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Thread ID: 50078 2004-10-09 23:52:00 NTFS on external hd heni72847 (1166) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
279681 2004-10-09 23:52:00 my external hd is currently using FAT32
sometimes the external hd disconects from windows while writing files for no reson..
this doesn't happen a lot but when it does, it sometimes leaves junk that can't be deleted
then have to run scan disk and all that to fix it

if i change to NTFS, would this problem of undeletable junk go away when it suddenly disconnects?
heni72847 (1166)
279682 2004-10-09 23:56:00 If youre using 98/ME, on the main hard drive.

They cant read NTFS. What version of Windows is installed?
Spacemannz (808)
279683 2004-10-10 03:10:00 oops..forgot to mention that
the computer i'll be working with are either 2k or xp so i'm not worried

just need to make the hd to handle file corruption better
heni72847 (1166)
279684 2004-10-10 03:24:00 Dont know if NTFS will fix this junk prob . Whats the external hdd? USB 1 or 2? Firewire?

It might help if this hdd is bigger than 32gb which FAT32 cant go beyond .

As NTFS can see more than FAT32 .
Spacemannz (808)
279685 2004-10-10 04:26:00 Is the external HDD USB powered, or does it use a power pack?

2.5" external USB drives can overload the USB power requirements causing them to disconnect, if they have no external power pack.

2 here have power requirements of 700 mA and 550 mA, at 5v.

USB ports can supply a maximum of 500 mA reliably.
godfather (25)
279686 2004-10-10 09:46:00 usb2 external hd 40gb
its jz a case with notebook hd

there should be enough power, but you can't plug in extra power
it's one of those with two usb plugs which grabs some extra power from another usb port


still not sure why sometimes the power get cut off/disconnect
there was this file, when copied, it always make the hd to disconnect
but when copy through usb1 (old comp) it works fine

also when i just got the hd, keep disconnecting
but after using for a while it worked smoothly...
as if it got use to my comp?!?!


bk to the original question... if ntfs won't solve the problem..
is there a way to completely stop disconnection from happening?
heni72847 (1166)
279687 2004-10-10 09:55:00 Multiple USB connections on a computer can still share only the 500 mA available . So its possible that the power is the issue .

Look at the label on the HDD itself . How many mA at 5v is it rated at .
If its over 500mA, then you may have a problem, if the USB ports on the PC are from a common motherboard hub .

My portable drive has a socket for a power pack . The drive is rated at 550 mA and will not work on some PC's USB ports, not enough power .

Another is rated 700 mA, and will not work on any PC's unless externally powered .

Interestingly the light does not go out on the 550 mA HDD, the drive just refuses to work after a short time . Depending how hard its working .

So I would suggest that its a power issue primarily in your case .

Cases that accept external power are only about $65, plus a 5v adapter .
godfather (25)
279688 2004-10-10 18:35:00 i'm pretty sure the hd doesn't require more than 500mA
but now i'm starting to think that the usb2 on my comp isn't supplying enough power since it's onboard usb2

since these disconnections don't hapen a lot
is there a way to stop the file corruption when it does?...
don't really want to spend more money on another case...
heni72847 (1166)
279689 2004-10-10 18:59:00 Get a powered USB 2 hub Spacemannz (808)
279690 2004-10-10 19:34:00 > i'm pretty sure the hd doesn't require more than
> 500mA
> but now i'm starting to think that the usb2 on my
> comp isn't supplying enough power since it's onboard
> usb2
>
> since these disconnections don't hapen a lot
> is there a way to stop the file corruption when it
> does? . . .
> don't really want to spend more money on another
> case . . .

You are "pretty sure" . . . . . ?
So, what does it say on the HDD itself? Never seen any with power drains below 500 mA myself .

Any powered hub (be it on-board or external) will only reliably supply 500 mA, which is shared between all USB ports .
Plugging in 2 USB cables to share the drain will only work if they are on different hubs .

It also plainly indicates that the drain is over 500 mA, why else would they fit 2 plugs .

If the drive is failing due to power draw, then there is nothing you can do to avoid data corruption . Apart from arranging a better power supply .
godfather (25)
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