liqt

Hi I bought an external HD and it doesn't seem to work. Well to be fair, it works but only by USB. The caddy supports eSATA/USB connections however when I tried sing the eSATA cable which I bought new (came into today) - it doesn't seem to make a connection. (however USB works fine). I'm fairly sure the caddy/hd is set up correctly and in place and also my laptop (DELL XPS 15) has an eSATA port. The caddy I purchased (not on this website though) BigPockets.co.uk :: Sumvision Apex II 3.5 inch SATA Encosure £12.49 The eSATA cable I purchased 1m eSATA to eSATA II / eSATA2 Lead / Wire: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics On the F2 Setup during boot up > advance tab SATA Operation : [AHCI] There is also ATA but its set on AHCI. eSATA Ports : Enabled. Is there something wrong with my laptop eSATA port, the hard drive, the caddy or the cable even? If anyone can reply/help me out - would be really helpful. To give more informaton, when I try boot up the laptop with eSATA plugged in, the dell logo appears but the loading bar just stops. if I use a USB, its fne without problems. just eSATA cable doesn't work.

synthesis204

You've already ruled out error by USB. I would get another eSATA device (if possible) and use that to test your laptop's eSATA port. If it doesn't work, then we know it's an issue with the computer.

Likewise, taking the hard drive and trying to hook it up into another computer using eSATA would help as well. If it doesn't work, it would indicate an issue with the cable (aka replace the cable to test) or with the hard drive (RMA time?). If it does work, it, again, is an issue with your laptop.

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BlueMak

Have you tried connecting the esata disk after windows load and you are looking at the desktop?

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The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

liqt

I try to connect it windows load, such as on the desktop, even if I try to use eSATA HD before booting, the loading gets stuck and doesn't boot. Do you think it could be a driver issue? although.. considering dell XPS 15 is fairly new.. do you think it doesnt support the laptop or only certain HD's In the device manager I do see a controller for Intel(R) 5 Series 6 SATA AHCI controller etc.. and i'm sure the drivers are up to date I would presume.. ?

BlueMak

I am sorry, I am not sure I understand. Try to have it unplugged and connect it only when you are in Windows desktop. Does it still have a problem?

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The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

liqt

ok let me explain. If the laptop is switched on when the eSATA cable/HD is connected -> laptop doesn't boot (can't get pass the loading, and you see the dell icon and blue loading bar freeze). If the laptop is switched on when the USB cable/HD is connected -> everything is fine and boots. USB makes a detection when on Windows desktop and everything is presented fine. when eSATA is plugged in, nothing happens as if no detection is made.

BlueMak

...
I am not asking you if the laptop boots or not.

Do the following.
Unplug the external HDD
Boot the laptop.
Load windows.
Load the desktop
Make sure windows has finished loading everything.
Plug in the external HDD with the esata cable.
Windows detect the external drive now or not?

__________________

The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

Tyrsonswood

The answer to your question is right there, Bluemak....... I know, I was having a hard time understanding too, but it's there.....

Here's a problem though, if the eSATA port, either the laptop or the drive end, or the cable were truly dead, the laptop wouldn't hang on boot with it plugged in...... It's got a problem, yes, but it's making connection.

The OP is really going to have to try that drive on a different system to take this to the next level.......

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Tipstaff

I would first try Bluemak's suggestion. If the controller is set to AHCI then connecting the drive via eSata while Windows is up and running treats it as a plug-n-play device. It should pop right up just as if you plugged in a USB device.

That said, the issue is probably as simple as this: the computer (hardware side, not OS side) doesn't distinguish between eSata and internal Sata. So, with the external drive hooked up via eSata at bootup (assuming it's powered on) the computer sees it as an internal drive. It could be that at this point the laptop has reordered the boot sequence so that the first drive to boot to is the eSata drive. Since there's no OS on there it's most likely hanging. On the same note, if the drive/dock is turned off, and a drive is in the dock, but still connected via eSata, the computer should skip it, and continue to boo. However, I have seen instances where the system takes time to do so, but it should/will continue to boot once it's reached the "timed out" limit.

What to try: hook everything up via eSata, and make sure the dock is powered up. Bootup the computer, and immediately hit F2 to go into the bios. Once there, check to see if the laptop has reordered the boot devices. If so, make sure the internal drive is first, or put the optical drive first, then the internal drive.

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liqt

i had tried this from the start, if the eSATA is plugged in before starting on the laptop, etc and you turn it on. The boot up will just stop loading (you see the blue bar progress but stops) and even if you try Hit F2, the screen will still stay frozen and even if you try Boot up devices, the screen still hangs. I'd have to take this HD back or so, and ask for them to test it - do you think it could be the caddy/external HD isn't compatible with my laptop or so?

BlueMak

I don't care if USB makes a connection.
How hard can it be to try exactly what I asked?

Unplug the external drive.
Boot Windows. Wait for Windows to finish loading. Look at the desktop.
Now plug in the powered external drive via the eSATA connection.
Does Windows detect the drive or not?
NOT USB.

If Windows do detect it this way, then as Tipstaff said, the problem is probably not a defective drive or cable.

If Windows detect it, try the following. As you have it plugged in while in Windows etc, do a restart of the computer through Windows. What happens then, still the same problem or not?

This is probably some kind of software/BIOS problem, but only if you try what I proposed (and what Tipstaff said).

__________________

The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

OldBuzzard

You need to press F2 BEFORE it starts loading Windows. That means you will need to do it almost immediately after you turn it on. Turn it on and start tapping the F2 key right away. That should get you into the BIOS.

That's assuming that F2 is actually the key that gets you to the BIOS. Some systems use other keys like F10, DEL, etc. Check to make sure which key you need to press.

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liqt

I had already tried.. BlueMak After everything boots up and goes to windows desktop, then plugging the eSATA connection through, still nothing. I press F2 (or to be fair, spam it) as soon as I start the laptop but nothing happens.. I already said the loading bar stops. For example; I see the dell icon, blue bar is loading -> even if you dont hit F2 or do hit F2, it will still remain stuck - and only way for you to progess any further is by turning off the laptop with the eSATA cable out. F2 = Bios F12 = boot devices.

BlueMak

I give up. Good luck.

__________________

The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

Tipstaff

So, according to this part when you connect using eSATA AFTER Windows has loaded nothing works, correct?

And according to this part during bootup with it plugged in using eSATA it locks up, correct?

If both are correct then there's 2 things this could be: 1) the external box doesn't work via eSATA, or 2) the eSATA cable doesn't work. If you NEED eSATA my advice would be to first try a different cable, however I'm under the impression the box is faulty, not the cable, so I would instead replace with with another brand such as Vantecs Nexstar line or one from Thermaltake. I've used and sold both, and have had zero issues with these guys boxes so far. I also sell both companies docks too.

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Hamster

I have the same machine (Dell XPS 15R - L501X) and the same issue...

1. Plug in eSATA/USB drive using eSATA before booting PC causes hang during BIOS POST before option to select boot device. Have tried waiting several minutes for timeout but really does seems to be stuck (Ctrl-Alt-Del and Caps lock etc not functional).

2. Boot PC with nothing plugged in. Log into Windows account. Wait for Windows to fully load (no further disk activity) then plug in external drive via eSATA. Nothing happens, nothing recognised, no disk activity.

3. As 2 but plug in external drive using USB - works every time.

Have got power applied to external drive when using eSATA cable. Tried different eSATA cables and even exchanged eSATA caddy as i thought it must be faulty but still nothing.
OS is Win7 Premium.
eSATA caddy is http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...ht_3198wt_1089
I have not got another eSATA drive or eSATA equipped PC to try but SATA HDD in caddy is 2.5" device from another laptop (without eSATA) and is fully functional.

Any ideas anyone?

Hamster

UPDATE...

I have had some luck.
Not sure exactly what I did but while probing around in Device Manager and after I asked it to scan for hardware changes several times without joy it suddenly worked
It happened just after I sorted the devices to be listed by connection but I am not convinced this was related.

Seems the Dell eSATA port might not be as plug and play as it should be.

Hamster

More experimenting....

Just tried transferring my iTunes folder to the external HDD via eSATA and then USB to see what difference is. Disappointingly they seem about the same.
Windows reports my 45GB library will take 'about 50mins' to transfer on either connection at a transfer rate of around 15-20MBs/sec.
What did I miss? I am being limited by the HDD or the drive controller in my cheapo eSATA/USB caddy? I expected eSATA to trounce USB2.