I'm using the Vantec HDA-502H dual USB 3.0 5.25" front panel drive bay unit. I'll give a quick rundown, then more details. Basically, the USB 3.0 ports don't right with my external WD 1TB passport hard drive. The right USB port disconnects and connects without allowing access to the drive, while the left takes a while to connect but eventually allows access. Other USB devices work. Details:
The WD external drive didn't always have these issues, and I've read in certain places that the amount of data on the hard drive could have something to do with it. My other USB devices work as expected in both ports, thus making the WD the only device that has issues, and for whatever reason it's having different issues depending on the port. Both ports are conjoined to a single cable going to the USB 20-pin header, so why they aren't working the same with the WD drive confuses me. Maybe one port has just a slight more amount of power going through it than the other? I can't even access files on the right port even though it works with my other devices. Also, USBview is showing that the left port runs the drive at High speed, while the right port attempts to run at Super Speed but fails and cycles through connects and disconnects. My USB 3.0 thumb drives do work at Super Speed though.
Could this have something to do with signal integrity or power? Could the cables not be fit for the external drive? Maybe I should get a dual-end USB cable for additional power? And another thing, why is USB 3.0 so unreliable like this? There doesn't seem to be a good simple 3rd party USB 3.0 front panel out there that's truly reliable and hasn't given people similar issues. it just seems like under developed tech, while USB 2.0 was properly designed.
edit: I believe this is possibly a contact issue with the cable. I messed with the USB micro-B to B cable a bit and now it works more often in both ports. Maybe a combination of issues with both the cable and the ports.
edit 2: Upon further inspection it appears the USB 3.0 specific pins inside of the cable have been bent to the point of not being able to make good contact with certain USB 3.0 ports. So maybe it's those floating 5 pins that are the reason USB 3.0 is regarded as unreliable? Either way, time for a new cable.
The WD external drive didn't always have these issues, and I've read in certain places that the amount of data on the hard drive could have something to do with it. My other USB devices work as expected in both ports, thus making the WD the only device that has issues, and for whatever reason it's having different issues depending on the port. Both ports are conjoined to a single cable going to the USB 20-pin header, so why they aren't working the same with the WD drive confuses me. Maybe one port has just a slight more amount of power going through it than the other? I can't even access files on the right port even though it works with my other devices. Also, USBview is showing that the left port runs the drive at High speed, while the right port attempts to run at Super Speed but fails and cycles through connects and disconnects. My USB 3.0 thumb drives do work at Super Speed though.
Could this have something to do with signal integrity or power? Could the cables not be fit for the external drive? Maybe I should get a dual-end USB cable for additional power? And another thing, why is USB 3.0 so unreliable like this? There doesn't seem to be a good simple 3rd party USB 3.0 front panel out there that's truly reliable and hasn't given people similar issues. it just seems like under developed tech, while USB 2.0 was properly designed.
edit: I believe this is possibly a contact issue with the cable. I messed with the USB micro-B to B cable a bit and now it works more often in both ports. Maybe a combination of issues with both the cable and the ports.
edit 2: Upon further inspection it appears the USB 3.0 specific pins inside of the cable have been bent to the point of not being able to make good contact with certain USB 3.0 ports. So maybe it's those floating 5 pins that are the reason USB 3.0 is regarded as unreliable? Either way, time for a new cable.
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