I have an external hard drive enclosure which connects to computer via
USB and has its own 110V power connection. It holds an internal hard
drive inside. It is not dependable - that is often it does not work
when I power up the computer and I have to re-boot to get PnP to catch
its presence.
So I'm thinking of getting another external hard drive. I assume the
ones sold now do not have an enclosure but are strictly external
drives, not usable internally. That's fine - but what I am wondering
about is how do those drives get their power? Their own 110V power
cord? I would like to be able to turn it on and off.
"Jethro" <Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote in message
news:9oblv2hf4uhlvdluv95bp44ckd2t4csma0@4ax.com...
> Dumb question maybe.
>
> I have an external hard drive enclosure which connects to computer via
> USB and has its own 110V power connection. It holds an internal hard
> drive inside. It is not dependable - that is often it does not work
> when I power up the computer and I have to re-boot to get PnP to catch
> its presence.
>
> So I'm thinking of getting another external hard drive. I assume the
> ones sold now do not have an enclosure but are strictly external
> drives, not usable internally. That's fine - but what I am wondering
> about is how do those drives get their power? Their own 110V power
> cord? I would like to be able to turn it on and off.
>
> Thanks
>
> Jethro
I bet a penny to a pinch of mutter that those ED's sold cased DO have a
standard IDE or SATA drive enclosed............why make a special just for
these..........that could be used internally.
USB is hot plugable so why reboot just unplug and replug...............
On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:48:06 -0000, "Lez Pawl"
<Lez@Pawlbtinternet.com> wrote:
>
>"Jethro" <Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote in message
>news:9oblv2hf4uhlvdluv95bp44ckd2t4csma0@4ax.com.. .
>> Dumb question maybe.
>>
>> I have an external hard drive enclosure which connects to computer via
>> USB and has its own 110V power connection. It holds an internal hard
>> drive inside. It is not dependable - that is often it does not work
>> when I power up the computer and I have to re-boot to get PnP to catch
>> its presence.
>>
>> So I'm thinking of getting another external hard drive. I assume the
>> ones sold now do not have an enclosure but are strictly external
>> drives, not usable internally. That's fine - but what I am wondering
>> about is how do those drives get their power? Their own 110V power
>> cord? I would like to be able to turn it on and off.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Jethro
>
>I bet a penny to a pinch of mutter that those ED's sold cased DO have a
>standard IDE or SATA drive enclosed............why make a special just for
>these..........that could be used internally.
>
>USB is hot plugable so why reboot just unplug and replug...............
>
>
Well - your reply prompted me to call Circuit City to ask about a I/O
Magic GigaBank external hard drive they are selling right now on sale.
I asked if the hard drive within that external package was actually an
internal drive like we all know and love. They said NO. OTOH they
said the external package has its own 110V power connection, just like
my present enclosure.
I'm thinking it may be more PnP-dependable than what I have now.
I am probably wrong.
"Jethro" <Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote in message
news:llglv29uekv838m3e04odo4c1qjj1eecth@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:48:06 -0000, "Lez Pawl"
> <Lez@Pawlbtinternet.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Jethro" <Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote in message
>>news:9oblv2hf4uhlvdluv95bp44ckd2t4csma0@4ax.com. ..
>>> Dumb question maybe.
>>>
>>> I have an external hard drive enclosure which connects to computer via
>>> USB and has its own 110V power connection. It holds an internal hard
>>> drive inside. It is not dependable - that is often it does not work
>>> when I power up the computer and I have to re-boot to get PnP to catch
>>> its presence.
>>>
>>> So I'm thinking of getting another external hard drive. I assume the
>>> ones sold now do not have an enclosure but are strictly external
>>> drives, not usable internally. That's fine - but what I am wondering
>>> about is how do those drives get their power? Their own 110V power
>>> cord? I would like to be able to turn it on and off.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> Jethro
>>
>>I bet a penny to a pinch of mutter that those ED's sold cased DO have a
>>standard IDE or SATA drive enclosed............why make a special just for
>>these..........that could be used internally.
>>
>>USB is hot plugable so why reboot just unplug and replug...............
>>
>>
>
> Well - your reply prompted me to call Circuit City to ask about a I/O
> Magic GigaBank external hard drive they are selling right now on sale.
> I asked if the hard drive within that external package was actually an
> internal drive like we all know and love. They said NO. OTOH they
> said the external package has its own 110V power connection, just like
> my present enclosure.
>
> I'm thinking it may be more PnP-dependable than what I have now.
> I am probably wrong.
>
> Jethro
my external drives have their own power supply (240ac UK)
inside the enclosure is a standard IDE connector and a standard 4 pin BOLEX
power connector from an AC to DC (12Vdc I assume) converter board. Both
these connectors are as found inside a normal desktop comp.
I would say the CC guy has never even had one apart...........and its easy
to say No.
"Lez Pawl" <Lez@Pawlbtinternet.com> wrote in message
news:uM-dnXeGvbDCJWfYRVnyvgA@bt.com...
>
> "Jethro" <Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote in message
> news:llglv29uekv838m3e04odo4c1qjj1eecth@4ax.com...
>> On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:48:06 -0000, "Lez Pawl"
>> <Lez@Pawlbtinternet.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>"Jethro" <Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote in message
>>>news:9oblv2hf4uhlvdluv95bp44ckd2t4csma0@4ax.com ...
>>>> Dumb question maybe.
>>>>
>>>> I have an external hard drive enclosure which connects to computer via
>>>> USB and has its own 110V power connection. It holds an internal hard
>>>> drive inside. It is not dependable - that is often it does not work
>>>> when I power up the computer and I have to re-boot to get PnP to catch
>>>> its presence.
>>>>
>>>> So I'm thinking of getting another external hard drive. I assume the
>>>> ones sold now do not have an enclosure but are strictly external
>>>> drives, not usable internally. That's fine - but what I am wondering
>>>> about is how do those drives get their power? Their own 110V power
>>>> cord? I would like to be able to turn it on and off.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>>
>>>> Jethro
>>>
>>>I bet a penny to a pinch of mutter that those ED's sold cased DO have a
>>>standard IDE or SATA drive enclosed............why make a special just
>>>for
>>>these..........that could be used internally.
>>>
>>>USB is hot plugable so why reboot just unplug and replug...............
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Well - your reply prompted me to call Circuit City to ask about a I/O
>> Magic GigaBank external hard drive they are selling right now on sale.
>> I asked if the hard drive within that external package was actually an
>> internal drive like we all know and love. They said NO. OTOH they
>> said the external package has its own 110V power connection, just like
>> my present enclosure.
>>
>> I'm thinking it may be more PnP-dependable than what I have now.
>> I am probably wrong.
>>
>> Jethro
>
> my external drives have their own power supply (240ac UK)
>
> inside the enclosure is a standard IDE connector and a standard 4 pin
> BOLEX power connector from an AC to DC (12Vdc I assume) converter board.
> Both these connectors are as found inside a normal desktop comp.
>
> I would say the CC guy has never even had one apart...........and its easy
> to say No.
>
> got any pics of your current setup.............
>
Jethro wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:48:06 -0000, "Lez Pawl"
> <Lez@Pawlbtinternet.com> wrote:
>
>> "Jethro" <Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote in message
>> news:9oblv2hf4uhlvdluv95bp44ckd2t4csma0@4ax.com...
>>> Dumb question maybe.
>>>
>>> I have an external hard drive enclosure which connects to computer via
>>> USB and has its own 110V power connection. It holds an internal hard
>>> drive inside. It is not dependable - that is often it does not work
>>> when I power up the computer and I have to re-boot to get PnP to catch
>>> its presence.
>>>
>>> So I'm thinking of getting another external hard drive. I assume the
>>> ones sold now do not have an enclosure but are strictly external
>>> drives, not usable internally. That's fine - but what I am wondering
>>> about is how do those drives get their power? Their own 110V power
>>> cord? I would like to be able to turn it on and off.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> Jethro
>> I bet a penny to a pinch of mutter that those ED's sold cased DO have a
>> standard IDE or SATA drive enclosed............why make a special just for
>> these..........that could be used internally.
>>
>> USB is hot plugable so why reboot just unplug and replug...............
>>
>>
>
> Well - your reply prompted me to call Circuit City to ask about a I/O
> Magic GigaBank external hard drive they are selling right now on sale.
> I asked if the hard drive within that external package was actually an
> internal drive like we all know and love. They said NO.
There's no reason to suspect they know what they're talking about. If
this is the drive in question:
I suspect that there is in fact an internal drive hooked up to that
external enclosure because:
1) You can buy empty enclosures that look very much like that one.
2) It would be perverse to develop a new manufacturing process for
drives when a long standing and stable (read cheap) process exists to
produce a usable drive.
3) The referenced product sheet says: "250GB IDE Hard Drive built in"
> OTOH they
> said the external package has its own 110V power connection, just like
> my present enclosure.
I would guess they have that one right--the manufacturer says it comes
with a power supply.
> I'm thinking it may be more PnP-dependable than what I have now.
> I am probably wrong.
On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:20:34 GMT, Jethro
<Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote:
>
>Well - your reply prompted me to call Circuit City to ask about a I/O
>Magic GigaBank external hard drive they are selling right now on sale.
>I asked if the hard drive within that external package was actually an
>internal drive like we all know and love. They said NO. OTOH they
>said the external package has its own 110V power connection, just like
>my present enclosure.
>
>I'm thinking it may be more PnP-dependable than what I have now.
>I am probably wrong.
>
>Jethro
AFAIK, all external HDDs still use stanard PATA or SATA
internal drives inside. It is not always true with optical
drives though, and some of the external HDD enclosures are
now fairly well sealed shut but unfortunately I cant recall
which are and aren't... think at least 2 of the major HDD
branded ones are.
On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:34:47 -0500, Joel <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote:
>Jethro <Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote:
>
>> Dumb question maybe.
>>
>> I have an external hard drive enclosure which connects to computer via
>> USB and has its own 110V power connection. It holds an internal hard
>> drive inside. It is not dependable - that is often it does not work
>> when I power up the computer and I have to re-boot to get PnP to catch
>> its presence.
>
> Have you tried to unplug and re-plug the external hard drive (USB) instead
>of reboot?
Yes and every time I unplug-replug the USB - PnP picks it up.
Same when I unplug-replug the power plug.
Same when I unplug-replug the internal power and IDE connections.
At least so far (I tried about 20 consecutive tests of all).
But if I use the on/off power switch on the front of the enclosure -
PnP fails 90% of the time.
Based on all this, and based on everyone's comments - I think I will
just unplug-replug the USB and forget the on/off switch on the
enclosure.
>
>> So I'm thinking of getting another external hard drive. I assume the
>> ones sold now do not have an enclosure but are strictly external
>> drives, not usable internally. That's fine - but what I am wondering
>> about is how do those drives get their power? Their own 110V power
>> cord? I would like to be able to turn it on and off.
>
> Just like some Cellphone and many others can have the battery charged by
>connecting to USB port, and some external hard drive can get power from USB
>port too. But it may require power from 2-USB ports (using a special
>Y-cable) to have enough power to spin the drive.
>
> Also, computer may connect to 110V outlet but it doesn't use 110V, or the
>Power Supply, and AC adapter have built-in voltage transformer to converter
>110V AC to few DC volts.
>
>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Jethro
On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:30:17 -0800, Robert Heiling
<robheil@comcast.net> wrote:
>Jethro wrote:
>>
>> On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:34:47 -0500, Joel <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote:
>>
>> >Jethro <Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote:
>> >
>> >> Dumb question maybe.
>> >>
>> >> I have an external hard drive enclosure which connects to computer via
>> >> USB and has its own 110V power connection. It holds an internal hard
>> >> drive inside. It is not dependable - that is often it does not work
>> >> when I power up the computer and I have to re-boot to get PnP to catch
>> >> its presence.
>> >
>> > Have you tried to unplug and re-plug the external hard drive (USB) instead
>> >of reboot?
>>
>> Yes and every time I unplug-replug the USB - PnP picks it up.
>> Same when I unplug-replug the power plug.
>> Same when I unplug-replug the internal power and IDE connections.
>> At least so far (I tried about 20 consecutive tests of all).
>
>That sounds like it's working correctly. Don't you also get the icon in systray
>for safe removal?
Nope - no icon that I see. I'll have to research how to get that.
>
>> But if I use the on/off power switch on the front of the enclosure -
>> PnP fails 90% of the time.
>
>That's an incorrect procedure. If the drive isn't getting power from its owm
>power supply, then it will draw power from the USB 2.0. There may or may not be
>enough power and results are unpredictable, You must use the separate power
>supply with those.
>
Makes sense.
>> Based on all this, and based on everyone's comments - I think I will
>> just unplug-replug the USB and forget the on/off switch on the
>> enclosure.
>
>You should turn on the separate power before plugging USB and turn it off after
>unplugging USB. You could leave it on, but the HD would be always spinning day &
>night.
It is connected to a control panel that I turn off at night.
Jethro wrote:
>
> On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:34:47 -0500, Joel <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote:
>
> >Jethro <Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote:
> >
> >> Dumb question maybe.
> >>
> >> I have an external hard drive enclosure which connects to computer via
> >> USB and has its own 110V power connection. It holds an internal hard
> >> drive inside. It is not dependable - that is often it does not work
> >> when I power up the computer and I have to re-boot to get PnP to catch
> >> its presence.
> >
> > Have you tried to unplug and re-plug the external hard drive (USB) instead
> >of reboot?
>
> Yes and every time I unplug-replug the USB - PnP picks it up.
> Same when I unplug-replug the power plug.
> Same when I unplug-replug the internal power and IDE connections.
> At least so far (I tried about 20 consecutive tests of all).
That sounds like it's working correctly. Don't you also get the icon in systray
for safe removal?
> But if I use the on/off power switch on the front of the enclosure -
> PnP fails 90% of the time.
That's an incorrect procedure. If the drive isn't getting power from its owm
power supply, then it will draw power from the USB 2.0. There may or may not be
enough power and results are unpredictable, You must use the separate power
supply with those.
> Based on all this, and based on everyone's comments - I think I will
> just unplug-replug the USB and forget the on/off switch on the
> enclosure.
You should turn on the separate power before plugging USB and turn it off after
unplugging USB. You could leave it on, but the HD would be always spinning day &
night.
Jethro wrote:
>
> On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:30:17 -0800, Robert Heiling
> <robheil@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> >Jethro wrote:
> >>
> >> On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:34:47 -0500, Joel <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> >Jethro <Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Dumb question maybe.
> >> >>
> >> >> I have an external hard drive enclosure which connects to computer via
> >> >> USB and has its own 110V power connection. It holds an internal hard
> >> >> drive inside. It is not dependable - that is often it does not work
> >> >> when I power up the computer and I have to re-boot to get PnP to catch
> >> >> its presence.
> >> >
> >> > Have you tried to unplug and re-plug the external hard drive (USB) instead
> >> >of reboot?
> >>
> >> Yes and every time I unplug-replug the USB - PnP picks it up.
> >> Same when I unplug-replug the power plug.
> >> Same when I unplug-replug the internal power and IDE connections.
> >> At least so far (I tried about 20 consecutive tests of all).
> >
> >That sounds like it's working correctly. Don't you also get the icon in systray
> >for safe removal?
>
> Nope - no icon that I see. I'll have to research how to get that.
The purpose of that is to close all file buffers so that data is not lost.
Otherwise it would be no different than pulling the computer power plug and the
consequences of file data corruption from that.
> >> But if I use the on/off power switch on the front of the enclosure -
> >> PnP fails 90% of the time.
> >
> >That's an incorrect procedure. If the drive isn't getting power from its owm
> >power supply, then it will draw power from the USB 2.0. There may or may not be
> >enough power and results are unpredictable, You must use the separate power
> >supply with those.
> >
> Makes sense.
>
> >> Based on all this, and based on everyone's comments - I think I will
> >> just unplug-replug the USB and forget the on/off switch on the
> >> enclosure.
> >
> >You should turn on the separate power before plugging USB and turn it off after
> >unplugging USB. You could leave it on, but the HD would be always spinning day &
> >night.
>
> It is connected to a control panel that I turn off at night.
The important part there is the proper closing of all open files before dropping
power.
On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 12:29:13 -0800, Robert Heiling
<robheil@comcast.net> wrote:
>Jethro wrote:
>>
>> On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:30:17 -0800, Robert Heiling
>> <robheil@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> >Jethro wrote:
>> >>
>> >> On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:34:47 -0500, Joel <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >Jethro <Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> Dumb question maybe.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I have an external hard drive enclosure which connects to computer via
>> >> >> USB and has its own 110V power connection. It holds an internal hard
>> >> >> drive inside. It is not dependable - that is often it does not work
>> >> >> when I power up the computer and I have to re-boot to get PnP to catch
>> >> >> its presence.
>> >> >
>> >> > Have you tried to unplug and re-plug the external hard drive (USB) instead
>> >> >of reboot?
>> >>
>> >> Yes and every time I unplug-replug the USB - PnP picks it up.
>> >> Same when I unplug-replug the power plug.
>> >> Same when I unplug-replug the internal power and IDE connections.
>> >> At least so far (I tried about 20 consecutive tests of all).
>> >
>> >That sounds like it's working correctly. Don't you also get the icon in systray
>> >for safe removal?
>>
>> Nope - no icon that I see. I'll have to research how to get that.
>
>The purpose of that is to close all file buffers so that data is not lost.
>Otherwise it would be no different than pulling the computer power plug and the
>consequences of file data corruption from that.
I notice when I finish doing the 'safe removal' the drive is gone from
My Computer which is what I would expect.
Thanks a meg.
Jethro
>
>> >> But if I use the on/off power switch on the front of the enclosure -
>> >> PnP fails 90% of the time.
>> >
>> >That's an incorrect procedure. If the drive isn't getting power from its owm
>> >power supply, then it will draw power from the USB 2.0. There may or may not be
>> >enough power and results are unpredictable, You must use the separate power
>> >supply with those.
>> >
>> Makes sense.
>>
>> >> Based on all this, and based on everyone's comments - I think I will
>> >> just unplug-replug the USB and forget the on/off switch on the
>> >> enclosure.
>> >
>> >You should turn on the separate power before plugging USB and turn it off after
>> >unplugging USB. You could leave it on, but the HD would be always spinning day &
>> >night.
>>
>> It is connected to a control panel that I turn off at night.
>
>The important part there is the proper closing of all open files before dropping
>power.
>
>Bob
External harddrives come mounted in an enclosure with its own power supply.
--
DaveW
___________
"Jethro" <Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote in message
news:9oblv2hf4uhlvdluv95bp44ckd2t4csma0@4ax.com...
> Dumb question maybe.
>
> I have an external hard drive enclosure which connects to computer via
> USB and has its own 110V power connection. It holds an internal hard
> drive inside. It is not dependable - that is often it does not work
> when I power up the computer and I have to re-boot to get PnP to catch
> its presence.
>
> So I'm thinking of getting another external hard drive. I assume the
> ones sold now do not have an enclosure but are strictly external
> drives, not usable internally. That's fine - but what I am wondering
> about is how do those drives get their power? Their own 110V power
> cord? I would like to be able to turn it on and off.
>
> Thanks
>
> Jethro
Question on external hard drives 
Linear Mode
