HELP, USB 2.0 Exteranl Hard Drive Hangs System.

[EGC]

My Model: VAIO FE-11H (UK, 1.66 G Core Duo)
System: WinXP SP2 Media Centre

All Drivers / Patches up to date;
latest BIOS (beta) applied last week.

Its a relatively clean system because i just got the laptop for less than 2 weeks...

Now WHENEVER i plugged into a USB 2.0 External Hard Drives, the windows start to lose response and finally hangs the entrie windows. I'll have to hold the power button for 6 seconds to shut it down... !!! I've tried 3 different external HDs and the results are the same. ( Meanwhile they worked perfectly on my desktop and PowerBook ).

I also tested a USB 2.0 Memory Pen (256Mb) and it DOES NOT have this problem...

* btw... if my problem cannot be solved here, where can I ask for more support? i'm a UK customer and i don't want to send this brand new thing back to Belgium or somewhere for a month or so... =____= (tried e-support, don't know where to find the warrenty reg number)...

[kee-lo_]

You could try uninstalling all those and seeing what WIndows does, do 3 come back or 5?

[toldcodger]

My system physically has three USB ports but shows 5 hubs and 5 controllers.

As Kee Lo says try removing the USB controllers and see what happens.

But first make sure you have backed up any data you cannot replace.

My motto is always make a backup before you make a mistake!!!!

Sadly with advancing age and poor memory I usually remember my motto after I've made the mistake.

Regards

Dave

[William]

Apologies if this has already been suggested.:smileygrin:

You may have only three USB sockets but other bits of your vaio are USB. I am not familiar with your model but for instance the Memory Stick Reader and Wireless adapter are probably USB too.

You obviously and understandably don't want to send your lappy back to Belguim unnecessarily.

Have you tried other USB2 devices in your USB2 sockets. If other devices work it ain't a problem with your laptop.

Maybe the external drive has a problem with your USB Chipset.

Before Windows grinds to a halt can you see the drive in "My Computer"?

If not maybe it needs a drive letter assigned with Start/Run/diskmgmt.msc.

It is definately strange

[kee-lo_]

I think you've got a point there William

[EGC]

Apologies if this has already been suggested.:smileygrin: 

You may have only three USB sockets but other bits of your vaio are USB. I am not familiar with your model but for instance the Memory Stick Reader and Wireless adapter are probably USB too.

You obviously and understandably don't want to send your lappy back to Belguim unnecessarily.

Have you tried other USB2 devices in your USB2 sockets. If other devices work it ain't a problem with your laptop.

Maybe the external drive has a problem with your USB Chipset.

Before Windows grinds to a halt can you see the drive in "My Computer"?

If not maybe it needs a drive letter assigned with Start/Run/diskmgmt.msc.

It is definately strange 

hi william ..

thanks for your reply... i've tried other usb devices including a memory pen (128M USB2.0) , BlueTooth USB Adapter and my digital camera (USB 2.0). They worked perfect.

As i said i've tried different external hard drives (6 up to now) and the end result turned out to be the same... sometimes one or two partitions (of the external HD) show up in My Computer, but the system still hangs after 5 - 10 seconds ....

as its end of the term (i'm a university student) now i'm too busy to play around with WiNDOWS .. so maybe i'll try to re-install the system during Easter and see if the problem still exist...

sadly im a Mac switcher (since PowerBook is too slow and MacBook doesnt have native code yet) ... maybe this sony will turn me back to Apple again ....


btw... kee lo thank u as well
i've tried to delete all the usb devices and after the reboot windows just re-install them all automatically......

[kee-lo_]

ECG

Are they self-powered hard disks or do they have a wall socket too?

[EGC]

hi there

One has a built-in battery (DigiMate)..
Two have Wall Socket (AC Power Adapter)

the rest are powered by USB...

[kee-lo_]

Have you tried with a powered hub?

[EGC]

yes my hub is the Belkin Powered 7 Port USB hub