Hot Swappable Esata Ports

[stream]

I am running Win.7 ultimate 64 bit. I have an Evga X58-758 motherboard. If i go into the bios and change from IDE to AHCI will that make all ESATA ports hot swappable?

 

[nate42nd]

Your eSATA controller will likely be different from the controller that controls your normal hard drive.

You should look for the eSATA controller. You will likely be able to enable or disable it and run in IDE or AHCI mode

What are you looking to do? If you use the "safely remove hardware" feature, you should be able to connect and disconnect your eSATA devices in either mode.

Good luck

 

[stream]

Thanks Nate42nd for the prompt reply. I have 2 ext. hard drives that I would like to have hot swappable, because I only use them for backup, otherwise they are unplugged. There is a place in the bios that lists Ide, raid, or ahci. If i selected ahci, would that give me hot swappable ability on my 2 esata ports?

 

[nate42nd]

Thanks Nate42nd for the prompt reply. I have 2 ext. hard drives that I would like to have hot swappable, because I only use them for backup, otherwise they are unplugged. There is a place in the bios that lists Ide, raid, or ahci. If i selected ahci, would that give me hot swappable ability on my 2 esata ports?

Sorry for the delayed response, I believe the board you have will have separate controllers for the eSATA. Look for integrated controllers there should be a way to set your normal SATA ports to one setting and the eSATA to another. My board has 3 controllers. 1 for 6 SATA ports, 1 for another 2 SATA ports and 1 for eSATA ports. You will probably to find something similar but i don't know how eVGA sets them up. I looked into your board but can't find what I need to know.

Please look into that and I will keep searching. If you have the motherboard manual....now would be a good time to break it out. You will also need good drivers for the eSATA ports. I had to go to Jmicron's file server to find good ones for mine.

I will try to find the answer.....in the mean time, let me know if you find those settings.

Talk to you later. Here is that file server. I think you have this controller. Look in your device manager to find out if your eSATA controller is the JMB 36x series. If so...these are it.

ftp://driver.jmicron.com.tw/jmb36x/XP_Vista_Win7/

 

[stream]

Hi nate42nd, the motherboard manual says that the cd that comes with the motherboard contains JMicron Sata Drivers. All of the property boxes on the controllers show that the drivers are Microsoft.There is one esata port on the back of the motherboard, and I have added another through the use of an esata card. Thanks for your help.

 

[nate42nd]

Ah, I see, you will have to keep track of which port you connect to. Try both of them out and see if you can get the "safely remove hardware" icon in the tray. That's pretty much what you're after isn't it? To be able to connect to eSATA without shutting down the system?

I would look in your manual and see if you have a controller listed on the "Block diagram" that is named JMB36(something) If you do.....I would highly recommend you go to that file server and download and install the latest drivere with "eSATA" in the name. It will make things work WAY better I found with mine.

You could try the drivers on the CD, but they may not be the best ones. I was nervous at first too...but when you do.....The controller should show up in your device manager under "storage controllers" and work good.

Right now you have "generic" ones. Is your eSATA even working?

Also, yes...AHCI would be worth a try. You will need to know which controller you are changing first....

Here is your SATA setup. You should have 3 options in the BIOS for these 3 controllers, here are some shots from what I think is your manual. You DO have 3 controllers and you DO have a JMB36x (two of them it looks like) Please go to page 46 in your manual to confirm this.




If this IS your board, connect the PCI bracket eSATA to the red SATA connector on you board by the rear panel and set your JMB363 enabled and the two eSATA will be controlled by the same controller. Set the JMB363 mode to IDE OR AHCI. Then install the new drivers and you'll be set. Good luck. Sorry about the long response.

 

[stream]

Hi nate42nd, I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate all the time you had to have spent researching this problem. I am a 75 yr. old man who never turned a computer on until he was 67 yrs. old. I hope some day to have enough knowledge to help some one the way you have helped me. I had to RMA my video card and the replacement should be here on weds. I will make the changes you have given me at that time, and let you know the results.

 

[nate42nd]

Hi nate42nd, I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate all the time you had to have spent researching this problem. I am a 75 yr. old man who never turned a computer on until he was 67 yrs. old. I hope some day to have enough knowledge to help some one the way you have helped me. I had to RMA my video card and the replacement should be here on weds. I will make the changes you have given me at that time, and let you know the results.

I will look forward to hearing the results. I can simplify the recommendations if needed. I know I rambled on and added things as I found them. If you need ANY more help, please post here or PM me.

People like you are an inspiration to me. I have been into computers since I was 9 years old, I am now 35 and don't know anything....but I am learning and love to share any knowledge I have or can find.

Please stay in touch and if you have any problem with that driver, let me know. I can help you and it will make the eSATA experience a lot better.

Thanks for the good words.

 

[stream]

Hi nate42nd, I have one question. There are 2 versions of the file that I have to download, one ends in _eSata.zip and the other ends in .zip. Which do I download? Thank you.

 

[nate42nd]

Hi nate42nd, I have one question. There are 2 versions of the file that I have to download, one ends in _eSata.zip and the other ends in .zip. Which do I download? Thank you.

Download the latest (or highest numbered one) with eSATA at the end.

I hope this helps....it did help me. My eSATA is working wonderful since these drivers.

I hope I'm right about the controller you have....I'm 95% sure you do have one.

 

[stream]

nate42nd, I am sure you are right, because the picture in my mobo manual matches the one in post #6. Thanks. stream.

 

[stream]

Hi nate42nd, I finally got around to getting these changes made. The external drives get recognized immediately, however I haven't been able to disconnect them as I keep getting a message that says the drives are in use and to close any windows or programs that might be using them and try again. Any ideas on this. Thanks. Stream.

 

[nate42nd]

Hi nate42nd, I finally got around to getting these changes made. The external drives get recognized immediately, however I haven't been able to disconnect them as I keep getting a message that says the drives are in use and to close any windows or programs that might be using them and try again. Any ideas on this. Thanks. Stream.

Hello stream, Yes I do have an idea. You could open the "resource monitor" from the performance tab of the task manager or just type it into search. When you get the "resource monitor" running go to the tab that monitors hard disks. Scroll down and see what program is using the drive letter your eSATA drive is assigned. That will give you an idea what is using the drive.

It's most likely some system process like "defragmenter"....it's default is to defragment new disks....but whatever it is....you will find out. If it IS the defragmenter you can change that setting and turn it off. Good luck

 

[stream]

Thanks for replying so soon. I did as you suggested. The only activity was on the C drive. None on the G drive which the ext. hard drive is. With me nothing is easy. stream.

 

[nate42nd]

Thanks for replying so soon. I did as you suggested. The only activity was on the C drive. None on the G drive which the ext. hard drive is. With me nothing is easy. stream.

Type defrag into the search and open it up. Look into the schedule and on the bottom left of the schedule box there will be a check box to defragment new disks automatically....un-check that and see if that helps. I would also check "system restore" to make sure it's not monitoring the disk.

You can also use this but it's not the easiest thing in the world:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555665

 

[stream]

nate42nd, does this look like a viable alternative? LockHunter is UNLOCKER Alternative that Works on Windows x64 Raymond.CC Blog

 

[stream]

nate42nd, you were exactly right. I disabled DisKeeper which constantly monitors all the disks and now I am able to remove them without shutting down using the unit in the task bar. That did not show up in the task manager. Thank you so much. stream.

 

[nate42nd]

I am happy to hear you got it sorted out. If you need any further help with anything don't hesitate to ask me or anybody else. Also, if you feel I have helped you to your satisfaction please hit the scales in the upper right on one of the posts most helpful to you. It gives "rep" to the people who like to help. I don't know if I deserve any with your case, but remember it in the future. Have a great day!