Problem with external drives
Sep 16, 2012 14:29:46 #
I am running a MacBook Pro laptop with 2 external drives. Bought a small 4 usb port adapter which is self powered(it plugs in) when using it for the 2 drives sometimes both boot up but most often only one will show up on desk top. Disk utilities will show only the one drive. If I go under the apple and check system under usb it will list both drives. I want to have both drives up at the same time, now if i unplug my printer and use the 2 usb ports on the laptop they both boot up. Any ideas?
Sep 16, 2012 14:50:28 #
Artsmith wrote:
I am running a MacBook Pro laptop with 2 external drives. Bought a small 4 usb port adapter which is self powered(it plugs in) when using it for the 2 drives sometimes both boot up but most often only one will show up on desk top. Disk utilities will show only the one drive. If I go under the apple and check system under usb it will list both drives. I want to have both drives up at the same time, now if i unplug my printer and use the 2 usb ports on the laptop they both boot up. Any ideas?
I bet it's a power problem. If I want to use a certain external drive on my laptop, I have to plug it into two USB ports simultaneously.
I realize the hub is plugged into power, but it might not be providing enough. Maybe another plug-in hub is the answer.
Sep 16, 2012 16:43:42 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I bet it's a power problem. If I want to use a certain external drive on my laptop, I have to plug it into two USB ports simultaneously.
I realize the hub is plugged into power, but it might not be providing enough. Maybe another plug-in hub is the answer.
I realize the hub is plugged into power, but it might not be providing enough. Maybe another plug-in hub is the answer.
That's what I was thinking. It sounds like the hub you are using isn't able to supply enough power to run both of the drives at the same time.
Sep 16, 2012 17:07:11 #
Your plug does not have enough power to supply 4 USB ports.
Plain and simple. Folks don't realize that when they see a product that they feel will solve their USB needs.
If you have a spare slot in your PC, just put in another USB Card and get 2 to 4 powered slots.
Sarge69 :thumbup:
Plain and simple. Folks don't realize that when they see a product that they feel will solve their USB needs.
If you have a spare slot in your PC, just put in another USB Card and get 2 to 4 powered slots.
Sarge69 :thumbup:
Sep 16, 2012 23:34:34 #
sarge69 wrote:
Your plug does not have enough power to supply 4 USB ports.
Plain and simple. Folks don't realize that when they see a product that they feel will solve their USB needs.
If you have a spare slot in your PC, just put in another USB Card and get 2 to 4 powered slots.
Sarge69 :thumbup:
Plain and simple. Folks don't realize that when they see a product that they feel will solve their USB needs.
If you have a spare slot in your PC, just put in another USB Card and get 2 to 4 powered slots.
Sarge69 :thumbup:
tough to do with laptop!
Sep 17, 2012 01:09:01 #
Get an 8 port USB hub with a seperate power source (110VAC, not USB). Now get four adapters with one female USB inline socket to split twin male USB plugs. OK, now you have a 4 port hub with plenty of power!
Sep 17, 2012 06:48:00 #
Mogul wrote:
Get an 8 port USB hub with a seperate power source (110VAC, not USB). Now get four adapters with one female USB inline socket to split twin male USB plugs. OK, now you have a 4 port hub with plenty of power!
Be careful doing this.....and be very careful what devices you plug in to a powered USB hub. If you use dongles for anything, like RIP print software, you can say bye-bye to it.
Sep 17, 2012 07:10:36 #
Artsmith wrote:
I am running a MacBook Pro laptop with 2 external drives. Bought a small 4 usb port adapter which is self powered(it plugs in) when using it for the 2 drives sometimes both boot up but most often only one will show up on desk top. Disk utilities will show only the one drive. If I go under the apple and check system under usb it will list both drives. I want to have both drives up at the same time, now if i unplug my printer and use the 2 usb ports on the laptop they both boot up. Any ideas?
Have seen this lots on PC's but I am no Apple techie. Sometimes it is a power issue but you say your 4 port is self powered. Sometimes it has something to do with the internal construction of the hub itself. Does it make any difference which 2 ports you plug into? They might be split into 2 pairs inside and if the same data goes down the same pair at the same time it will not read.
Most common problem on a PC is during boot up. Do you plug them in during boot up or after the macbook is fully powered on? Try the second option if you dont already.
Could you not plug your printer and one drive into the hub and the other drive and the hub itself direct into laptop USB
Sep 17, 2012 07:17:54 #
Artsmith wrote:
I am running a MacBook Pro laptop with 2 external drives. Bought a small 4 usb port adapter which is self powered(it plugs in) when using it for the 2 drives sometimes both boot up but most often only one will show up on desk top. Disk utilities will show only the one drive. If I go under the apple and check system under usb it will list both drives. I want to have both drives up at the same time, now if i unplug my printer and use the 2 usb ports on the laptop they both boot up. Any ideas?
You answered your own question, plug both drives directly to the USB ports on the computer, plug your printer/s and any other devices into the sub ports. I use 2 printers, a plotter/large format printer, all into a Port adapter.
I use the 4 of six on board USB ports for 4 external drives and they all show up. BTW, you can add USB boards to your machine if you have open slots.
Sep 17, 2012 07:25:43 #
OnDSnap wrote:
quote=Artsmith I am running a MacBook Pro laptop ... (show quote)
If you add USB ports to the machine itself then you run the risk of encountering power problems. Chances are the macbook's power can stand a couple of extra ports but personally I would go external. Especialy if the external hub is seperately powered. If I bulid a tower PC I always upgrade the PSU and add ports.
Sep 17, 2012 08:33:47 #
I don't know if this is a related situation, but I have to plug my iPod directly into the computer. If I plug it into a hub, the computer won't recognize it.
Sep 17, 2012 08:39:38 #
might want to make sure your permissions are set on your laptop i run 2 externals here and one never showed up untill i set the permissions for it to share and be public
Sep 17, 2012 09:24:38 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I don't know if this is a related situation, but I have to plug my iPod directly into the computer. If I plug it into a hub, the computer won't recognize it.
I have a similar affair in my car. I have blue neon lights fitted underneath (Dont ask they were on when I bought it) but they fit into the car cigarette lighter for power. There is an option to hard wire them too but the previous owner never bothered.
Anyway any other device will power from an adapter with 3 x cigarette sockets on but the neons need to plug in direct.
I also have a firewire ipod lead for PC and this will charge the device but not allow connectivity.
Sep 17, 2012 09:26:39 #
Fifty-Fifty wrote:
might want to make sure your permissions are set on your laptop i run 2 externals here and one never showed up untill i set the permissions for it to share and be public
The OP suggests that the drives do sometimes work. This would not be the case if the permissions were not set. The problem would always be apparent.
Sep 17, 2012 09:53:57 #
Mogul wrote:
Get an 8 port USB hub with a seperate power source (110VAC, not USB). Now get four adapters with one female USB inline socket to split twin male USB plugs. OK, now you have a 4 port hub with plenty of power!
This one has its own power source, I think it defective.
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