some kind of time-out parameter? Can I increase this setting somewhere? BTW This problem only occurs when using the drive with the (Windows XP) PC. Using the drive connected to the (Vista) notebook it never fails. - Medion USB harddisk with its own power adaptor. Here's something you can try: Open Device Manager, open the properties on each USB hub, click the Power tab, and deselect "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". I just checked all USB hubs and all power saving boxes where already unchecked. I suppose the problem is due to in-the-drive integrated stupidity? The stupidity is inside the box, and I don't think software has control of it. It was done in this way, to reduce the incidences of drive high operating temperatures, as a result of designing 3.5" hard drive housings without cooling solutions on them. You're trying to force 6-12W through a sealed plastic box. Aluminum in my case. I have a Maxtor one touch (no dismounting problems) and a Medion (I think there is a Seagate inside). Both drives do not become very warm on the outside when used over long time. Of course this doesn't say very much about the temperature inside... Spindown was seen to be "better", than providing proper cooling. Now, if you're running a backup that writes at 5MB/sec for two hours, the drive remains spinning, and the "toasting" of the drive will continue (because this brain dead feature can't help in that case). Spindown as a cooling solution, only helps for "quiet desktops", where you don't use the drive much. I have to listen very carefully to hear any sound at all from these drives. But I can't give you any implementation details. While the hard drive standard itself has options like that, in cases when this happens, I can't be sure it is the drive, or the USB chip that is doing it. In terms of a division of labor, it makes sense for the drive itself to be doing this (short timeout followed by spindown). But in cases where the manufacturer wants to enforce this in all cases, I suppose they could add a feature to the USB adapter chip, to issue the command as well. So much for stadardization... The long spinup time for the drive, might be responsible for a timeout. Drives are allowed 35 seconds in the BIOS, to spin up (and 35 seconds may be allocated in the ATA/ATAPI spec), I tried the different BIOS settings for (legacy?) USB also. but in Windows, a delayed write failure (happening because the OS thinks the drive is running), occurs in about 5 seconds or so. Whatever that number is, they don't wait 35 seconds before declaring a problem. I suppose, as experimenters, we could take a drive we regularly use in a desktop computer, and pop it into the Seagate or WD housing, and see if the same bad behavior is still present. If that was the case, then we'd know it was the USB chip doing it. Hardware as follows: PC Windows XP Pro SP3 - mobo: Asus P4B266 - cpu: Intel P4 1,6 GHz. - RAM: 1512 MB. - video: Matrox Marvel G450eTV 32 MB. (AGP) - monitor: 19-inch Medion Akoya MD 20119 - sound: SB Audigy 1394 (PCI) - hd: 2 X Maxtor 60 GB. - DVD/CD-ROM: Toshiba DVD-ROM SD-M1712 - DVD+RW/+R: LG GSA-H44N - standalone: LG RH7500 - modems: ADSL: Alcatel speedtouch 330 (USB) - analog: Dynalink Lucent Win Modem 56k6 (PCI) - printer: HP DeskJet 720C (parallel) - scanner: HP ScanJet 2200C (USB) - keyb: PS/2 MS Internet Keyboard - mouse: Logitech Pilot Wheel Mouse Optical (USB) - webcam: Logitech QuickCam Zoom (USB) - removables: Maxtor One Touch 120 GB (USB) - Medion 500 GB (USB) - Iomega ZipDrive 100 (parallel) Wi-Fi netwerk Sitecom ADSL2+ Modem/Router 54G Turbo WL-174 notebook 17-inch Medion Akoya MODEL: MIM2300 (MD 96662) Windows Vista Home Premium SP2 |
#12
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USB harddisk problem
"Patok" schreef in bericht ... Linea Recta wrote: For some time now I'm using an external harddisk which often disbehaves. The problem is that after some time it seems to go in some stand by mode. Then, when I try to access this drive (or another external drive) it often disconnects (hearing the disconnect sound) I can hear the sound of the drive starting up slowly, but seemingly often too late. I suppose this has to do with some kind of time-out parameter? Can I increase this setting somewhere? You can. Add the following to the registry (I hope you know how): [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\Disk] "TimeOutValue"=dword:00000020 It makes the timeout value 32 seconds (20 hex). I researched and added that, because my external HD (WD Elements) was getting timeout errors, *but it never disconnected* ! I could see that there had been a problem only when looking at the event log. I would have been really worried if it was disconnecting the way you write. See if adding the timeout fixes the disconnect. BTW This problem only occurs when using the drive with the (Windows XP) PC. Using the drive connected to the (Vista) notebook it never fails. - Medion USB harddisk with its own power adaptor. Drive is still doing great. Thanks! -- regards, |\ /| | \/ |@rk \../ \/os |
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