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    Strange behavior of expresscard USB 3.0 connector

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by HKO, Jun 19, 2011.

  1. HKO

    HKO Newbie

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    Within my VPCZ13B7E I've installed an expresscard USB 3.0 connector. It works well for ex. with a pixelflash USB 3.0 CF-card reader. As well it used without problem an external harddrive via USB 2.0. Now I've bought a Logilink USB 3.0 case and installed there the same harddrive like used before in the USB 2.0 box. If I connect this with one of the USB 2.0 ports of the sony proper working, no problem. But if I now connect this with the USB 3.0 connector the HDD will be recognised but no possibility to read or write, not any access, as well if I try Win 7 Tools like scandisk etc. Either I receive the answer that access is forbidden or if I try to read a file, which is visible within the explorer frame, it says that the file could not be found.
    I've no idea to understand this crazy behavior. Of course it is clear that the used HDD is SATA 2.0 but in my mind this should be compatible too.
    More than once I looked for new drivers, but there seem to be no ones. Installed USB 3.0 drivers are Fresco Logic xHCI (USB3) Controller FL 1000 Series and Fresco Logic xHCI (USB3) Root Hub.

    Any idea to solve this problem ?

    Horst
     
  2. srbinoki

    srbinoki Newbie

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    I have the same problem using a Renesas µPD720200 based controller in a 34mm Express Card. Both the Fresco Logic and Renesas host controllers use the majority of the power available on the PCIe Express Card bus and leave very little power for mechanical based hard drives. I overcame this using an AdvanCED USB 3.0 powered 4 port hub from Amazon.

    The new Renesas µPD720200A Host Controller will use 85% less bus power then the non "A" version so it should leave enough for your HDD to run. These cards should hit the street around September as they are just now coming out of manufacturing.

    Steve
     
  3. pyr0

    pyr0 100% laptop dynamite

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    But it is odd that he can actually see and browse files on the HDD, HDD seems to spin properly, but files can't be opened. For me, that rather smells like a bad SATA/USB3.0 bridge chip in this cheapo Logilink case, probably a crappy ASMedia chip which has issues when switching on USB3.0. OP, please try another case.