USB powered off before Win7 runs

[badoumba]

Hi guys,

Have Win7 64 installed on a HP Z600 server. Trying to boot to an external bootable HD OS, it turns out that it is not detected at startup as USB are only powered once Win7 is launched (according to the white LED of my external HD ...well once connected, the HD is spinning but the white LED only shines once Win7 is started)

note : works fine in a laptop that I have - no issue with the external HD.

If anyone has a tip for fixing this, would be gratefull
Thnx

 

[Barman58]

Check the server BIOS, there should be an option called USB Legacy Support or something similar - switching this on should give you access to the USB ports before boot-up of windows

Windows 7 supposedly does not support booting from an external USB drive, just installation - Other OS's sometimes do support this but may need setting up specifically to allow this - check the manuals for the OS involved

 

[badoumba]

Thanks Barman,

Only found "USB wake on device insertion" that I enabled but didn't change anything.
My laptop also runs Windows7 and it works fine. BTW, my bootable OS is Centos7 but this should not come into the equation as it works fine on my laptop.

 

[Barman58]

It could be that the server BIOS does not have this option (some manufacturers do make assumptions that a server should just be a headless unit without input devices, but that is unusual)

 

[badoumba]

The strange thing is that there is a kind of power as my disk is spinning. Only after the boot sequence my Seagate HD has its LED on.

 

[Barman58]

There are 4 connections on a USB 2 for power and 2 for Data - It's often the case that the power is an always on connection so you will see the symptoms you describe.

There are a couple of options that may get you away - Check for a BIOS update from HP HP Support document - HP Support Center you may find a later one with the Correct Option

You could also consider switching to eSATA from USB for connection It would need a card and cables / enclosure but eSata is just an extension to the normal drive connctors so do not have the issues of USB (and are normally better for an OS as the speeds are normally faster

I have searched for a BIOS manual on the HP site without luck - If you have the original documentation, it might be included

 

[badoumba]

Thanks Barman,

Obviously, nothing around my BIOS version related to USB legacy, CSM or UEFI.

 

[badoumba]

BIOS updated. No more options. No more powered plugs.
eSATA trick maybe will do.

 

[Barman58]

Not sure if this a short term or long term need but if it's a one off I'd just open the case and temporarily connect through normal SATA power and data, For occasional use you can get eSATA docking stations that require a SATA to eSATA from an internal connection - then of course for regular use there's the full enclosure Both of the last two options can also include USB for use with other devices

 

[badoumba]

Actually I am constantly plugging this HD between 1 laptop and 2 workstations along the day (R&D testing), so eSata is the only way I guess.