USB drive switching on and off

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › USB drive switching on and off

Rikkitic

Devastation by stupidity
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#270588 16-May-2020 16:42

I have an old Seagate portable USB drive that has started oscillating on and off in rapid succession whenever it is plugged in. The drive is very briefly (split-second) recognised, then it disconnects, then it connects again, over and over and over.

I pulled the drive from the enclosure and put it in another one and it works fine, so the problem is obviously with the enclosure. My question: Is this a known issue and is it fixable? Why is it doing this?

Edited to add: I just put a different drive, probably one that requires less power, into the Seagate enclosure and it seems to work fine. This suggests that the issue is a power one, yet the Seagate enclosure has worked fine on different devices for years. What would cause this change?

I don't think there is ever a bad time to talk about how absurd war is, how old men make decisions and young people die. - George Clooney

tehgerbil

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#2484939 16-May-2020 16:50

The device isn't getting enough power would be my first thought.

Have you tried unplugging all other USB devices - does the problem stop?

Also does the other enclosure use two USB ports, and the original one only use one?

Rikkitic

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#2484941 16-May-2020 16:53

tehgerbil:

The device isn't getting enough power would be my first thought.
Have you tried unplugging all other USB devices - does the problem stop?

It sounds like you are right. See above. But the same problem happened on three different computers and two were laptops that previously worked okay and have no other USB devices plugged in.

I don't think there is ever a bad time to talk about how absurd war is, how old men make decisions and young people die. - George Clooney

Rikkitic

Devastation by stupidity
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#2484942 16-May-2020 16:54

Both enclosures are single port. The one with the issue is USB 3. The one that works is USB 2.

I don't think there is ever a bad time to talk about how absurd war is, how old men make decisions and young people die. - George Clooney

tehgerbil

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#2485019 16-May-2020 18:43

Possible cable or connector damage/wear requiring more power loss across length. Try a new USB cable?

sqishy

433 posts

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#2485022 16-May-2020 18:59

If it 'old' then likely the old enclosure has a faulty capacitor.

Newer drives require less current so likely work OK.

If your keen or know some electronics have a look at on board components and you may see a small capacitor which has leaked or not leaked and gone bad.

Can usually be fixed easily with parts from Jaycar and a soldering iron.

Rikkitic

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#2485024 16-May-2020 19:10

Thanks. I will take a look. It is always capacitors, isn't it?

I don't think there is ever a bad time to talk about how absurd war is, how old men make decisions and young people die. - George Clooney

K8Toledo

165 posts

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#2485053 16-May-2020 20:58

Rikkitic:

I have an old Seagate portable USB drive that has started oscillating on and off in rapid succession whenever it is plugged in. The drive is very briefly (split-second) recognised, then it disconnects, then it connects again, over and over and over.

I pulled the drive from the enclosure and put it in another one and it works fine, so the problem is obviously with the enclosure. My question: Is this a known issue and is it fixable? Why is it doing this?

Edited to add: I just put a different drive, probably one that requires less power, into the Seagate enclosure and it seems to work fine. This suggests that the issue is a power one, yet the Seagate enclosure has worked fine on different devices for years. What would cause this change?

Two of my externals do the same thing. Both are Seagate 2.5" Micro B with AsMedia chips. I found the ports were slightly bent in relation to the PCB. I guess that affects power delivery.

Micro B are the worst USB connectors around in my opinion...:) Second only to Type A...

Type A it seems 9/10 times it takes two goes to insert the plug, I never have it orientated correctly :D

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#2485055 16-May-2020 21:26

K8Toledo:

Micro B are the worst USB connectors around in my opinion...:) Second only to Type A...

Type A it seems 9/10 times it takes two goes to insert the plug, I never have it orientated correctly :D

Pro tip. The USB logo on the cable is usually up relative to the motherboard, device or card, except when it's not.

I also hate the micro connector, especially on high current devices.

K8Toledo

165 posts

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#2485065 16-May-2020 23:04

SirHumphreyAppleby:

K8Toledo:

Micro B are the worst USB connectors around in my opinion...:) Second only to Type A...

Type A it seems 9/10 times it takes two goes to insert the plug, I never have it orientated correctly :D

Pro tip. The USB logo on the cable is usually up relative to the motherboard, device or card, except when it's not.

I also hate the micro connector, especially on high current devices.

Haha touché.. ;)

Couple weeks ago I plugged a 5v adapter into an external USB hub plugged into my Sabertooth. Unfortunately it was a 12v adapter which happened to fit into the 5v socket.

I lost all USB ports except mouse/KB, and my Ethernet port. Guess its a good time to move to Ryzen..

gzt

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#2485141 17-May-2020 11:02

Ime when it comes to micro there is no such thing as a generic cable plug or socket. There are always small mechanical differences. Anything except the cable that came with the device is a risk can play out over time.

sqishy

433 posts

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#2485271 17-May-2020 18:27

Rikkitic:

Thanks. I will take a look. It is always capacitors, isn't it?

Can be, may have a Zener Diode as well if you had an oscilloscope (maybe a volt meter) can check voltage and whats going on.