Question external HD enclosure question

[QueBert]

A friends external HD suddenly started to disconnect every few minutes then reconnect after like 10 seconds. It would give the USB disconnect ding and when it reconnects it asks what default action you'd like when the device is connected.

They asked for my help, I told them to try a new USB port, same issue. So I was about to tell them they need a new enclosure. From what they said it sounds like a USB issue to me. Am I wrong to assume the drive probably isn't the issue? My thinking is even with a dead, or dying HD the enclosure would still show up under my computer. And you'd just get an error when you tried to access it?

 

[sdifox]

How old is the drive?

 

[UsandThem]

A dying/dead hard drive could cause those types of issues as well.

Probably the only way (and cheapest) to know for sure is to try a new case.

 

[QueBert]

How old is the drive?

He doesn't know, I thought it was pretty new but it's at least a few years old.

A dying/dead hard drive could cause those types of issues as well.

Probably the only way (and cheapest) to know for sure is to try a new case.

Good to know, I remember when my external HD went out it would still show up in my drives, but I couldn't access it. This was Window XP though so it was a long time ago. I'm going to suggest he get both a new drive and enclosure. If the HD's not bad, he'll have one to back it up on. And if it's the drive that's dying, since it still semi works, MAYBE we can squeeze enough life out of it to clone it before it totally bites the dust. He wants to save the data. Assuming it's going bad to the point we can't access it long enough to clone it I guess he could look into a recovery service. I know they use to be expensive though. I also had him put his ear to it and when it went offline. I sent him a YT video of a HD clicking, and he said it wasn't making any noise, so that's at least one problem out of the way.

Thanks for the replies, I'll pass this along to him.

 

[ArisVer]

Your friend should also try it on a different computer.

 

[VirtualLarry]

If portable external, try a powered USB3.0 hub.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Am I wrong to assume the drive probably isn't the issue?

You might try a different cable. Preferably as short a possible. USB3 can be a bit picky with cable quality for longer (>2m) runs. This includes any internal cabling for front mounted ports.

10Gbit USB3 is even worse in that regard, you'll be lucky to get much over a metre without a very high quality cable.

If there are any 2.4GHz transmitters (Wifi/Bluetooth etc.) nearby, try removing them. If the cable is not well shielded, the interference they generate can kill USB3 connectivity.

If portable external, try a powered USB3.0 hub.

And/or this^^

 

[QueBert]

Your friend should also try it on a different computer.

He doesn't have access to another PC, well not at his house. I'll see if he has any neighbors who would let him try.

If portable external, try a powered USB3.0 hub.

It has a power brick, which I suppose could be going out too DOH lol.

You might try a different cable. Preferably as short a possible. USB3 can be a bit picky with cable quality for longer (>2m) runs. This includes any internal cabling for front mounted ports.

10Gbit USB3 is even worse in that regard, you'll be lucky to get much over a metre without a very high quality cable.

If there are any 2.4GHz transmitters (Wifi/Bluetooth etc.) nearby, try removing them. If the cable is not well shielded, the interference they generate can kill USB3 connectivity.



And/or this^^

It's not 3.0, that much I do know. Enclosure and cable are 2.0 . I didn't think to tell him to try another cable, that's a good idea. It's USB A to B though so doubtful he'd have another. But that would be the absolute cheapest thing he could pick up to troubleshoot this. I'm still going to recommend new hd and enclosure. After talking to him and getting the info on it it has to be pretty old if it has a USB 2 connector.

Thanks for the replies all, he'll appreciate the ideas.

 

[VirtualLarry]

If you're looking to buy a new desktop external HDD, ebay has some from WD (maybe wd_official?), anyways, search ebay for "WD refurbished", and look for the listings with the blue "WD" logo next to them. Click on one of them, and then click "See seller's other items", sort by price, then you can get an idea what they're offering. They sometimes have 2TB/3TB/4TB/6TB *refurb* HDDs, for sometimes decent prices.

Edit: Only buy from WD themselves, or "factory refurbished" or "new". I wouldn't go for "used" or "seller refurbished" or "open-box" HDDs.

The factory refurbs from WD themselves should be thoroughly tested and sanitized.

 

[sdifox]

2.0? That means it is really old. Drive is dying.

 

[QueBert]

2.0? That means it is really old. Drive is dying.

Maybe, it's an Antec MX-1 which he claims I put an HD in it for him maybe 2 or 3 years ago. I remember buying the MX-1 for him, and I sorta remember putting a HD in it, but no idea when it was. With people's memory I'm sure it's more like 5 or 6 years. Either way I suggested he buy a new HD either way. I'll be given the task of attempting to clone the HD, so once I get my hands on everything I can figure out what's bad. Everything to this point has just been help over the phone.

 

[sdifox]

Maybe, it's an Antec MX-1 which he claims I put an HD in it for him maybe 2 or 3 years ago. I remember buying the MX-1 for him, and I sorta remember putting a HD in it, but no idea when it was. With people's memory I'm sure it's more like 5 or 6 years. Either way I suggested he buy a new HD either way. I'll be given the task of attempting to clone the HD, so once I get my hands on everything I can figure out what's bad. Everything to this point has just been help over the phone.

lol quick search I see review for that enclosure from 2007

 

[VirtualLarry]

Maybe, it's an Antec MX-1

lol quick search I see review for that enclosure from 2007

I was going to say, I vaguely remember those... from like waaaay back in the day. I may have owned one, or used one for a client's system.

I've been mostly a Vantec guy since, though, along with an OEM case of USB2.0 Sabrent 3.5" HDD cases I picked up a year or several ago. Those are for clients, that just need continued access to their SATA HDD's contents, once they have upgraded their systems to SSD, etc.

Edit: I have a BNIB Antec 'Veris' enclosure on the shelf here, collecting dust. Not sure if that one is a USB2.0 or 3.0 enclosure.

Antec/Veris Fusion Review

The Antec Fusion is a fully featured HTPC case that includes a 430W power supply. The case looks more like a A/V receiver than a case. This fact makes it by far the best fitting HTPC we had the pleasure of testing so far. It completely blends in with the big volume knob, VFD and beautiful white...

www.techpowerup.com

What is the difference between Antec & Veris?
While we have not mentioned the new brand name "Veris" within this review, this is what Antec will be calling their HTPC range of cases, as well as different accessories like the A/V rack cooler and the HDD enclosure they displayed at CeBIT 2007 this year. The addition of the new name should give buyers a better overview as to what these items are geared toward. We refer to the new case as the "Antec Fusion", but it may be called Veris Fusion in the near future. For further information on Antec's newest products, take a look at our CeBIT coverage here. We have decided to keep it simple for this review and have not used the Veris brand name within the review, but will do so as soon as the packaging or item itself reflects the name change.

I knew that I had an Antec enclosure from around then, too... don't know what the MX-1 was, maybe the same product?

 

[UsandThem]

I had an Antec external HDD case very similar to that (if not the exact same one) I bought from Staples around 2007.

It worked fine up until I couldn't take the slow transfer speeds any more a couple of years ago when replacing the hard drive in it.

I will say that Antec used to really make solid products, and even the built-in fan still ran fine for all of those years.

 

[Steltek]

Since there is an even chance the drive is failing in this case, if you haven't done so I'd tell him set it aside and not even touch it until you get the opportunity to clone it.

Otherwise, it has been my experience that most folks will just keep messing with them until they die permanently. Especially since he probably doesn't have a backup of whatever he has stored on it.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Either way I suggested he buy a new HD either way. I'll be given the task of attempting to clone the HD, so once I get my hands on everything I can figure out what's bad. Everything to this point has just been help over the phone.

In this case, I think I'd attempt to talk him into buying a new OEM assembled drive, from your manufacturer of choice.

This way, you only have to worry about the data itself. Not on doing the warranty yourself.

Since there is an even chance the drive is failing in this case, if you haven't done so I'd tell him set it aside and not even touch it until you get the opportunity to clone it.

Otherwise, it has been my experience that most folks will just keep messing with them until they die permanently. Especially since he probably doesn't have a backup of whatever he has stored on it.

This could very much be a concern. It's also a good opportunity to replace the drive.

 

[QueBert]

UPDATE

Thanks to all who jogged my mind here, it's been awhile since I've helped someone. Anywho I had him buy a Wavlink external drive cloner and a new HD. Went to help him today, turns out it was the Antec enclosure that was bad, maybe the power supply, I dunno. The disk cloned fine, it just took like 8 hours. But everything seems to be good again. And the HD was definitely pretty old, it's a Samsung and I don't remember seeing a non SSD from them for ages. So it was good he got a new drive any ways.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

UPDATE

Thanks to all who jogged my mind here, it's been awhile since I've helped someone. Anywho I had him buy a Wavlink external drive cloner and a new HD. Went to help him today, turns out it was the Antec enclosure that was bad, maybe the power supply, I dunno. The disk cloned fine, it just took like 8 hours. But everything seems to be good again.

Glad to hear you got it sorted.

And the HD was definitely pretty old, it's a Samsung and I don't remember seeing a non SSD from them for ages. So it was good he got a new drive any ways.

I think Samsung stopped doing HDDs in 2015, after they sold that division to Seagate.

But a drive being old isn't necessarily a bad thing. In my experience, HDDs tend to either die quickly within the first month, or last for years and years. I still have a 2.5" 640GB WD drive from 2011 in regular service.