Zino HD eSATA ports not working (Wide Spread issue?)

Dell Tech Support has run out of options, and they don't know if it is a motherboard/design issue or something else.

There are some people on avsforum with the same eSATA problems. Anyone has Zino HD with eSATA ports problems?

I'm having the same problem.  Tried all updates/drivers.  Drive is a 2TB Seagate in a Vantec Nexstar3 enclosure.  I can only access the drive via USB from the Zino.  The drive works fine via eSata from other systems running the same OS.

This is frustrating.

Be aware that the 2 eSATA ports of the Zino HD are NOT hot-swap capable and NOT port multiplier compatible. Basically they are normal SATA ports offered with an eSATA interface (this is easily confirmed if you look in the BIOS).  This means only 2 single external SATA drives are supported, NO Addonics tower, NO Drobo support. and probably no support for lot more kinds of storage towers that require port multiplier and hot-swap.  No hot-swap support means that the external drives need to be switched on at boot, and need to stay on all the time until power off (just like if they were internal). In fact, the 2 eSata ports of he Zino HD are "just" SATA ports, available externally. Frankly, the fact that Zino has 2 eSata ports makes you jump to the wrong conclusions (that eSata is fully supported), and this is not true. This shortcoming of the Zino is not well documented, nor is the information easily available on the web, so I thought I'd share.

Do we have any resolution or solution to this?  What extanal solutions work with the eSATA zino?

thanks

Thanks for the info. This was exactly the problem. Fixed in 10 mins.

I just carefully removed by rear IO bezel as per the downloadedable service manual and my problem was solved.

My Thermaltake BlackX and WD5000AAKS Sata drive works fine:

It is now detected in the BIOS OK and can be seen and swapped like a USB drive once Windows 7 is up and running.

The issue was the thickness of the bezel at the e-SATA holes!!

So 3 options:

1) Leave the bezel off.

2) Get a very sharp modeling knife and carefully make the e-Sata holes bigger.

3) Put pressure on Dell to issue a new modified bezel as an official fix.

I will try initially go with 1) whilst pursuing 3) - Just for fun :-) !

When my warranty runs out I'll try 2).

(I do not want to go with 2) whilst I my hardware is in warranty.)

Thanks again for everyones contribution in this thread and Bswat's post that at least in my case has provided a successful outcome. (All be it at a detriment to Dell's official "support". )

Hm, I've got a Zino HD 400 & use a SeaGate 1TB drive via eSATA & never had an issue so this thread was a little surprising.

Glad to know the resolution though if I should ever need it, though I hope not. :emotion-11:

My eSata ports now work!  Bios detects the drive and it works good in win7.  I have tested it in both ports.  I used windows system tray thing to "Safely Remove Hardware" and eject the drive.  I can move it between ports and windows detects it in either port!  No need to reboot, no need to have the external drive on before boot. 

The eSata drive I am using is Vantec nextstar cx NST-300su-bk. 

Turns out the root cause of the "not detected" was simply that the cable could not plug in all the way.  The plastic back cover is too thick!.  I simple removed the back cover, this allowed the eSata cable to pug in all the way and now it works just fine.  The eSata cable has no detent or other means of insuring that it is fully seated.  The not so funny thing is that this cable and external drive worked fine on all the other computers I have. 

It took many many calls to Dell, a new replacement system and a service call from the tech to replace a mother board.  After the tech replace the mother board on the second zino and it still had the same problem “eSata not detected” the tech thought maybe the root cause was simply that the back cover was too thick, and that was it.

Instead of removing the back cover/bezel, I striped back the connector "jacket" on the eSata cable to allow it to be able to reach deeper into the eSata port. This is why it works for others when their eSata cable was able to reach deeper in.

Hope my Zino will last. No more new models, Dell Zino discontinued.

Brilliant! It works. Who is imagine that.