External hard-drive is fine with one machine on start-up, but two others hang on post?

CalypsoArt · Apr 29, 2024

My 2019 MSI GS75 Stealth has no problem starting up with my 500gb USB hard-drive attached. However, I just bought a new laptop, and if the drive is plugged in before powering up it hangs at POST. Plugging the drive into my desktop before start up and it also hangs at POST. The drive works on these machines if it is plugged in after they've started up. Thoughts?

antspants · Apr 29, 2024

More detail… What is the external drive, make/model number?

Is the partition on the drive set as active?

Also, for future reference; please type “Winver” into search on your PC and open it. Please type the version and build that it reports (you can copy/paste), into your “System Specs / OS” section (first on the list where you have placed “Windows 11”)

Like this for example: Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build 22631.3374

This link will open your System Specs.
https://www.elevenforum.com/account/system-specs

Thank you

CalypsoArt · Apr 29, 2024

antspants said:
More detail… What is the external drive, make/model number?

Vecto Tech 500gb. Shows up in Windows as Vecto Tech SCSI disk devise.

antspants said:
Is the partition on the drive set as active?

Don't know. Here is Disk manager results.

antspants said:
Also, for future reference; please type “Winver” into search on your PC and open it. Please type the version and build that it reports (you can copy/paste), into your “System Specs / OS” section (first on the list where you have placed “Windows 11”)

This is the oldest machine the one that has no trouble.

antspants said:
Like this for example: Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build 22631.3374

This link will open your System Specs.
https://www.elevenforum.com/account/system-specs

Thank you

antspants · Apr 29, 2024

It’s been a while, but I believe the best way to do this is open a cmd (command prompt) as admin

Type one at a time or copy/paste then press enter after each one and wait for it to respond, then type the next;

Diskpart
List volume
Select volume # (# being the number of your external)
Detail partition

antspants · Apr 29, 2024

or a simple question would be; Is there an operating system installed on this external drive?

CalypsoArt · Apr 29, 2024

antspants said:
or a simple question would be; Is there an operating system installed on this external drive?

Nope

antspants · Apr 29, 2024

I’m uncertain why then
Are you able to access the BIOS on all your PC’s and compare the settings and boot sequence order. I have had this before but years ago and for the life of me can’t remember why it happened.

antspants · Apr 29, 2024

It may help to know exactly what these computer models or motherboards are. Starting from the computer model/motherboard that allows a boot with the external drive connected, then the two that don’t.

1. MSI GS75 Stealth (Works)
2.
3…

Edited.

glasskuter · Apr 29, 2024

I would be looking at power. I would normally suspect that the usb port is not providing enough power/or stable power through the power on transition, but since this is happening on 2 different devices it's pointing to the drive.. If the drive can be powered externally, I would try that if possible. I know many can't. It could also be tested using an externally powered hub. I have am older nvme drive that I put into a usb enclosure. It gave me fits of not staying connected during sleep until I used an externally powered hub.

If that doesn't fix it, IMO it would point to flakey logic components on the drive that have a problem during the power transition. Manufacturers these days are so power efficient, it can affect external devices. This is especially true with today's laptops. .

Bree · Apr 29, 2024

CalypsoArt said:
my 500gb USB hard-drive....

CalypsoArt said:
Vecto Tech 500gb.

I'm not sure if it's directly relevant, but the VectoTech Rapid 500GB appears to be an SSD, not an HDD.

VectoTech Rapid 500GB External Solid State Drive USB 3.0 Portable SSD

VectoTech Rapid 500GB External Solid State Drive USB 3.0 Portable SSD for sale. Order online secure and affordable shopping

www.harddrivesforsale.com

ian50 · Apr 29, 2024

@glasskuter

Yes. I resolved an issue of external HDD's, hub connected to a laptop, failing halfway through a long copy by using an externally powered hub with individual on/off buttons. Not turning an individual button on till after boot also reduced boot time considerably. The cost of a 7-port buttoned, powered USB3.1 hub was considerably less than purchasing new SSD's as replacement external drives.

@Bree

If the problem is indeed insufficient power to run the external drive reliably, then perhaps as an HDD this is more pronounced than as an SSD in that HDD drives (older spinners) generally require more power than SSD's. In any case, a consideration, I think. Most likely not relevant if power isn't the problem.

jumanji · Apr 30, 2024

One US customer review on the subject SSD: " Found the speeds of the product to be great and used it consistently for quite a while. Had some trouble getting my laptop to read the drive and was sent a replacement shortly after sending to their support team. Very happy with this one."

The OP should perhaps talk to the Tech Support to get a resolution/replacement.

VectoTech Rapid 500GB External Solid State Drive USB 3.0 Portable SSD Technical support +1 (800) 987-0197

antspants · Apr 30, 2024

One system boots whilst the drive is plugged in without issue, 2 don’t.
On the 2 that don’t, the external works post boot in the operating system.

I’d like to hear about the setups in the BIOS for all 3. What I do find odd is that the new Laptop doesn’t allow boot whilst the external is plugged in.

Porthos · Apr 30, 2024

I think the external is in the boot order of the 2 that wont boot.

CalypsoArt · Apr 30, 2024

Thanks all for the replies and help. BIOS and boot order sounds correct. I built the desktop Strix B550-I and Ryzen 5600. I think I did have it set to look externally for boot first. I'll check for certain when I have time. I don't use Vecto Tech drive on it, I just used it to test for the hang, and it did. Still, this is no longer really a problem as I'm returning the new Laptop. (for other reasons in covered in another thread on the eforum) Again, thanks all.