My external hard drive is AutoRunning

[Hans L]

After I installed an SSD and reinstalled Windows 7 Ultimate, 64-bit, my external drive is AutoRunning with regular intervals. How come? Can I stop it?

Thanks,

Hans L

 

[MacGyvr]

That means that something is causing it to disconnect and reconnect. Could be a faulty USB port or cable, malfunctioning drive, etc.

 

[Hans L]

Sounds ominous, MacGyvr.

I usually hear a low-frequency buzz (about 1-2 seconds long) twice before it happens. Does that explain anything?

regards,

Hans L

 

[Hans L]

You know what, the power plug, which is just behind my footrest, was not pushed in all the way. I'll let you know.

Regards,

Hans L

 

[MacGyvr]

Yes, that would tell me that the external hard drive is probably failing. However, it could also be the power supply for the drive going bad.

Edit: Well, what you say about the plug not being all the way in would go along with my suspicion of the power supply. You're probably not going to have that problem again, but let us know!

 

[Hans L]

Nope, came back from the TV, and the darn AutoRun box was up again.

Hans L

 

[gregrocker]

When you plug the external in, it should open an AutoRun box which gives you access to your files.

Is it doing anything more ominous than that?

If so, post back a screenshot of your full Disk Mgmt drive map with listings, using Snipping Tool in Start Menu.

 

[MacGyvr]

Greg....it's repeating autorun without the user disconnecting it and reconnecting it.

 

[Hans L]

I came back from the TV again, and the box was there again. Just after I clicked it away, I happened to look at the power light on the drive, and it seemed to dim a little. An,d more importantly, the other lights (god know what they are for) are not on. Maybe it is sleeping or hybernating.

Now, the power ligt on the drive is varying, seemingly from max light to a little less. And there are those buzzes just before the box shows up.

I have just set the power options not to let the computer fall asleep (which, strangely enough, it never seemed to do, in spite of the 30 minutes inactivity time).

The lack of the non-power lights on the drive worries me (four slots with lights). They were always on before. Maybe the external drive is sleeping or something. Don't know how that would have happened.

I run an error check, and it says it is okay.

Any thoughts?

Hans L

 

[gregrocker]

Could be a short. Some externals will disconnect/reconnect if you move them.

 

[Hans L]

I just remember that I deleted some Seagate firmware on the drive. That's probably it. I'll get it back and let you know.

Regards,

Hans L

 

[Hans L]

I want to add that I have now found this:

Happening 1: Device connect

Happening 2: AutoPlay

Happening 3: Disconnect (about 12 seconds after Device connect)

I had the clock going with seconds showing, so I was able to pinpoint the times exactly. I then went to the Event Viewer, and I found what you see in the attached jpg files (the file names tell were the information came from).

I will investigate further based on this, but if you gain any insights based on the files, please let me know. I have switched cable, but not outlet, which I will do tomorrow.

Regards,

Hans L