Hotswap eSATA Drive?

[dalhectar]

How do I set my motherboard's extra RAID controller to support removable esata drives? I have one of those Vantec sata drive docks that you slap an internal drive in and can eject it out with a button.v It connects over sata. Right now I can safely remove the drive, but if I power cycle the dock or remove/replace the hd, it doesn't add the hard drive back until reboot. What I've done... Set the JMicron controller in the BIOS to ACHI Load JMicron's esata driver (the disablewritecache one) Any additional advice?

 

[limneos]

It seems this is not an eSATA featured controller, just SATA.

With SATA, provided that you use the sata-style power cable, and not the old 4pinned one, it's safe to remove and plug any drive, any time...only problem, if they're not eSATA, the OS needs to refresh its devices or restart in order to detect them. (Device Manager - Scan for hardware changes).

Some controllers do that though with a similar simplicity like pluggin and removing a USB...

In simple terms, the device must support eSATA.

 

[fan9]

I have a similar problem with my esata port on Asus P6T Jmicron controller. I have tried the whql 17.47 driver and the newest 17.48 driver, jmicron bios set to ahci mode. The hard drive that is connected to the esata port shows up in the safely remove device windows, but windows doesn't let me eject the drive( saying that the drive is busy please close all programs thats accessing it). I also have to restart windows if I switch drives for it to be discovered(scanning for hardware changes doesn't work). But if I boot up the computer without a esata drive connected and then plug it in, windows discovers it just fine. Thank you for your time and your help!

 

[fan9]

Someone please help me out, this is driving me crazy!

 

[johngalt]

Check to see if Windows is either using System Restore on the drive, or else trying to use the dive for the paging system....

 

[fan9]

Hi! Thanks for the reply. Both system restore and page filing are turned off on that drive. It is also been set to "optimized for quick removal".

 

[johngalt]

TBH I have never had luck with that setting - every time I have tried that with a removable drive my testing has shown that in effect it actually disables easy removal for me....

Also check to see that your AV is not 'intelligently' (or, if this scenario is true, then this would actually be stupidly) scanning your drive using idle CPU cycles....

 

[weh]

I have the Thermaltake BlacX version of the same external eSata/USB drive dock. My solution was to use one of the 6 native Sata ports for eSata purposes and use the JMicron ports with permanently attached "secondary purpose" hard drives (meaning not my boot drive nor my primary data storage work space). I've got all Sata ports set for ACHI/RAID in my BIOS.

 

[fan9]

hey weh,
Are you using the jmicron ports for your boot drive and the mobo ports for esata? I am currently using the mobo sata ports (ICH10) for my boot drive and the jmicron ports for esata. The main reason I am doing this is because the esata port in the back of the motherboard is controlled by jmicron controller by default. Did you have the same problems as me before you switched the ports? I could use one of those sata ->esata panels to switch the setup around...

 

[weh]

Okay, this is strange. I had not noticed that I have essentially the same problem.

I have the Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 motherboard. Drive assignments are (were) as follows:

• ICH10 . . . 6x Sata-2 ports
  • Port 0: WD1500HLFS boot drive
  • Port 1: (reserved for 2nd boot drive, RAID-0 array)
  • Ports 2 & 3: 2x WD1002FBYS RE3, RAID-1 array
  • Port 4: Pioneer DVR-217DBK burner
  • Port 5: [was] connected to case's eSata port (used for external HD backup)
• JMicron . . .4x Sata-2 ports, 1x IDE ATA-133 port (master & slave)
  • Port 0: 1.5TB WD15EADS
  • Port 1: (not used)
  • Port 2: 1.5TB WD15EADS
  • Port 3: [was] (not used) [now] connected to case's eSata port
  • IDE Port: (not used)
• Adaptec 5805 array controller . . .
  • All ports: 8x 1.5TB WD15EADS, RAID-6 array

Gigabyte does not include a dedicated eSata port. Instead, it includes a dual eSata port bracket to be inserted in one of the back plane slots and connected to any of the available "regular" sata ports. However, I am not using the bracket. My case has an eSata port included in its top-panel I/O connections array. It is that eSata connection that I have attached to the ICH10/Port-5 Sata connection on the motherboard and which I use to connect my Thermaltake BlacX ST0005U docking station.

• I can hot-swap to any of the ports on the Adaptec array controller without problems (I'm notified that a drive has failed and the array begins to rebuild automatically when a drive is replaced).
• I can "hot" remove a drive from the Thermaltake BlacX (connected to the ICH10) -- although I do NOT have permission to do so -- it's grayed-out on the "Safely Remove Hardware" list.
• I can "hot" remove a drive connected to the JMicron controller -- with or without using the "Safely Remove Hardware" list.
• I can "hot" add a drive to either of the motherboard-based controllers without problems if, and only if, there was no drive connected to that port at boot time.
• If I "hot" add a drive to a port that has previously been in use with either motherboard-based controller, whether using the Thermaltake BlacX or not, I get a blue screen, core memory dump, automatic re-boot, and a message that Windows did not shut down properly.

I had discovered the problem with the JMicron controller early on; but had assumed -- incorrectly -- that it was a JMicron problem. I had added a drive using the ICH10 controller but had not tested replacing a drive. I normally change the drive in the BlacX docking station only once a week. I use 3 drives in a weekly rotation for backup purposes, a full backup of my OS and primary data space once a week and then incremental backups daily.

Based on this, I have now moved my case's eSata port connection to one of the JMicron Sata ports so that I can properly safely remove hardware, should the need arise. And I join the search for a solution to the hot-swap problem.

 

[m3gaman]

i have the same problem with a esata external drive
asus G50Vt
160gb Hitachi 5400rpm in a vantec esata/usb 2.0
usb works but esata fails

using
windows 7 7600.16385.090713-1255 64bit official rtm

 

[The111]

I have been using my ThermalTake eSATA ST0005U HDD dock with Vista for months flawlessly. Works with hotswap... i.e. if I power it on while in Windows, the drive shows up. If I power it down, the drive disappears.

Now, in Windows 7 this does not work. I have to re-boot to get it to recognize the drive being on or off.

So, it is not possible that anything is wrong with my BIOS settings or SATA connections I chose to use on my mobo, since it all worked in Vista. Right?

Using RC1 7100 right now.

 

[DJG]

Interesting. I can hot-swap a drive in my ICH10R controller with no problems. It gets shown off line (i.e. gets removed) as soon as I undock the bay, and goes on-line a few seconds after I plug a drive in. I'm using Icy Dock SAS/SATA drive bays. The same works with the on-board Marvell SAS controller.

I should add I'm running the ICH10R in RAID configuration.

 

[The111]

I have been using my ThermalTake eSATA ST0005U HDD dock with Vista for months flawlessly. Works with hotswap... i.e. if I power it on while in Windows, the drive shows up. If I power it down, the drive disappears.

Now, in Windows 7 this does not work. I have to re-boot to get it to recognize the drive being on or off.

So, it is not possible that anything is wrong with my BIOS settings or SATA connections I chose to use on my mobo, since it all worked in Vista. Right?

Using RC1 7100 right now.

Ok, I was an idiot. Turns out I just had to install the Windows drivers for the JMicron SATA controller that the e-SATA port belongs to. Hotswap is ok now.

 

[bugzz]

Hello, Experts! I've got some problems with my eSATA/USB external HDD too.

My Laptop: HP Pavilion DV7 1196eg
I have two OSs:
- MS Windows Vista Home Premium 32 (OEM) - German
- MS Windows 7 Professional 64 (MSDNAA) - German

Inside my External HDD is a SAMSUNG HD753LJ (750GB) drive

The main Problem is that the HotPlug "Ability" of eSATA DOESN'T WORK. So if Win 7 is already started and i'm trying to connect my external HDD through eSATA port...nothing happens. No noise, no reaction..nothing =(
But if I connect and power on the external hdd before Windows have started - everything is OK. I can see my drive and work with it as well =).

In windows VISTA I haven't any issues with my External Drive and eSATA.HotPlug works perfectly

P.S. Connection via USB wokrs flawless in both OS


P.P.S. Sorry for my English

 

[Dave76]

Hello, Experts! I've got some problems with my eSATA/USB external HDD too.

My Laptop: HP Pavilion DV7 1196eg
I have two OSs:
- MS Windows Vista Home Premium 32 (OEM) - German
- MS Windows 7 Professional 64 (MSDNAA) - German

Inside my External HDD is a SAMSUNG HD753LJ (750GB) drive

The main Problem is that the HotPlug "Ability" of eSATA DOESN'T WORK. So if Win 7 is already started and i'm trying to connect my external HDD through eSATA port...nothing happens. No noise, no reaction..nothing =(
But if I connect and power on the external hdd before Windows have started - everything is OK. I can see my drive and work with it as well =).

In windows VISTA I haven't any issues with my External Drive and eSATA.HotPlug works perfectly

P.S. Connection via USB wokrs flawless in both OS


P.P.S. Sorry for my English

Welcome to Seven Forums.

Sounds to me like you have a similar problem as The111.
Which controller do you have?
Try checking for an upated driver for the controller.

Does the external HD show up in the 'Safely remove hardware' list? In Vista and Win7?

What is your BIOS SATA Mode setting? AHCI or RAID?

BTW your english is fine.

 

[bugzz]

Hello, Dave76

Which controller do you have?
Try checking for an updated driver for the controller.

What controller do you mean? The eSATA or ... ?
There's nothing on HP Driver Portal for my Laptop
The external drive is the Targa DataBox V 750GB i've already searched for drivers on Targa website, but without any results. I've found a manual and read that this drive is HotSwap compatible.

Does the external HD show up in the 'Safely remove hardware' list? In Vista and Win7?

Yes it does.

What is your BIOS SATA Mode setting? AHCI or RAID?

Now that is a good question. I tried to find any Info about this in BIOS but i didn't. I've already flashed my BIOS version, but no changes...

So. If I start up Win 7 and my Ext. HDD is already on, I get a PopUp in Win7, that the driver for SAMSUNG HD753LJ Device was successfully installed and is ready for work

Also I find out how to "recognize" my ext. HDD if Win7 is already started. I just go to device manager and let it "re-scan" for changed hardware..and then i can see my drive.
And there's another thing. If my ext. hdd is on and was recognized I can plug or UNplug the eSATA cable in my Laptopn - hotswap (hotplug) works, but if I turn my drive off and then turn it on again - hotswaping doesn't work till I recognized it with device manager

 

[seb6000]

1st thing u need to check is the RAID mode settings (sata config) in the BIOS of your computer

Is it set to: IDE, AHCI, or RAID

SATA Modes (AHCI; Hot Swap)
The SATA controller has three modes of operation:

* IDE mode - no AHCI, no RAID
* SATA mode (sometimes called AHCI mode) - AHCI enabled, no RAID
* RAID mode - AHCI enabled, RAID enabled

AHCI mode also allows for Hot Swapping drives.

info: Desktop Boards - Serial ATA / RAID modes


Troubleshooting Serial ATA / RAID issues - All issues

link: Troubleshooting Serial ATA / RAID issues

----

RAID is suggested as the setting to choose, and will in most cases cover all settings that are lower.

But if you choose a lower setting, and then install your (boot) O/S, then later u will not be able to adjust this setting higher or you will start getting a BLUE screen error during the start-up.

Changing your SATA mode:

info: How to configure the BIOS for RAID or AHCI

---

I also believe that a RAID controller (driver) should be installed on your computer

jmicron JMB363 - RAID controller:

Info: JMicron/Products
Download: ftp://driver.jmicron.com.tw/

my choice was: JMB363 windows (XP_Vista_Win7/JMB36X_WinDrv_R1.17.50_WHQL_eSATA)

direct download link: ftp://driver.jmicron.com.tw/jmb36x/XP_Vista_Win7/JMB36X_WinDrv_R1.17.50_WHQL_eSATA.zip
readme file: ftp://driver.jmicron.com.tw/jmb36x/XP_Vista_Win7/ReleaseNote.txt

---

I was having these same issues and started researching the problem and came across this information and URL links.

But for me to see if this works, it means that I will have to re-set my BIOS settings to the RAID setting and then re-install win 7 (or your preferred O/S) again... as the (boot) O/S

then after I install my O/S, go into the bios and re-set it to (AHCI), for HOTSWAPPING

If anyone else tries this information and gets results, please post it back here...

My board is an Asus P5W DH Deluxe motherboard


thanks
seb6000

 

[whest]

I choose this method because I didnt have AHCI enabled when I installed W7 - if you have AHCI enabled prior to installing W7 the driver will be loaded automatically.
You dont need to use the J-micron controller if your using an intel board, disable it in the bios, - so if you have AHCI enabled, and it wont boot change the sata configuration to IDE, and disable j-micron in the bios - enter the OS - then (or firstly) go here for instructions -

Error message when you start a Windows 7 or Windows Vista-based computer after you change the SATA mode of the boot drive: "STOP 0x0000007B INACCESSABLE_BOOT_DEVICE"

You simply change a registry entry so the MSAHCI driver will install. Reboot, go into bios - set the sata configuration back to AHCI. When you enter W7 the driver will load, and ask you to reboot - reboot and your drives will be hot swappable - right click the new icon in the taskbar, and select the drive you want to eject.

This should work if you disable j-micron, as it simply wont load upon rebooting, and then your just using the intel controller with AHCI enabled.

My board is an Asus P5E motherboard with ICH9.

 

[bugzz]

two suggestions

Hello.
I've already tried to change MSAHCI value on win 7 registry...everything i get was an BSOD (thankfully I've made a restore point)
The other problem is that I AM NOT able to change controller mode in BIOS. The reason is - there's no switcher or button or something else to do that. There’s no any information about controller mode in BIOS. I've already flashed my BIOD to 'newest' version, but no changes.

Actually I have two suggestions:
1 - I think I have RAID enabled, because i have 2x320GB FUJUTSI ATA internal HDD in my Laptop. HD Tune Pro info - FUJITSU (int. HDD) and SAMSUNG (ext. HDD). Furthermore, I had a label on my laptop...something with RAID, but unfortunately, I've removed them.....so I think, i have RAID enabled. :sarc:
2 - If i hadn't ACHI/RAID enabled, my laptop couldn't be able to hotswap my ext. drive in Win Vista

So... everything I need is a tool which helps me to find out, what mode is enabled...AHCI or RAID

Any ideas?