External HDD Causing Reboot Loop

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eibes

[H]ard|Gawd
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Jul 27, 2009
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I'll start it from the beginning. I had to reformat my computer from a corrupted file causing windows to not be able to boot. So I wiped both of my internal HDD's (two Seagate 500gb 7200.12 drives) and reinstalled windows xp sp2. After the reformat it would start to POST and get to (or apparently slightly beyond) memory testing when it would restart the boot and get to the same point, etc. At first I thought it was a memory problem since it would get to memory testing so after a few days of trying different memory combinations I tried unplugging devices and low and behold once my external HDD (a WD My Book Essential 320gb) was unplugged the computer would boot just fine. I have found that after the computer is booted if I plug in the external then plug it into power my computer will recognize it. This is not a huge problem but it can be a little bit of a pain because I now have to do this every time I restart my computer since I use the drive to back up my files.
Is there any way I can get this drive to be recognized at boot to avoid plugging it in every time? Or what is going on when it will not allow the computer to POST?

Thank you for all your help.
 
That issue is actually quite common with external hard drives from my experience. Haven't seen a fix for it at all.
 
Any chance you can transplant the drive into your tower, reformat it and test it, then put it back into the external enclosure?
 
Ryom said:
Have you tried a different USB port?
Click to expand...

Yes, I tried all the different USB ports including both the front two.

SJetski71 said:
Any chance you can transplant the drive into your tower, reformat it and test it, then put it back into the external enclosure?
Click to expand...

I would prefer to not have to retest it since it has had all my files on it for the last 2-3 years including school work, music and movies. When I reformat I can see it as one of my drives so I could probably format it from there but I was hoping there would be another fix... But as Danny Bui had said there may not be a fix.
 
Is booting from USB/removable devices enabled in the BIOS? Try turning off everything but boot from HD and see if that helps.
 
Ryom said:
Is booting from USB/removable devices enabled in the BIOS? Try turning off everything but boot from HD and see if that helps.
Click to expand...

I cant even get that far with my external plugged it.. It wont register any keystrokes during the POST to allow me to get into boot menu.
 
Ryom said:
So unplug it and check :p
Click to expand...

Yeah my computer boots just fine without the external plugged in and I can get into bios and boot menu just fine... Is that what you meant?? I think it has something to do with boot priority maybe? The computer cant figure out which drive to boot to with them all plugged in; could that be the case?
 
That's a theory, try it out. Disable booting from everything but HD and see if it helps.
 
I have an external USB drive that prevents my computer from booting too, with it plugged in any USB port

I also have a USB memory stick that reboots after posting and resets my overclock, every single time that I leave it plugged in when rebooting, in any USB port.

Then I had a problem with any 18x.xx NVidia driver causing one of my USB ports to not initialise on boot making my keyboard and mouse fail and taking forever to finish booting while it timed out.
Once in windows, unplugging/replugging the USB cable redected everything and worked fine.
I cured it by using a different USB port but rolling back to an earlier video driver also worked.


Mad things USB ports.
IMHO you should make sure you boot without the drive plugged in.
I have to do the same with my USB memory stick unless I want to run unclocked.
One of those things.

(this is on an X38 mobo)

nb I've heard of quite a few boot problems with USB devices plugged in
 
That sounds like the same thing I am experiencing, I use a 192.xx nvidia driver also so I don't think that is the problem. Its not too big of a deal to plug in my hdd everytime I boot since I have a usb hub so its right on my desk anyway. I was just seeing if anyone knew an easy fix

Anyway, thanks for all your help guys.
 
Would buying a new external hard drive fix this problem? I know Nenu said it does the same thig with this USB card but has anyone had any luck with using another external instead?
 
Yes you may have better luck.
I tried a WD passport 320GB external drive and that gave me no issues.
 
eibes said:
Would buying a new external hard drive fix this problem? I know Nenu said it does the same thing with this USB card but has anyone had any luck with using another external instead?
Click to expand...
Personally i would try swapping cases first, Pick up an aluminum/ventilated case at newegg that gets good reviews.

Just make sure you pick the right size, 2.5" is for slim laptop drives and 3.5" is for regular hard drives. I would double check first but i'm pretty sure you'd need a 3.5" case going by the pictures of the western digital mybook 320gb.
 
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