External HDD doesn't connect to PC using extension cable USB3.0 only!

[Penwed]

Hi guys,

I have Seagate 2tb USB3.0 external hdd, it has power supply, so it isn't one of those portable ones powered only by usb. It came with a short cable which works perfectly. I wanted a longer cable so I bought an extension USB3 cable - 3m. However, when I connect it using this extension to USB3.0 port, it isn't recognized by windows 8 pro. That wouldn't be so weird as I would just think it was a bad cable, but then I tried to connect it to other usb ports (2.0) and it works without any problem.

So my question is, why does it not work in usb3 port only? The drive itself seems on, it makes those spinning sounds and the led is lit. I just can't see it in device manager at all. (What is even stranger, I saw it once suddenly working - after unplug and plug, it wasn't recognized again.) Also, the extension cable, when using with my flash drive, works in each port, the 3.0 including.

So, what I think, does the usb3 port have different power values then usual 2.0? And the extension cable just can't cope with 3.0, only 2.0?But then why the flash drive works? My ports should all be powered.. Or is this a software problem? I am using just some generic ms drivers for the usb3 - clean installation of Win 8 Pro x64. My pc: ASUS M5A78L-M/USB3, AMD fx-8320...


Thank you so much for any help or advises. I was trying to find out something online, but wasn't able to.

 

[blackmancer]

Does it work when you use the factory supplied cable?

 

[Penwed]

Yea, the original cable works. I actually tried every single combination of connections as of now, HDD with original cable works in USB 3.0 and 2.0 too.
Now, the extension cable works with my flash drive also in USB 3.0 and 2.0 without any problem.
The HDD with the extension cable works on 2.0 perfectly, but fails to get recognized when connected to 3.0. That's just weird

I have found this http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?10513-USB-3.0-connection-problems-(USB-2.0-works-USB-3.0-only-works-sometimes) , now installed different USB 3.0 drivers, the original Asmedia (http://asus-m5a78l-m-usb3-asmedia-usb-3-0.driver.soft32download.com/) with no effect. I am going to try newer version of the driver too.

 

[popatim]

the seagate having its own power supply is probably experience ground loop type issues due to the voltage drop across the extension cable of the inhereint usb3 voltages. Your other devices seem to work fine simply because they aren't seeing 2 different "grounds"

well this would be my guess at least.

 

[Penwed]

the seagate having its own power supply is probably experience ground loop type issues due to the voltage drop across the extension cable of the inhereint usb3 voltages. Your other devices seem to work fine simply because they aren't seeing 2 different "grounds"

well this would be my guess at least.

That's pretty much possible. Do usb2.0 port provide more power in general? That would explain why it works when plugged into the 2.0 port. But actually, it seems the opposite. USB3.0 provides 900mA, USB2.0 only 500mA... (just checked) Or, do the USB3.0 features make the extension cable drop the power supply...?

Anyway, now having the newest drivers, checked my Bios settings (can't see any connection there..).

 

[Lorenz Zackerl]

Hi,
sorry for warming up an old thread, but i do have exactly the same problem.
It took me ages to even find out that it was the extension cable but i am pretty sure.
My motherboard:
AsRock H77-PRO4-MVP Intel H77 1155/4xDDR3/SATA3/USB3/HDMI/DVI/Glan/RAID ATX
Front AND Back USB ports are affected, USB 2 works like a charm, so does USB 3, however when i use usb3 extension cables on the usb3 ports i either get the prompt to format my hard drives (yeah, riiiight :S) or copying stops with the following error messages:
"An unexpected error is keeping you from copying the file" or "The destination you have specified does not exist"
It even corrupted the MFT of an entire 2TB hd beyond repair until i found out that it's the extension cables to blame.
My OS is Windows 7, my HDs are WD Mybooks and HP Simplesavers and the same problem occurs with 3 different extension cables from 3 different manufacturers.
Thx for any helpful thoughts!

 

[Paperdoc]

There are two major changes between USB2 and 3. As several have said, USB3 provides more power for peripherals, but OP's drive does NOT depend on the USB3 port for power. Nobody has pointed out yet the MAIN difference -- USB3 is MUCH faster than USB2 by about 10x! That means the data transmission rate along the data cable is much higher, and hence is also much more sensitive to cable quality and length. Although the USB3 specs do not limit cable length explicitly, the limit from USB2 for a single cable (no intervening hubs) was 3 m (10 feet) INCLUDING the cable that came with the drive unit. In fact, the limit really comes from the time delay allowed for a USB device at the end of the cable to send a response back to the USB port. That time limit is close to the time it takes for the electrical signals to travel along a cable of that length. Any significant delay from the drive at the end of the cable in its own response can put the whole process over the limit. Maybe that's why a flash drive works on the end of this extension cable, and the external HDD does not. The flash drive is just faster at generating and sending back a response.

Why does it work reliably on a USB2 port? Because the demands for timing and data transfer are so much easier to meet.

MAYBE the cable is not really up to the requirements of USB3, and a better cable will work. Or MAYBE the external drive unit is just slow enough in generating a response that it cannot work with a 3m extension cable.