USB 2.5 Harddrive Enclosure

[Seanish]

I bought a USB harddrive enclosure for my old notebook HDD and it works great I'll plug it in and windows recognizes it instantly and I can use it just like my main drive. The problem is that when I shut my PC off and turn it back on windows only shows my main drive until I unplug and then plug the USB drive back in. Any way to always get it to recognize it?

 

[LED]

If you are using just the USB cable it may require an extra jolt (ie AC adapter)

 

[Seanish]

it has two usb plugs for the PC because some motherboards can't provide enough power through just one the manual said...

 

[LED]

Yep but even then some times an adapter is needed besides the 2nd USB cable...it depends on the Case and even the HD that's matched with it...

 

[Peter]

USB port /maximum/ power draw is 500mA. 2.5" HDD /typical/ power draw is 500mA. There's the USB-IDE interface chip on top of that, and /spinup/ power draw is WAY higher than 500mA anyway. Thus, those USB-powered HDD enclosures are broken by design, as far as their power properties are concerned.

You might find that some external hubs are more tolerant with their power cutoff point; but ultimately, you'll have to give this device its own power supply.