External HDD doesn't do anything except beep

[jaminben]

Hi,

I've just bought a new external HDD and plugged it into my HD200 but it doesn't do anything except beep. I've formatted it to NTFS 64kb and put some media on it which works fine with laptops and desktops but not the HD200... anyone got any ideas?

Cheers

Ben

[KeithAbbott]

The link says that the drive is USB bus powered. Does it need more power than the HD200 can supply?

[jaminben]

That's what I was thinking but I've tried it on 3 differnt HD200's (same results) and I would have thought that to comply with USB2 standards all devices (HD200 included) should supply the minimum amount of power required... or isn't that the case?

[KeithAbbott]

I don't think that's the case. I have had problems with USB 2.0 ports built into keyboards and monitors not being able to drive various USB devices. If you have access to a powered USB hub, connect it between the HD200 and the hard drive. A powered USB hub should be able to provide all of the power that the hard drive needs.

[jaminben]

Ok, I'll give it a try but I have to go buy one first

Many Thanks

[KeithAbbott]

This thread (http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37378) has a couple of posts from people saying their external drives did not work due to power issues.

[routerunner]

Originally Posted by jaminben

That's what I was thinking but I've tried it on 3 differnt HD200's (same results) and I would have thought that to comply with USB2 standards all devices (HD200 included) should supply the minimum amount of power required... or isn't that the case?

2.5" HDD normally requires exactly 500mA which is the absolute maximum an USB port can deliver, also you have to add the small power drain from the SATA/PATA interface to the USB interface as well, so you're running really at the extreme capabilities...

In the past I was able to connect an external USB HDD drive to the HD200 by using a special USB cable with three USB connector that was designed to be connected to two USB ports simultaneously to overcome to the power issue, so I was connecting one terminal to the front port of the H200 the second to the rear port and the third to the external HDD. The HD200 has two USB controller on board that can both deliver 500mA.

[jaminben]

Originally Posted by routerunner

In the past I was able to connect an external USB HDD drive to the HD200 by using a special USB cable with three USB connector that was designed to be connected to two USB ports simultaneously to overcome to the power issue, so I was connecting one terminal to the front port of the H200 the second to the rear port and the third to the external HDD. The HD200 has two USB controller on board that can both deliver 500mA.

Ah, thats an idea... I wonder if I can chop two leads up to make one lead. I think the red / black wires provide the power so I should be good to go (I could double check with a meter I guess).

[jaminben]

Not sure if that was a good idea or bad but I did it and so far it seems to be working ok

"Touch Wood" it will continue to work...

Many Thanks

Ben