External HD works fine via USB but needs to be INTIALIZED via eSATA

eSATAdrive · 03 Jun 2010

Hi All,

I am using an external hardrive via a usb enclosure. It works fine. However, when i purchased an eSATA enclosure and placed that same hardrive into the eSATA eclosure, windows 7 stops seeing it and requires it to be intialized according to disk manager.

1. Is there anyway to make it work without initializing it? (It continues to work fine when i connect via USB)
2. If i have to intialize, is there anyway to save the data?

Thank you! Please come back with good news!!!!!

eSATAdrive · 05 Jun 2010

PLEASE SOMEONE HELP!!!! or At least point me to a thread with a similar issue...

hoganth · 05 Jun 2010

You might want to check the "e sata" cable. I have heard of issues with the cabling on this configuration. Check this out. Just trying to help you out.

eSATA cable problems - General-Storage - Storage

noyb · 05 Jun 2010

That should not be happening .. Checking the eSATA cable is a good idea.
The eSATA must be connected and turned on .. BEFORE you boot the computer

eSATAdrive · 05 Jun 2010

Thanks guys! But my computer is seeing the HDs in Disk Management, but it is telling me that I must initialize the drives to access them. If it was a cable or bios issue I wouldn't see the drives at all, correct?

I appreciate your responses. Keep them coming. I truly hope we resolve this.

Sanvean · 06 Jun 2010

What controller are you using to acess the eSATA? How old is the driver?
What mode setting are you using in the BIOS.... AHCI, IDE, etc..,?

If you could fill out your system specs in your user control panel, it would help, with less guessing on our part.

eSATAdrive · 06 Jun 2010

System Specs Update! Thanks Sanvean. I didn't know there was a system spec area. According to the manufacture website the drivers I currenlty have installed are the latest and most up to date. As for the Bios, I have no such option to toggle between AHCI and IDE. Unless there is a ultra secret Bios screen. According to HP tech support there is no such option. They believe AHCI is automatically configured on my laptop. Also keep in mind, that the drives show up in Disk Manager. To my knowledge, if AHCI was not configured, they wouldn't even show up there.

As for system specs, please via the page you requested I fill out. Please feel free to contact me if you need additional information.

I hope you can help! Thank you for your support!

Mellon Head · 06 Jun 2010

I checked the instruction manual for the enclosure that you have the drive installed in. According to the instruction book, it only supports 1 TB drives. See page 35, here:

http://www.startech.com/Data/Product.../SAT3540ER.pdf

If you're trying to use a 2 TB drive, as your specs say, it might not work without a firmware upgrade to the enclosure - IF Startech has one available.

EDIT: There seems to be a "different" version available from Startech, that supports up to 8 TB, meaning your 2 TB drive would work. See the specs here:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...03762#Overview

There might be a firmware upgrade from Startech after all. I haven't had much luck with their drivers over the years, but it might work for you.

Sanvean · 06 Jun 2010

I think Mellon might have hit the nail on the head! Enclosures can gimp drives.
Thanks for the specs.

eSATAdrive · 06 Jun 2010

Hey guys, I spoke with Startech and they said that the SAT3540ER will take 2TB drives popukated in all 4 bays. When I questioned how come (since the spec indicated otherwise), they stated that the limitation is based on my operating system and that Windows 7 and the SAT3540ER will allow for 4 x 2TB slots to be populated.

CONFRIMATION: I put the WD HD into a Thermaltaker Black Widow PC Gaming Blac X Hard Drive eSATA + USB Docking Station and I have the same issue. Worked fine via USB but required initializatinon when connected via eSATA.

I greatly appreciate all your help. Let me know if there is any other information I can provide you with.