2.5" USB Enclosure Issues

[steve7]

Hi im a bit new to these forums.

I have an issue which is really bugging me, so I bought two 2.5" USB + eSATA Enclosures from ebay, and i fitted two hard drives that work fine.

When I connect the enclosure to the computer with the USB cable to the Front and Back USB ports, the enclosure starts beeping continuously. But when I connected it to my Monitor's USB ports it worked fine, and even when I connected it to my dad's pc it also worked just fine.

The USB cable comes with 2 usb's, I tried to connect them both and still I heard beeping when connected to front and back usb ports. When connected to the monitor only one USB is used, and it works.

 

[profdlp]

What brand are they?

 

[steve7]

One's a seagate the other is Fujitsu. But they work fine if you remove them from the enclosure...

 

[Dwarf]

What we need is the make and model numbers of your enclosures. The actual HDDs that you install in them is irrelevant in this case.

 

[steve7]

And how do I do that dwarf? coz I bought them from eBay, all I know that they're branded SUMVISION

 

[steve7]

Egem Combo 2.5" Sata to Esata/USB HDD Enclosure I did find this on the website of sumvision.
OK on my box there is written SV-140. Is that good enough for you guys?

 

[Dwarf]

Did you get any user manuals with them? I can't find anything on the website, other than the name and No product features available.

 

[steve7]

well yeah but all it says how to install a hard disk drive into the enclosure.

 

[profdlp]

A few more questions:

Where exactly in the enclosures is the beeping coming from?
Is there a built-in fan in them?
Can you get a few pictures of the enclosures, including the connections?

You mentioned "USB cable comes with 2 usb's, I tried to connect them both and still I heard beeping". Lots of external drive enclosures like that need dual USB connections since they are drawing all their power from USB alone. The fact that they work fine when you hook them to the USB connections on your monitor makes me wonder if they are just not getting enough juice when hooked to the ports on the MB/Case.

 

[steve7]

yeah and I even tried connecting it to my dad's pc and it worked flawlessly.. So makes me wonder if there is something wrong with my front/back ports but the thing is when I connect an other USB drive into the front/back ports that device works fine.

 

[profdlp]

Could you address the three questions mentioned? It might help.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

The issue you describe is power related. Please move the units to other usb ports. You need to find 2 usb 2.0 ports. You can also try using a powered usb 2.0 or 3.0 hub and this extra juice will make the drives stop chirping.

 

[steve7]

A few more questions:

"Where exactly in the enclosures is the beeping coming from?"
I think from the enclosures because if I remove the hard drive from the enclosure it works fine
"Is there a built-in fan in them?"
No

"Can you get a few pictures of the enclosures, including the connections?"
Sure, give me a sec.

You mentioned "USB cable comes with 2 usb's, I tried to connect them both and still I heard beeping". Lots of external drive enclosures like that need dual USB connections since they are drawing all their power from USB alone. The fact that they work fine when you hook them to the USB connections on your monitor makes me wonder if they are just not getting enough juice when hooked to the ports on the MB/Case.

I seriously think that the power is an issue here as if I connect the USB Charger Lead (USB 5v) the beeping stops but drive doesn't work.

 

[profdlp]

While you're getting your pictures, here's a little experiment:

Unplug your speakers and see if the beeping goes away.

It sounds like you're not sure if the beeping is coming from the enclosures or from the computer (via the speakers) itself. That ought to tell us which one it is. Windows has a built-in "be-beep / be-boop" sound it makes when you plug/unplug a removable drive. I have a failing USB keychain drive that keeps cycling through the plug/unplug sound when you plug it in because it can't quite identify the drive. It thinks something is there and tries to mount it (be-beep), then figures it isn't there after all and umounts it (be-boop). It does that over and over again. When I'm in the mood for techno music I just jam the keychain into the port and rock out.

Another experiment:

...if I connect the USB Charger Lead (USB 5v) the beeping stops but drive doesn't work...

Try plugging that connection in first, let the drive spin up, then plug the other connection in and see if that makes any difference. The order in which you attach data signal/power might matter.

 

[steve7]

I tried some experiments, First I connected an AC Powered USB Hub, and the hard drive worked instantly. But when I connected it via eSATA I still heard beeping. BTW I don't have PC Speakers only headset and its coming from the enclosure.

I also tried an AC Adapter which takes usb ports, so I put the USB 5v in it and esata and it worked. So it's def a power issue.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Well now it sounds like the enclosure is to blame. All that you've described should have enough voltage to drive the drive. Since I'm gathering your intent is to use an e-sata connection with these then you will need to source the optional power supply to add voltage to the drives.