eSATA Issue

[Numenorean]

See if someone here can help or know the fix for this.

I have an Asus P7P55D-E Pro.

I also have a Thecus DAS...it's a bit older but it has an eSATA connection. Worked perfectly on my old Asus Core2 Duo board.

Here is the issue. It appears not to work hot-swapping it. If I reboot with the DAS device turned on, it will show in Windows (though it will not display during boot). If I already have Windows running, and turn it on, it won't show. Well a device for it shows up in device manager, but doesn't show the disk drive or show in disk management.

Not having an eSATA port hot swappable is about the dumbest thing ever if it isn't going to work.

 

[Jumpem]

That's how it is intended to work.

 

[iluvdeal]

In your BIOS, do you have AHCI enabled on your SATA port? You have to have in enabled for hot swapping an esata device to work. Be warned though, if you installed Windows on a SATA drive with AHCI disabled, then you enable it, you won't be able to boot into Windows. So if you do plan on changing it, following these instructions before you edit the BIOS:

http://www.windows7news.com/2010/05/25/how-to-enable-ahci-in-windows-7/

 

[Numenorean]

That's how it is intended to work.

Then it worked improperly on my other motherboard? It worked just fine then - turn it on with windows loaded, shows right up.

You're on my list of people never to take advice from now.

 

[Numenorean]

In your BIOS, do you have AHCI enabled on your SATA port? You have to have in enabled for hot swapping an esata device to work. Be warned though, if you installed Windows on a SATA drive with AHCI disabled, then you enable it, you won't be able to boot into Windows. So if you do plan on changing it, following these instructions before you edit the BIOS:

http://www.windows7news.com/2010/05/25/how-to-enable-ahci-in-windows-7/

I don't know. There is no option for AHCI for the JMicron controller other than enabled/disabled. However, since it was intended for use as an eSATA port (it is the controller for the eSATA port and one additional onboard port which is meant to have another eSATA bracked plugged into it), it should be set like that.

I changed all available to either AHCI or RAID before installing Windows.

Anyway, today I just got a new external RAID enclosure - a Raidon. Put two 2TB drives in it and it shows right up when I turn it on with Windows booted. So I must assume that the Thecus for whatever reason does not jive with hot swapping and this particular controller for some ridiculous reason. I may end up buying a second Raidon and moving my other drives into it.

 

[VirtualLarry]

There is a fix for hot-plug SATA/eSATA in Win7 SP1. My friend installed the RC1, and now he says he can leave it plugged in, and turn it on, and now it's automatically detected.

Before, when he did that, he had to go into Device Manager and tell it to "Rescan Hardware".

 

[Numenorean]

There is a fix for hot-plug SATA/eSATA in Win7 SP1. My friend installed the RC1, and now he says he can leave it plugged in, and turn it on, and now it's automatically detected.

Before, when he did that, he had to go into Device Manager and tell it to "Rescan Hardware".

Interesting. I tried that before and it didn't work. The drive does show up in device manager as "Config Disk SCSI Disk Device", but rescanning doesn't change anything. In disk management it shows a drive but says it needs to be initialized. I'm not sure if I want to do that because I'm not sure if that will mess with the data or not. Pretty sure it will muck it up.

In fact, nothing has change but I can't get it to show up even if I start with the drive powered on now. I got it once, that was it. It will be detected by the controller's BIOS and it shows the right size (300GB) and all but nothing will show up in Windows now. Previously, the controller's BIOS would not detect it but then it DID show up in Windows. Now nothing. Very very strange.

 

[imported_Jid]

Jmicron is a bit crappy, lots of issues with eSata port over on ASUS support site for all MOBO models although there were a few for the Marvell controllers too, they are just very picky about what hardware they play nice with it seems since some had it working right from the get go.

You've got AHCI enabled so that's covered, I've a similar board so you should have an option to enable PlugnPlay control for your OS in BIOS good idea to make sure it is. Last but not least head over to Jmicron ftp (ftp://driver.jmicron.com.tw/SATA_Controller/Windows/) and download the latest windows eSata driver, Asus site never has the newest drivers.

I tried everything but that last step is what got mine to hotswap finally, others on the asus site abandoned the whole thing and just got themselves a seperate eSata bracket to connect to an internal Sata port or PCIe slot.