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    External HDD stops notebook booting - need fix

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Tinderbox (UK), Nov 29, 2009.

  1. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    I have a Buffalo 1GB 3.5" external hdd plugged into mu usb port , but when i boot my notebook , it sits on the boot screen waiting for the external hdd, once i unplug the hdd , the boot continues into Windows, I have had this happen on 3+ notebooks of different brands.

    Anybody know know how to get my notebook to boot with the external hdd connected.

    Thanks.
     
    Tinderbox (UK), Nov 29, 2009
    #1
  2. Lanaya

    Lanaya Templar Assassin

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    have you checked the boot order in your bios? move the removable devices below your internal HDD
     
    Lanaya, Nov 29, 2009
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  3. gordon55y

    gordon55y Notebook Enthusiast

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    Does the external HDD get all its power from one USB?
     
    gordon55y, Nov 29, 2009
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  4. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Can you update your BIOS?

    Do you have another driver for the HDD?

    Is the HDD empty?
     
    moral hazard, Nov 29, 2009
    #4
  5. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

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    can't u plug in the drive after booting?
     
    sean473, Nov 30, 2009
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  6. Amnesiac

    Amnesiac 404

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    Same happens with my flash drive and my desktop.
     
    Amnesiac, Nov 30, 2009
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  7. LPTP-LVR

    LPTP-LVR Notebook Deity

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    that's what i would do. Is the HDD itself somehow set to act as master by it's jumper setting by any chance? That'll confuse the hell out your laptop.
     
    LPTP-LVR, Nov 30, 2009
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  8. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    The drive sometimes boots fine and other times it hangs until i pull the usb cable out, it is a WD SATA 1TB ECO HDD in a Buffalo external case.

    How can i tell if it is set to master, do sata hdd`s have jumpers ??
     
    Tinderbox (UK), Nov 30, 2009
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  9. LPTP-LVR

    LPTP-LVR Notebook Deity

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    Well i know the Scorpio Blue i just bought had pins for a jumper. There wasn't one on them but they could be used for that purpose. Why not open the case and find out? I'm just thinking this because you mentioned it behaved like this with 3 different laptops, has to be something with the HDD then.
     
    LPTP-LVR, Dec 1, 2009
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  10. deputy963

    deputy963 Notebook Evangelist

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    Just go into your BIOS and change the boot order so that HDD is at the top. Currently the computer is trying to boot to a USB device. Since there is no OS on the drive it hangs.
     
    deputy963, Dec 1, 2009
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  11. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    It is already at the top, I have emptied and re-partitioned and formatted the drive , it now only hangs for around 30 seconds before Windows starts to load.

     
    Tinderbox (UK), Dec 1, 2009
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  12. deputy963

    deputy963 Notebook Evangelist

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    The drive probably had an autorun, which you deleted during the format, which caused the computer to think it was loading even though there was no OS on the drive. That would be the reason it hung at boot.

    The fact that it hangs for 30 seconds then proceeds tells me that it is still looking for a USB boot device, but isn't finding anything bootable - causing to to go to the next boot device (CD or HDD).
     
    deputy963, Dec 1, 2009
    #12
  13. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    Have you tried a different usb port?

    This is quite common with USB devices, ive seen ipods do it too.
     
    flipfire, Dec 1, 2009
    #13