Notebooks & Netbooks

[acooperator]

Hi,

My laptop is Acer, and its specs are:

Intel Clerlon CPU 530, 1.73GHz

RAM: 2.5GB

H.D.D: 120GB

BIOS veersion: V1.16

Product Level 1:	Notebook
Product Level 2:	Extensa
Product Level 3:	Extensa 5220

The problem is that when I pluge any external hard disk to my laptop, then restart the laptop, I findd that it takes me a long time to enter to  Multi Boot seclection menu or to BIOS settings.

Besides, if I leave Windows 7(64Bit) boots(not pressing on F12 nor F2) while external hard disk is plugged to, it also takes a long time to pass the Multi Boot selection menu( it takes about 5 minuets to pass the  entering Multi Boot seclection menu, then (balck screen with pointer on the top left corner shows to me, it takes about 2 minutes until Windows begins to start).

This is only happening when an external hard disk is plugged to laptop. Even that there is no disc on the optical driver.

When there is no external hard disk is plugged to laptop, then I can quickely enter to  Multi Boot seclection menu OR if leave the Windows 7 boots, the it  quickly passes the Multi Boot seclection menu, and it also quickely starts   

I have entered to the BIOS, but in the section 'boot' that boot priority order is as follows:

1st: CD/DVD 

2sd: Loal WD hard disk

3th: USB HDD

In addition, I have entered into the 'Advanced' tab, then into the ASF confguaration, and I found this:

Minimum WatchDog Timeout   [60]

BIOS Boot Timout     [0]

OS boot Timeout [0]

Power-On wait time  [60].

[vvprad]

=> Have you tried connecting this ext HDD to different USB port to see if it works?

=> Check this ext HDD with any other computer.

=> Change the Boot priority settings in BIOS.

1. hard drive.

2. Ext HDD (USB HDD)

3. CD/DVD drive

[acooperator]

Thanks a lot,

Yes, I have tired connecting the exteranl hard disc to all USB ports, but the same is still happening. Also, I have tried connecting the exteranl HD to another laptop(HP), and I can quickely enter to either multi boot slection menu or BIOS.

This means no problem realted with External hard disc.

Note. the default settings of boot priority order is as follows:

1. hard drive.(IDE0)

2. IDE1:

3. CD/DVD drive

4. PCI LAN: Network Boot

5.  Ext HDD (USB HDD)

However, what I am using is: 

1.CD/DVD drive 

2.hard drive. (IDE0)

3. Ext HDD (USB HDD)

4. IDE1

Yes, I have tried your suggestion as follows:

1. hard drive.

2. Ext HDD (USB HDD)

3. CD/DVD drive

But the same is still happening.

The problem is not showing me when no external hard drive connected, whatever boot priority order is setup.

Although the latest driver(WD SES Device) of WD external hard disc is installed and the external H.D is working well, the External  hard disc  sometimes needs to be reconnected in order to be detected. (It is always shown  under USB Mass Storage Device under USB in the device manager.) 

When the external hard disc is detected while I am on Windows interface(the external hard disc is shown on my computer), then when restaring the laptop, I found it takes me a long time to either enter to Mulit boot selction menu or to enter to BIOS. Thus, I guess that the problem is in slowley detecting the external hard disc while loading 

NOTE: External hard disc is supported both USB2 and USB3, but as far as I know that Acer laptop I have doesn't use USB3.

[Alan-London]

If you are using a USB powered HDD, it could well be a power issue where the drive is calling for a little more current than the USB port can supply. Clearly this shouldn't happen but I have seen it reported for a WD drive.
If this is the case, try a USB powered hub. That should at least determine if that is the problem.

USB Y-cables are available which draw current from two ports to effectively double the available current for power hungry drives.

[acooperator]

Thanks a lot, I don't know what you're meaning with a USB powered HDD, however, if you meant with it with USB HDD needed to be connected to power supply via USB powered cable, I would say no, I have  a USB HDD only connected to laptop and it doesnt' have to be plugged to power supply.

[Alan-London]

'USB powered HDD' = HDD that obtains its power from the USB socket to which it's connected and doesn't need any other power supply. That is what you have.
If the problem is as I described, you can check by connecting a USB powered hub to your laptop and plugging your HDD into the hub.

Here are a couple of examples (not recommendations - just to show you what I mean):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DIGIFLEX-Speed-Power-Adapter-Cable/dp/B003DVC7N6/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1392...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DIGIFLEX-Ports-High-Speed-Laptop/dp/B0045IU152/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=13929...

In use, the power for your HDD would be supplied by the PSU connected to the hub rather than your laptop USB port.
This can be useful when the power provided by a laptop USB socket is not quite enough. (To be more correct, when a peripheral demands more current than is provided by the USB specification.)

The other option is perhaps more convenient where you have two available USB sockets. Using a USB Y splitter cable allows you to draw up to double the current.