Re: External hard drive problem
From: Pete (lansma_at_bigpond.com)
Date: 12/03/04
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Date: Fri, 03 Dec 2004 14:32:44 GMT
Just for completeness-sake...strangely it seems this is a problem with
virtual memory. I changed the min and max values to 1.5 times my RAM
(512 Mb) and now the drive appears to work properly. I just did a
successful defrag, something I wasn't able to do previously using
Firewire. I will do some more testing tomorrow, but it looks promising.
The help came from the Dell forum. Yippy !
-- All the best, Pete ------------------------------------------------ Home Page: http://users.bigpond.com/lansma Location: 42°53'S; 147°19'E R. McCarty wrote: > I would visit the Drive web-site and pull the product specifications > sheet (probably a .pdf) and check the "Rated" speeds. But yes the > values you mention track with what I see on my USB 2.0 External > Maxtor. On my 5000-LE the access time is around 20 mSeconds > and average Read/Write data rates are around 17-20 Megabytes. > > "Pete" <lansma@bigpond.com> wrote in message > news:oRZrd.57309$K7.541@news-server.bigpond.net.au... >> Thanks, you've been a big help. I have tried to alter the policies >> without a change in the problem. I have just posted to the Dell >> peripherals forum. I don't think I am alone in having firewire >> problems it seems. >> >> One FINAL question: do the read/write speeds I reported sound within >> normal limits? >> >> Again, many thanks. >> >> >> -- >> All the best, >> Pete >> >> ------------------------------------------------ >> Home Page: http://users.bigpond.com/lansma >> Location: 42°53'S; 147°19'E >> >> >> >> R. McCarty wrote: >>> I wasn't aware that your PC was a notebook. In that case, then >>> both USB ports are 2.0 (High Speed). >>> >>> As to the Firewire connection experiencing Delayed write failures >>> it could be due to the Polices on the drive. I have a Maxtor >>> external USB drive. Whenever it is connected, it's Device Manager >>> policy is set to "Optimize for Quick Removal" which doesn't use >>> delayed writes. You should connect via both technologies and go to >>> Device Mgr & click the Policies Tab and see how the caching is set >>> in each setup. Perhaps when you use Firewire, the disk cache can't >>> flush data fast enough and that's why you are getting the error. >>> >>> "Pete" <lansma@bigpond.com> wrote in message >>> news:YEXrd.57179$K7.9164@news-server.bigpond.net.au... >>>> Thanks for that, but I remain confused. I have a Dell notebook and >>>> only have two USB ports. Doers this mean they are both USB 2.0 >>>> based on the info I provided above or just one of them? >>>> >>>> I have done some tests of read/write/and random access speeds for >>>> the USB 2.0 (?) port versus firewire. (It is only when I use >>>> firewire that I get the "Windows - Delayed Write Failed" problem). >>>> I'd welcome your feedback: >>>> >>>> Firewire >>>> ---------- >>>> Sequential Write: 22.4 Mbps >>>> Sequential Read: 29.4 Mbps >>>> Random Access: 16.7 Mbps >>>> >>>> USB >>>> ---------- >>>> Sequential Write: 23.3 Mbps >>>> Sequential Read: 24.3 Mbps >>>> Random Access: 12.8 Mbps >>>> >>>> Are these fairly typical rates? >>>> >>>> Thanks a million. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> All the best, >>>> Pete >>>> >>>> ------------------------------------------------ >>>> Home Page: http://users.bigpond.com/lansma >>>> Location: 42°53'S; 147°19'E >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> R. McCarty wrote: >>>>> Yep - That's how most Intel Chipset 82801 Controller Hubs are >>>>> enumerated in Device Manager. Your PC should have 4 fixed USB >>>>> ports on the back plane, then two separate connectors. One for use >>>>> with front panel USB ports and the other to a PCI slot access. >>>>> Unfortunately, there isn't a software tool for diagnosing which >>>>> type of USB (Full -1.1 or HighSpeed 2.0) are present. Adaptec has >>>>> one called USB Control but it only works with Adaptec PCI Add-in >>>>> USB cards. >>>>> >>>>> Also, the ports aren't logically arranged - You need to change >>>>> the Device Manager default view to "View by Connection", then >>>>> expand the ACPI, ACPI Compliant System, PCI Bus, USB hubs and you >>>>> can >>>>> see how actual devices are connected to which HUB by their >>>>> identifier (24C4, 24C2, etc). In other words USB ports 1 & 2, 3 & >>>>> 4, 5 & 6 don't always equate to the same Hub. It's confusing, but >>>>> helps if you have a heavily loaded HUB where power limits or >>>>> bandwidth are >>>>> an issue. >>>>> >>>>> "Pete" <lansma@bigpond.com> wrote in message >>>>> news:U2Ord.56559$K7.27512@news-server.bigpond.net.au... >>>>>> Thanks R., >>>>>> >>>>>> In Device Manager under Universal Serial Bus controllers I have 8 >>>>>> entries: >>>>>> >>>>>> Intel(r) 82801DB/DBM USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller - 24CD >>>>>> Intel(r) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C2 >>>>>> Intel(r) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C4 >>>>>> Intel(r) 82801DB/DBM USBUniversal Host Controller - 24C7 >>>>>> USB Root Hub >>>>>> USB Root Hub >>>>>> USB Root Hub >>>>>> USB Root Hub >>>>>> >>>>>> and if I plug my external drive in I get another entry: >>>>>> >>>>>> USB Mass Storage Device >>>>>> >>>>>> Does this smean my 2 x USB ports are 2.0? >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> All the best, >>>>>> Pete >>>>>> >>>>>> ------------------------------------------------ >>>>>> Home Page: http://users.bigpond.com/lansma >>>>>> Location: 42°53'S; 147°19'E >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> R. McCarty wrote: >>>>>>> If the device is USB 2.0 capable and you plug it into a USB full >>>>>>> speed port (Version 1.1) XP will report that a USB2.0 (High >>>>>>> Speed) device is being used in a non-USB2 port. >>>>>>> Determine USB capability by the descriptor in Device Manager >>>>>>> for Universal Serial Bus Controllers by checking for "Enhanced >>>>>>> Controller" - which denotes USB Full Speed 2.0. >>>>>>> For benchmarking, I would use DiskSpeed 32 which can display >>>>>>> the important aspects of Burst, Sustained transfers and access >>>>>>> time - which shouldn't vary between Firewire and USB. >>>>>>> Disk Speed can be downloaded from: >>>>>>> http://www.geocities.com/vgrinenko/DiskSpeed32/ >>>>>>> >>>>>>> "Pete" <lansma@bigpond.com> wrote in message >>>>>>> news:2oMrd.56478$K7.18397@news-server.bigpond.net.au... >>>>>>>> Now, here's the thing: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> When connected using Firewire, I get the problems reported when >>>>>>>> trying the defrag but using USB 1.1 I don't. Well, at least I >>>>>>>> think it's 1.1 but it doesn't seem much slower than Firewire, >>>>>>>> if at all, which I think is strange. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Does this offer further clues? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Also, is there a way to check whether I have USB 1.1 vs USB >>>>>>>> 2.0? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Finally, is there a way I can properly test the speed of the >>>>>>>> drive running USB versus Firewire - like a diagnostic tool I >>>>>>>> can download somewhere? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Thanks again. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> All the best, >>>>>>>> Pete >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> ------------------------------------------------ >>>>>>>> Home Page: http://users.bigpond.com/lansma >>>>>>>> Location: 42°53'S; 147°19'E >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Alex Nichol wrote: >>>>>>>>> Pete wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> "Windows - Delayed Write Failed >>>>>>>>>> Windows was unable to save all the data for the file G:????. >>>>>>>>>> The data has been lost. this error may be caused by a failure >>>>>>>>>> of your computer hardware or network connection. Please try >>>>>>>>>> to save this file elsewhere." >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I'm reasonably clueless about what to do in these situations >>>>>>>>>> but I did run the Windows XP disk error checking utility >>>>>>>>>> (which took literally a couple of hours). This did not report >>>>>>>>>> any problems. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> The best thing in such a case is to turn off the delayed >>>>>>>>> write - the loss is not in practice very much and better have >>>>>>>>> it work reliably. Go to >>>>>>>>> Control Panel - System - Hardware - Device Manager >>>>>>>>> look for the drive, double click and in the Policies page >>>>>>>>> uncheck 'Enable Write caching' >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I would also go to the USB controllers section, lower down >>>>>>>>> and look for the USB Root Hub that shows as being in use for >>>>>>>>> this device on its Power page. Then in its Power Management, >>>>>>>>> uncheck 'Allow computer to turn off to save power', which may >>>>>>>>> well be the underlying cause
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