USB External FDD Won't Play

polybear

Hi all,

I have just purchased an external USB FDD to use with my laptop (vista). The drive works on my desktop (XP) and spare laptop (vista) with no problems - there's no need to load up any drivers from an external disk, website etc.

However, it just won't play with my Acer Aspire 5720 laptop (vista); USB memory sticks and also my USB external HDD play happily though.
When the FDD is connected I get the "New Hardware Found" box and then it seems to load up quite happily (Sony USB-FDU USB Device). When I open up the Sony USB properties box it says that the device is working correctly. Driver details are C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\USBSTOR.sys.
I've tried updating driver, disabling/enabling driver, unistalling, reinstalling...
I've also tried copying the driver details file from the spare laptop C drive and transferring it to my acer laptop using a usb memory stick - still no joy. Incidentally, the properties (and size) of both files were the same anyway.
Under Control Panel, the FDD is listed but with a yellow "warning" next to it - a right click gives:

The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28)
The system cannot find the file specified.
To reinstall the drivers for this device, click Reinstall Driver.

Been there, done that...didn't work
There's nothing in BIOS that's obvious to change - the FDD does appear in the BIOS list of devices though. The FDD doesn't appear in Windows Explorer though.

Any ideas please - I've Googled it to death...

Many thanks
Brian

aerostar

Does this unit come with an external power supply ?

If it does not, then it is possible that your problem laptop cannot supply enough power to run it correctly and no changing of drivers etc will fix that. If there is no way of powering externally you may have to get a POWERED USB hub, that could well solve your problem.

polybear

Thanks for the reply. The FDD is powered from the USB (no external power supply). However, from Googling I do suspect it's more likely to do with software, but just don't know how to sort it at present though.
There is a green LED light on the FDD which does illuminate when first connected to the laptop, for a few seconds, though what that means is anybody's guess....

Brian

bluesnake

Stealing aerostar's thread. Some devices consume so much power that some usb ports can not cope with this demand.

Some devices have external PSU or a double ended usb cable to allow more power to flow.

Some devices (my hard disk) that if i do not use the short fat cable supplied, either keeps spinning up and down, or with the vey long cable does not work at all.

robmar0se

bluesnake wrote: »

Stealing aerostar's thread. Some devices consume so much power that some usb ports can not cope with this demand.

Some devices have external PSU or a double ended usb cable to allow more power to flow.

Some devices (my hard disk) that if i do not use the short fat cable supplied, either keeps spinning up and down, or with the vey long cable does not work at all.

I was just about to say the same thing. For example I had a Dell Inspiron 1545 in last week which was very sensitive. The mobo is supposed to give a power rate of 5v; some boards do vary, and it won't take a significant drop below 5v to be sufficient to stop some usb devices working (although some USB devices have a greater tolerance and may work within a wider range) - the light on the front is a simple diode that needs virtually no power to light up.

Try one of these, in 2 possible ways (i) both usb jacks plugged into 2 usb sockets in the laptop, if it doesn't work try, (ii) main usb junction jack in lappie, and temporarly (not permanent solution) put other usb jack into the other lappie so see if that works.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-DUAL-POWER-Y-2-x-TYPE-MINI-B-CABLE-LEAD-/290515794130?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43a41738d2

polybear

Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately the FDD is hard-wired to a cable fitted with a Male USB connector, so the suggested Y-Adapter on Ebay won't help. The FDD is rated at 5v 500mA; the Acer USB ports are also rated at 500mA per port (I've nothing else plugged in to the other USB ports), though I realise what is stated may not be the case in the real world...

Brian

Figment

Then I'd agree with what was suggested earlier - you probably need a powered USB hub to supply enough power to drive the FDD as the laptop isn't supplying enough current.

Figment

or one of these

polybear

Thanks for the replies. What's the best (i.e. cheapest!) place to get one of those cables from please?

Brian

Figment

Can only see one of ebay. £5 delivered

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dual-USB-Input-Power-Cable-Addonics-/110810292759?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19cccee217

robmar0se

For that price try this from Amazon - at least if it doesn't work they will take it back without a quibble....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TRIXES-Speed-Power-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00504BBB8/ref=sr_1_20?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1328055902&sr=1-20

One thing I didn't mention in my last post, is that the length of the USB cable can affect the power, as you we all know there is resistence in the cable, so what is sent isn't what is received - so shorter cables are always better..