strange USB HDD issue

[macgyver2]

OK my laptop specs are listed and here are the specs of the drives I am using.

Toshiba USB HDD 5400 RPM 250GB 2.5" drive
Western Digital My Passport USB HDD 250GB not sure on speed.
both formatted NTFS

when I plug both in and try and move even a single file 300+MB or more from one drive to another the transfer stops most time one of either of the drives becomes unreadable but the drive icon remains in the system even after unplugging it safely or not. and windows CPU load remains 80% or more and I have to restart the system to get it to return to normal.

Both drives are tested fine

if I copy the file to the laptops drive no issues. I can even copy 15GB worth as I am doing as I write this as a test. I don't have access to any other computers at this time. I have checked each drive for issues including viruses. my system and drivers are clean. I guess this could be a USB issue with the laptop not being able to read and write on 2 channels or its an issue with windows. Either way anyone have any ideas as to why this is happening? and any possible fix.

I have a lot of files i want to move about 120GB worth and really don't want to do a USB to laptop to USB move as I don't want to tax the laptop drive with all the R/W that it would take to move the files. I even tried to clone the drive and NO GO.

 

[whest]

Go here. download and install the latest bios it has support for W7
Select software and drivers Compaq Presario CQ60-418DX Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

You could also install the nividia nforce chipset driver there if its a later version than you already have.

 

[macgyver2]

already have all the latest drivers from HP, I check that page at least once a week. only driver I don't have installed from that page is the quick launch stuff as I don't even think I have then on this machine. Heck the wireless drivers are not currect on there either but I have all the latest anyway or at least what works. Meaning the video drivers on that page don't work very well when I watch shows on hulu.

I am guess its an issue with USB, meaning that it can't handle powering both drives for the read/write that it takes to move the files. I gave up and used the laptop drive as the customer who wanted me to copy his files came by today and I needed to free up the space.

I even diable the option in power settings to selective suspend.

 

[whest]

The bios is the most important and its eay to install just make sure you dont turn the power off while its flashing - they just make it an ordinary .exe program these days - please download and install, it has the support for W7 you need.

 

[macgyver2]

The bios is the most important and its eay to install just make sure you dont turn the power off while its flashing - they just make it an ordinary .exe program these days - please download and install, it has the support for W7 you need.

I have the newest bios from the site, had to install it about 3 weeks ago for another issue

 

[whest]

There are numerous problems with usb devices they seem to be related to storage controllers there is even a rumour there is a fix in progress, one basic fix you could try is to power off the laptop and restart - plug one in and see if they work individually if you want to confirm your analysis.
I would also try those quick launch buttons just for the heck of it - least you know for sure.

 

[macgyver2]

each drive by it self works without issue, thought I stated that in my first post. when I check for error etc I did so one at a time. I also used a flash card to boot my system with hard drive analysis software. took about an hour each drive. I also ran my USB thumb drive virus software all while my laptop HDD was removed so windows or any other possible app could access the system from its drive.

the issue only happens when I use both USB drives and try and transfer large files (300mb plus). I will hook both up and try and move files of different size and file type and see if that has any baring on this issue and get back with you.

update,

I moved my documents folder I had backed up with many different file types and sized and it went from drive to drive without issue.
I tried to move my army game onto a drive and it failed with both USB drives plugged in.

tried with a single drive from laptop drive no issue.

America Army game folder holds 1090 files, 3.84GB in size. each drive will take the copy without issue.

So I have narrowed it down to having both drives plugged in at the same time. I only have 3 USB ports and doesn't matter what config I use if both drives are plugged in it fails.

I have my wireless mouse in one USB port at all times. Going to unplugg it and see what happens. Also going to plug a USB flash drive in and see what happens. beyond that I have not the time or resouces to test this further that I know of since its not file type that seems to be the issue or really size of a single file as I tested a 1gb file and it went from drive to drive without issue.

So facts I know about this issue is that having both drivers pluged in at the same time and moving 1gb plus at once will cause the system to lose the drives and keep the CPU load above 80%.

 

[macgyver2]

even with the mouse unplugged it didn't help. its like the entire USB subsystem is gone. I plugged in my mouse after it failed and couldn't even get power from it nothing at all. So its not the mouse.

 

[macgyver2]

You encounter problems when you move data over USB from a Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2-based computer that has an NVIDIA USB EHCI chipset and at least 4GB of RAM

FIXED FIXED copied the army game without issue and even when from 6.2mb/s to 11.9mb/s.

thanks for tryin to help.

 

[whest]

Nice find, thks for reply .

 

[gil6002]

Hey McGyver,

I have an Iomega and Western Digital External Hard Drive. I was having the same problems as you, whereas when I tried copying large files from my internal drive to any of my external drive, about 3/4's of the way through, my computer would hang and I would have to reboot. I went to the Western Digital website looking for answers and according to Western Digital, appearently Microsoft is aware of this problem with external drives and Western Digital stated that there will be a fix for it soon through either Microsoft's SP1 or Hotfix.

Well it appears that now my problem is fixed after analyzing the problem doing some steps to fix it myself as I did not want to wait that long.

1. I ensured my BIOS was updated with the latest "string version"

2. I hooked up my external drive (Western Digital 1TB) to my USB port and ensured it was running (Powerwise)

3. I then reformated my primary hard drive and reinstalled Windows 7 on my Primary Hard Drive (With the External Hard Drive power on while reinstalling Windows 7)

4. After Windows was up and running, I ensured that Windows 7 had the up to date NVidia drivers installed in Windows 7. (Chipset, Video, etc)

5. I now tested the copying command from my internal to external hard drive. I copied a Music Video folder (4.5GB) from the internal hard drive to the external hard drive. Guess what? It now copies the whole folder from drive to drive and with no freezes as it was doing before. I also retested the copying with other several large folders and again, problem fixed.

6. I then connected my Iomega external hard drive and left the Western Digital hard drive still connected and running in Windows 7.

7. I started to copying large folders and files between the two external and internal hard drives and again, no problems.

Problem's fixed now.

 

[macgyver2]

Gil6002 sorry you had to go though all that to fix your problem, from what I read on the hotfix web page the fix was released back on Nov. 10th and only took me about 20 seconds to install and then a restart and the matter was fixed.

 

[gil6002]

Hey Macgyver,

Thanks for that info on the "hotfix." What other problems was that fix addressing? By any chance, can you send me that link?

Thanks

 

[superjose]

You encounter problems when you move data over USB from a Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2-based computer that has an NVIDIA USB EHCI chipset and at least 4GB of RAM

FIXED FIXED copied the army game without issue and even when from 6.2mb/s to 11.9mb/s.

thanks for tryin to help.

Thanks man, I was going to create a topic about this. Thanks God I found yours. IT FIXED MY PROBLEM, thought I was gonna die because I hadn't any more free space left on my computer. THANKS A LOT

 

[macgyver2]

link to hotfix
You encounter problems when you move data over USB from a Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2-based computer that has an NVIDIA USB EHCI chipset and at least 4GB of RAM