Can't connect external hard drives

Question

HiI just received my new Alienware  14 today an was very excited. First I connected my mouse to the USB port on the right side of the pc (there is only the one port on the right side and 2 ports on the left) and without any problems I could use my Mouse. However I had some programs and data set aside in a WD 1 TB external hard drive (the name says my passport), I connected it to one of the USB slots on the left side (my hard drive is compatible with both USB 3 and 2) but nothing happened, I changed it to the other one and again nothing happened. I disconnected the mouse and used the port on the right to connect the hard drive and it got connected ! so I was wondering why the ports on the left side didn't work, now I connected my mouse to both USB ports on the left side and they both worked!? I got very puzzled but because of the excitement for continuing my work I didn't further investigate. later on I continued transferring my date from the hard drive to the pc when I heard sounds coming from pc like the ones that mean a device is being disconnect and again connected and the respective window closed and opened again; I didn't mind and continued but they happened again so I pulled  the USB out to connect it again cause I thought maybe it didn't stick in correctly but no matter how many other times I tried, the computer completely acted as if nothing was connected to it. I restarted the pc but again it's not recognizing my hard drive, I tried it on my old pc and my hard drive works perfect. what is wrong, I have my whole data in my portable hard drive so I can't do anything unless I can access them. Please help me !!!

kirkd · Answer

This problem is usually caused by insufficient power available via the USB port. As the laptop is new, you wouldn't expect this. The drive uses 500 ma, and each USB connection should provide 500 ma. However, the on-board supply may be faulty. There are cables available that have a USB data/power connector and an additional power plug so as to double the power available. You could also use a USB Y-connector to supply power from a second USB connection. If this works, then you should contact Dell for4 service. If the internal noise you hear is from the drive, not the laptop, the drive can become damaged.

TempD_FIXIT_MAN · Answer

well 500ma would not be enough for a full 3.5 1tb hdd thats non powered..

id the driver a powered device? if so you may need to check your usb setting and turn the power off to them.. I found with powered (i.e. the drive has an ac adapter) that it would disconect if i left the power setting on for the port i was using.. and i also found that certain drive would go into a power saving mode and basicly tell the computer that it was asleep.. so the usb port would go into a sleep type mode also..

Aryan_Dell · Answer

Hi KirkD

Thanks so much for the reply and I am very sorry for the lateness... I just opted to have the hard drive to be randomly connected to my pc when I plug in the USB.

The thing is, when I plug the USB of the 1Tb hard drive to a USB port it doesn't get connected right away, but I have to play around with it and try to change the orientation of the usb wire by hand until I hear my pc making a sound, meaning an external device has been connected. But this way is very frustrating and stupid, however for a reason I had to leave my computer for 3 weeks and now that I have come back to it, this problem is there again and it's very annoying. I simply can't connect that hard drive to my alienware 14 which is still new..
I always connect that hard drive to my older computer without any problem! never...

I am not good in this technical stuff so I searched about what you said and now understand what you mean about 500ma power supply. but there must be definitely a problem with the on-board supply as you said, cause it just doesn't make sense that my old computer can handle the hard drive and this expensive new one can't. what should I do? is contacting dell services helpful, how can they help and how can I contact dell for services? could you plz plz help me

kirkd · Answer

Go to the Dell site and look for the on-line chat function in customer service. This works much better than a phone call. Explain everything to them carefully. Because you need to play around with the USB plug to get a connection, you may have a problem with the USB socket.

Locked Topics – Laptops General

Can't connect external hard drives

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