Has anyone ever used Hitachi Travelstar in an external 2.5" USB enclosure?

jamesyjf · 15th July 2005, 3:05 PM

I have this almost new Hitachi Travelstar (20GB, 5400rpm, 5V, 1A). And I bought a (cheap) 2.5" USB enclosure to host it, but every time I hook it up to my Dell PC, my PC restarts itself!
Has anyone ever successfully used TravelStar in an external enclosure?

Thanks a lot,
James

williamgoh · 15th July 2005, 3:27 PM

is the 20gb hhd formatted? was it used as a primary drive b4 hand. if so, it prolli has windows on it or something. i have a travelstar 30gb and 40gb.

i got into windows, it just wouldnt let me format in Disk Management, so i had to get a 3.5''hhd ide to 2.5'' hha ide converter thingomajig

if the hhd is currently empty.....i have no idea

UUMM · 15th July 2005, 3:35 PM

It look like take to suck to much power from your lappy.
Normaly you got a very bad quality ext case. It take too much current from your Dell lappy. Some time the USB cable may make some problem by same reason.
I recon you have test your HDD first then take action on your ext case.
Don not test the case on your lappy any more that may danmage your lappy.
Good luck

Spludge · 15th July 2005, 5:50 PM

2 problems here:

1: 1A is way more than the USB spec is rated to handle

2: Dells have lower USB voltage than other brands

You will need a mains-powered enclosure.

paulhoopen · 15th July 2005, 7:09 PM

my 80gb 2.5inch works fine in an enclosure after upgrading to a 60gb disk in my acer ferari 3200 notebook

lol no lol

real upgrade from 80gb 4200 rpm to a 60gb 7200rpm disk I use partionmagic and formated the disk and works fine now

Leopard · 15th July 2005, 7:30 PM

my " enclosure requires 2 usb conections, the second is purely for more power to get the drive spinning.

It doesn't work on my shuttle SN95G5, but does work on the SN45G.

UUMM · 15th July 2005, 10:50 PM

I may not say very clean. That case may have problem. That is only for that case. Quality problem. Have you try change on USb + & -. Your pc will shut down strait away.
Spend bit more to buy a better one. Save time.

Onyx · 17th July 2005, 10:13 PM

Yep, I got a Travelstar 60GB 5400RPM in a generic USB enclosure - no issues whatsoever on lappy or desktop. The supplised USB cable has 2 connectors, 1 purely for extra power - but I find even plugging in just 1 works every time.

Startup current draw for the drive IIRC around 4.5 Watts, which should be under USB specs for 2 plugs.

jamesyjf · 18th July 2005, 9:17 AM

Thank you guys. I guess the cheap enclosure is not good at all. But I also suspect the Travelstar draws too much power, I tried two 2.5" to 3.5" converters, and it burnt them all! in the PC case! --- I was lucky it didn't burn anything else in the case - phew....

15th July 2005, 3:05 PM	#1
jamesyjf Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28	Has anyone ever used Hitachi Travelstar in an external 2.5" USB enclosure? I have this almost new Hitachi Travelstar (20GB, 5400rpm, 5V, 1A). And I bought a (cheap) 2.5" USB enclosure to host it, but every time I hook it up to my Dell PC, my PC restarts itself! Has anyone ever successfully used TravelStar in an external enclosure? Thanks a lot, James

15th July 2005, 3:27 PM	#2
williamgoh Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Melb, Endeavour Hills Posts: 460	is the 20gb hhd formatted? was it used as a primary drive b4 hand. if so, it prolli has windows on it or something. i have a travelstar 30gb and 40gb. i got into windows, it just wouldnt let me format in Disk Management, so i had to get a 3.5''hhd ide to 2.5'' hha ide converter thingomajig if the hhd is currently empty.....i have no idea __________________ My HT

15th July 2005, 3:35 PM	#3
UUMM Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 20	Regarding USB power It look like take to suck to much power from your lappy. Normaly you got a very bad quality ext case. It take too much current from your Dell lappy. Some time the USB cable may make some problem by same reason. I recon you have test your HDD first then take action on your ext case. Don not test the case on your lappy any more that may danmage your lappy. Good luck

15th July 2005, 5:50 PM	#4
Spludge Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Rydalmere Posts: 913	2 problems here: 1: 1A is way more than the USB spec is rated to handle 2: Dells have lower USB voltage than other brands You will need a mains-powered enclosure. __________________ Regards Michael V Last edited by Spludge; 15th July 2005 at 5:52 PM.

15th July 2005, 7:30 PM	#6
Leopard Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane CBD Posts: 1,604	my " enclosure requires 2 usb conections, the second is purely for more power to get the drive spinning. It doesn't work on my shuttle SN95G5, but does work on the SN45G. __________________ VR/VS Commodore Owners Club Member #64 VS Series II Acclaim

15th July 2005, 7:09 PM	#5
paulhoopen Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Goldcoast Posts: 821	my 80gb 2.5inch works fine in an enclosure after upgrading to a 60gb disk in my acer ferari 3200 notebook lol no lol real upgrade from 80gb 4200 rpm to a 60gb 7200rpm disk I use partionmagic and formated the disk and works fine now

15th July 2005, 10:50 PM	#7
UUMM Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 20	The enclose is not working well I may not say very clean. That case may have problem. That is only for that case. Quality problem. Have you try change on USb + & -. Your pc will shut down strait away. Spend bit more to buy a better one. Save time.

17th July 2005, 10:13 PM	#8
Onyx Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: NSW Posts: 3,802	Yep, I got a Travelstar 60GB 5400RPM in a generic USB enclosure - no issues whatsoever on lappy or desktop. The supplised USB cable has 2 connectors, 1 purely for extra power - but I find even plugging in just 1 works every time. Startup current draw for the drive IIRC around 4.5 Watts, which should be under USB specs for 2 plugs. __________________ Q9300@3.0Ghz, Asus P5Q-E, Kingston HyperX DDR2-1066 4GB, Gigabyte GTX260+, 2xWD5000AAKS RAID-0 boot volume, Seasonic S12+ 550W PSU in Gigabyte Poseidon case. Dell E248WFP 24" monitor.

18th July 2005, 9:17 AM	#9
jamesyjf Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28	Thank you guys. I guess the cheap enclosure is not good at all. But I also suspect the Travelstar draws too much power, I tried two 2.5" to 3.5" converters, and it burnt them all! in the PC case! --- I was lucky it didn't burn anything else in the case - phew....