USB 3.0 copy to external HD corrupts files on Series 7 S04US

I've looked all over the internet for information with no luck. I have a strange problem.

Whenever I copy files the USB 3.0 port to a USB 3.0 external HD they become corrupted and eventually the HD becomes corrupted too. If I use the USB 2.0 port with the same HD it works perfectly. Also when using the USB 3.0 ports to copy to a USB 2.0 HD, I experience no issues.

So why are files corrupting when using USB 3.0 ports with USB 3.0 HDs? I have tried several different HDs by the way.

Thanks!

 

Can you clarify if you have tried several different HDDs in one destination enclosure or have tried several different complete USB 3.0 devices, each with their own cable. We need to exclude both the USB 3.0 - SATA chip and the cable from being sources of data corruption. USB 2.0 is much slow so the risk of data corruption is reduced.

I recall that the first USB 3.0 enclosure I bought (seems a long time ago but probably only 2 years) was a little unreliable but my more recent purchases have given zero problems.

John

 

Thank you for your help. I've tried several different external hard drives each with their own enclosure. Maybe I'll do some more testing with the 2.0 port to see if I eventually get some corruption just to make sure since you said there is a lower chance on that port due to the lower speed.

And also to clarify, I have used different cables, and tried both of the USB 3.0 ports. I've tried to try all possible combinations. I even updated to Windows 8 and installed the latest USB 3.0 drivers from Samsung in hopes that would fix it.

 

Thanks for clarifying that you have tried all the normal troubleshooting options.

My only other thought is to check for newer USB 3.0 firmware. Do you have the Renesas USB 3.0 controller? Several updates for that were issued last year (I haven't checked recently). In the middle of last year Samsung were including the firmware updates in the driver update packages but seem to have stopped doing that.

I suggest you search around for firmware updates for the USB 3.0 controller. I've seen the Renesas ones somewhere.

John

 

According to Samsung's website, I have the latest USB 3.0 drivers for my laptop. I checked in the device manager and saw that I have an ASMedia USB 3.0 controller so the Renesas updates wouldn't apply in my case.

 

I haven't previously heard of ASMedia USB 3.0 controllers. Perhaps they aren't as mature as Renesas.

See if anything here is appropriate. Also read this which refers to a data corruption problem with the ASMedia controller.

John

 

I have ASMedia as well on my Sandy Bridge NP700Z3A. Specifically the ASMedia ASM1042 USB 3.0 XHCI Controller. I am guessing the model in question must be a Sandy Bridge model as well (NP700Z5A or Z5B if it's a 15.6 incher).

I use my USB3 port extensively with external HDDs and thumb drives and have not experienced any problems. BUT the devices I've used are all USB2, so I cannot provide confirmation there for USB3 devices.

Did you do a clean install? And if so, which Windows version and which drivers did you install?

If you installed Win7, certainly make sure you install Chipset and USB3 drivers provided by Samsung. In fact, make sure you install all the drivers listed in this Win7 install guide. Win8 should have those drivers built-in, and the ones you need to install are listed in this post.

Normally I would point out that Samsung's web site is not the place to get drivers anymore. They stopped updating it some time ago, and all updates now have to be pulled through SW Update (available for download here). But in the case of Win7 Chipset and USB3 drivers for Sandy Bridge and ASMedia, there haven't been any later updates.

We did have a recent discussion about USB3 on your model (or similar) in the thread linked below, but I am not sure it addresses you issue. Check it out, though.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/samsung/715959-np700z5b-usb-3-0-problems.html

 

My memory is fading! That link shows I have to retract my statement above saying it's the first time I've heard of ASMedia USB 3.0.

Another trouble-shooting thought: Are the USB 3.0 drives mains powered or powered through the USB interface? If the former I wonder if there's an earth look which is also corrupting the data (but this should be picked up by error checking during transfer).

John

 

LOL

I am trying to come to terms with my fading memory, but not making much progress on it. I think you and I can maybe excuse ourselves by the fact that we do participate in a lot of discussions, it's impossible to remember them all. I am trying to make you feel better, dunno if it's working

The mains vs self-powered thing is a good suggestion.

I wish I had a USB3 enclosure to so that I can confirm it's working here -- which I think it is. I've been waiting for this e-SATA/USB3 dock and the Seagate 3TB/7200rpm to come down in price; they've stubbornly stayed the same (even gone up a bit) during the time I watched them. As a matter of principle, I refuse to pay top dollar for tech products.

 

Doubt it will be the USB interface....more likely duff RAM, any chance you have upgraded the memory

 

Be careful too of the cable being used. When I first got my 3.0 enclosure I had multiple issues and all were the cable. Got a good USB 3.0 cable and now all is fine.............

 

Have the same problem with my Samsung Series 7 Chronos. Just ate the 3rd USB 3.0 external drive in the USB3.0 port.

Basically they are good for accessories and the machine in effect only has 2 USB 2 ports.

Any storage device plugged into my USB 3.0 Port is corrupted after one or two uses.

One 16 GB Sandisk Cruzer, One Verbatim 1TB and One 3TB WD have all been corrupted so far. The Cruzer on at least 2 different occasions.

All usually happens when I am trying to back up and hence have a lot of drives plugged in...the only time I ever take a chance on the USB 3 port.

Now 12 hours of work to rebuild my Verbatim HD.

 

Hello mwkennedy, welcome to NBR.

Are you saying the USB drives were actually damaged from being plugged into the USB port? And they couldn't be repaired by reformatting or re-initializing? In that case, I would say it sounds like a defect port or motherboard, maybe feeding incorrect voltage to the drive, and I would definitely contact Samsung for a repair.

If it is "merely" data corruption (which I agree is terrible) a driver issue is possible -- although a defect port could still be the cause. Given the severity and consistency of your problem, I would still consider contacting Samsung -- certainly if it's within warranty.

A good way to test for hardware defects is to restore to factory (using F4 Recovery) and test if the problem is still there. It is probably the first thing Samsung will ask you to do as well if you contact them.

You didn't mention which model number you have: Series 7 Chronos covers dozens of models in different sizes and CPU/chipset generations since 2011, each with different types of USB3 controller. Also, which Windows version? Are you running the factory installation or your own clean install? If the latter, which drivers did you install? These will help us narrow the issue.

 

It was a Series 7 NP700Z7C-S03SE that I had trouble with. A 17" model with a 1 TB hybrid drive, quad core i7 running Windows 8.0 and also in 8.1 Professional.

The motherboard and hard drive eventually both failed and were replaced on this machine. Have not dared to try my Verbatim drive on the rebuilt machine in the USB 3 port.

It may well be that a defective USB port on the motherboard fried the USB 3 capability on this Verbatim drive.

I had trouble with all USB 3 devices on that computer except for 'dumb' devices like mice or keyboards.


The Verbatim drive simply appears to be totally unable to function on a USB 3.0 port now.

Tested with multiple cables on multiple devices, including my brand new Lenovo G510 running Win 8.1.

The other drives (16 GB Sandisk Cruzer and 3TB WD) seem ok on other machines using USB 3.0.


It is interesting to take note of this support thread on Microsoft. It would appear that the Autoplay function did play a role in the actual corruption of the drives root directory.

"You need to format the disk in drive J: before you can use - Microsoft Community

In most cases (about 4 out of 5 times) I have rebuilt the directory and restored the data for example with Chkdsk during a boot up.

Now after turning off the Autoplay the drive will connect-disconnect dozens of times, but at least the root directory so far remains uncorrupted.

So in conclusion this device can only now be used on a USB 2 port. I am not sure how many other Verbatim 1TB Store n Go Portable users have suffered a similar fate?

Unfortunately USB 2 ports are getting harder to find and I don't trust that I will keep being able to access the data on the drive (eventually the USB 2 may also give out).

So I will probably have to replace this drive soon.

 

What happens if you plug the HDD into a USB 2.0 hub that is then plugged into a USB 3.0 port?

John