Jump to content

External HDD Won't Start Up on Boot

larkhillv
By larkhillv
in Troubleshooting
 Share
Go to solution Solved by Captain_WD,

I am not quite sure how to do that.

 

My mobo is MSI ATX DDR3 2600 LGA 1150 Motherboards Z97 GAMING 5 running the latest BIOS (version 1.7) from MSI's website: http://us.msi.com/support/mb/Z97_GAMING_5.html#down-bios

 

Thanks for your help! If this doesn't work, I'll try calling MSI and see if they can walk me through.

 

I've found a guide for your BIOS and how to check if skipping the USB as a Boot device is enabled or not: https://www.ami.com/support/doc/UEFI%20Development%20PC%20Setup%20User%20Manual_PUB.pdf
On page 22 (chapter 4) you can find the boot menu with the settings and where to check that. I would read the whole file to familiarize with the whole BIOS and see if there are any other ways for the USB to be disabled as a boot device.
 
Captain_WD.
Posted

Hello,

 

I finally built my own computer for the first time and everything appears to be working fine. However, my external HDD won't power on and be recognized by my computer on boot. I can get it to work by either unplugging and replugging in the USB or power cable, but that is a major pain. This external HDD used to be attached to my old laptop and it would power on after booting up, so I know that the drive is OK.

 

It's plugged into a USB 3.0 port on my MSI Z97 mobo, if that matters. I'm running a fresh install of Windows 8.1

 

I updated my drivers after installing the OS, but maybe somehow I missed something? Any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Try USB 2.0

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

Try USB 2.0

 

Nope. It doesn't even recognize it in USB 2.0 (I know the ports work, I have a USB cable on the same mobo connected to my keyboard)

 

The HDD is a USB 3.0 enabled one anyway, so I'd prefer to have it in a 3.0 slot to get the full speed benefit from it.

 

The external HDD is a Seagate GoFlex 2TB drive, if that matters.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Boot normally, go to computer management - disk manager - scroll and see if is there, and if it is with black try and change the letter to Y or Z.

The blood on to your heart start pumping faster when you notice me.


But is ok.


Judge me for my nickname, my avatar and for the low amounts of posts I have. I will keep your heart beat raised.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Hello,

 

I finally built my own computer for the first time and everything appears to be working fine. However, my external HDD won't power on and be recognized by my computer on boot. I can get it to work by either unplugging and replugging in the USB or power cable, but that is a major pain. This external HDD used to be attached to my old laptop and it would power on after booting up, so I know that the drive is OK.

 

It's plugged into a USB 3.0 port on my MSI Z97 mobo, if that matters. I'm running a fresh install of Windows 8.1

 

I updated my drivers after installing the OS, but maybe somehow I missed something? Any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

 

Hello larkhillv and welcome to Linus Tech Tips forum :)
 
I would first try to see if the drive boots on other computers normally to exclude the drive as the source of the issue.
As @MasterRaceFanBoy suggested, you can check if the drive is seen anywhere (BIOS, device manager, disk management) and try to assign a letter to it.
Also, check if you have all your latest drivers and firmware (including your BIOS and that external drive).
I would also check if he BIOS has some sort of setting for peripherals and their booting options. 
 
Captain_WD.

If this helped you, like and choose it as best answer - you might help someone else with the same issue. ^_^
WDC Representative, http://www.wdc.com/ 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

 

Hello larkhillv and welcome to Linus Tech Tips forum :)
 
I would first try to see if the drive boots on other computers normally to exclude the drive as the source of the issue.
As @MasterRaceFanBoy suggested, you can check if the drive is seen anywhere (BIOS, device manager, disk management) and try to assign a letter to it.
Also, check if you have all your latest drivers and firmware (including your BIOS and that external drive).
I would also check if he BIOS has some sort of setting for peripherals and their booting options. 
 
Captain_WD.

 

 

 

Hello,

 

I have tested it on my old laptop. It boots up fine along with the laptop. No disconnecting and reconnecting required, so it appears that the hardware is fine.

 

It is listed when I go into Devices and Printers, but it has the yellow triangle and exclamation point icon showing that there is an issue. I am still getting the Code 10 error for USB Mass Storage Device. I have tried reassigning the letter to Z and it didn't help.

 

My just updated by BIOS and Windows says that my USB drivers are all up to date.

 

The weird thing is that I can see that the external HDD turns on when I am actually in my BIOS and it does recognize that there is a USB HDD attached. It just doesn't power it on automatically when Windows actually begins to boot. I watched the power LED on my HDD. It is on during BIOS but turns off when the Windows splash screen appears.

 

Attached are images of what I saw in BIOS showing that my mobo indeed does recognize that it's there:

 

http://imgur.com/qXLJMhE

http://imgur.com/vkU0HFe

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Hello,

 

I have tested it on my old laptop. It boots up fine along with the laptop. No disconnecting and reconnecting required, so it appears that the hardware is fine.

 

It is listed when I go into Devices and Printers, but it has the yellow triangle and exclamation point icon showing that there is an issue. I am still getting the Code 10 error for USB Mass Storage Device. I have tried reassigning the letter to Z and it didn't help.

 

My just updated by BIOS and Windows says that my USB drivers are all up to date.

 

The weird thing is that I can see that the external HDD turns on when I am actually in my BIOS and it does recognize that there is a USB HDD attached. It just doesn't power it on automatically when Windows actually begins to boot. I watched the power LED on my HDD. It is on during BIOS but turns off when the Windows splash screen appears.

 

Attached are images of what I saw in BIOS showing that my mobo indeed does recognize that it's there:

 

http://imgur.com/qXLJMhE

http://imgur.com/vkU0HFe

 

Hey again :)
 
OK, since you are running Windows 8.1, try these steps:
 
Step 1: Open Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Power Options
Step 2: Now click on Choose what the power buttons do.
Step 3: Then click on Change settings that are currently unavailable, at the top.
Step 4: At bottom, uncheck the “Fast-Startup” option and Restart your PC.
 
If this doesn't help, check your boot settings in the BIOS, maybe they are preventing the USB peripherals to stay connected after Windows boots. 
 
Captain_WD.

If this helped you, like and choose it as best answer - you might help someone else with the same issue. ^_^
WDC Representative, http://www.wdc.com/ 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

 

Hey again :)
 
OK, since you are running Windows 8.1, try these steps:
 
Step 1: Open Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Power Options
Step 2: Now click on Choose what the power buttons do.
Step 3: Then click on Change settings that are currently unavailable, at the top.
Step 4: At bottom, uncheck the “Fast-Startup” option and Restart your PC.
 
If this doesn't help, check your boot settings in the BIOS, maybe they are preventing the USB peripherals to stay connected after Windows boots. 
 
Captain_WD.

 

 

I tried the first method to no avail.

 

I looked around in my BIOS and saw the following screens. Not sure what would affect external HDD boot ups on starting the computer. But the default settings seem like they should force a USB device to boot on upon turning on the computer :( I just can't figure this out.

 

http://tinypic.com/r/148opp4/8

http://tinypic.com/r/fmi04h/8

http://tinypic.com/r/2h6hm3l/8

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I tried the first method to no avail.

 

I looked around in my BIOS and saw the following screens. Not sure what would affect external HDD boot ups on starting the computer. But the default settings seem like they should force a USB device to boot on upon turning on the computer :( I just can't figure this out.

 

http://tinypic.com/r/148opp4/8

http://tinypic.com/r/fmi04h/8

http://tinypic.com/r/2h6hm3l/8

 

 

Have you tried disabling the booting from USB from the BIOS? If you give me the exact model of the BIOS or the MOBO, I could check where the booting options are and if it can be disabled. You could try calling MSI support and asking them if this is possible and if they can help you out.
 
Captain_WD.

If this helped you, like and choose it as best answer - you might help someone else with the same issue. ^_^
WDC Representative, http://www.wdc.com/ 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

 

Have you tried disabling the booting from USB from the BIOS? If you give me the exact model of the BIOS or the MOBO, I could check where the booting options are and if it can be disabled. You could try calling MSI support and asking them if this is possible and if they can help you out.
 
Captain_WD.

 

 

I am not quite sure how to do that.

 

My mobo is MSI ATX DDR3 2600 LGA 1150 Motherboards Z97 GAMING 5 running the latest BIOS (version 1.7) from MSI's website: http://us.msi.com/support/mb/Z97_GAMING_5.html#down-bios

 

Thanks for your help! If this doesn't work, I'll try calling MSI and see if they can walk me through.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Solution

I am not quite sure how to do that.

 

My mobo is MSI ATX DDR3 2600 LGA 1150 Motherboards Z97 GAMING 5 running the latest BIOS (version 1.7) from MSI's website: http://us.msi.com/support/mb/Z97_GAMING_5.html#down-bios

 

Thanks for your help! If this doesn't work, I'll try calling MSI and see if they can walk me through.

 

I've found a guide for your BIOS and how to check if skipping the USB as a Boot device is enabled or not: https://www.ami.com/support/doc/UEFI%20Development%20PC%20Setup%20User%20Manual_PUB.pdf
On page 22 (chapter 4) you can find the boot menu with the settings and where to check that. I would read the whole file to familiarize with the whole BIOS and see if there are any other ways for the USB to be disabled as a boot device.
 
Captain_WD.

If this helped you, like and choose it as best answer - you might help someone else with the same issue. ^_^
WDC Representative, http://www.wdc.com/ 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

 

I've found a guide for your BIOS and how to check if skipping the USB as a Boot device is enabled or not: https://www.ami.com/support/doc/UEFI%20Development%20PC%20Setup%20User%20Manual_PUB.pdf
On page 22 (chapter 4) you can find the boot menu with the settings and where to check that. I would read the whole file to familiarize with the whole BIOS and see if there are any other ways for the USB to be disabled as a boot device.
 
Captain_WD.

 

I don't know why or how, but the last two boots I have done started my external up automatically. I haven't changed or touched anything since the last time I posted here. Weird. If I have problems with it in the future, I will be sure to try your last suggested method.

 

Anyway, Thank you so much for all of your help. Linus isn't joking when he says this place is a very friendly and helpful place for tech advice and help :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I don't know why or how, but the last two boots I have done started my external up automatically. I haven't changed or touched anything since the last time I posted here. Weird. If I have problems with it in the future, I will be sure to try your last suggested method.

 

Anyway, Thank you so much for all of your help. Linus isn't joking when he says this place is a very friendly and helpful place for tech advice and help :)

 

Hey, you are most welcome :)
 
I hope the problem doesn't show up again. If it does, feel free to post again with a reference to this thread so other people can offer solutions too. Otherwise, feel free to ask for any help or info you might need :)
 
Captain_WD.

If this helped you, like and choose it as best answer - you might help someone else with the same issue. ^_^
WDC Representative, http://www.wdc.com/ 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing Troubleshooting

×