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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 193
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 193 |
I received my USB UltraPlusPak HD today and installed it with only a minor glitch. XP automatically installed the drivers OK but the autoplay never came up so I went into explorer to view the contents of the drive but it was empty. I "safely removed the hardware" and re-inserted it and then all was fine. I decided to use option one to run from the HD for now.
Later tonight I restarted the pc the way I left it and again the drive was listed as the same volume but was empty as was noted by the non-associated desktop shortcut icons. I removed and inserted the HD several times (using both cable plugs in case of low power) but to no avail. I tried reversing the cable plugs (I'm using the two front USB ports until my two 7 port USB powered hubs come in) and then 2010 came to life. The shortcut icons are still not associated with anything but they do connect.
I have never used a USB drive before and figured there might be issues as far as my luck goes. I have a 1 terabyte USB drive coming as well and I hope that doesn't do the same thing. I suppose I will end up thinning out my two smallish internal drives by transferring files to the tera drive and installing all of BIAB onto one of the internals.
Is anyone having an issue like this? Is this something that I will have to fiddle with even with the hubs?
Thanks.
Oh, and BTW, I thoroughly enjoyed some of the new features of BIAB that I had time for. I was very glad to see a lot more realtracks and especially soloists that I now have compared to the 2009.5 MegaPak. I am looking forward to spending a lot of time with this. Thanks, PGMusic!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
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The same exact symptoms happened to me suddenly with the USB drive that shipped with BB2008.
I carefully opened the USB case using s tiny jewler's screwdriver to push in the little lockpins on either side, unhooked the connection to the actual laptop drive inside and then re-attached it. Reassembled the case and the thing has been doing fine ever since.
I think the internal connection to the drive had come a little loose in shipping.
The reason I did the disconnect/reconnect rather than just push it back on was to make sure that all the contacts were aligned properly and also because the mechanical action of removing and re-inserting would wipe any possible dirt or corrosion off of the pins.
That was back at the beginning of 2009 and that USB drive has functioned first time every time ever since.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 193
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 193 |
Thank you, Mac. I will give that a try.
Does the orientation of the drive matter? I'm not really sure which is the top or bottom since BIAB is scribed on both sides.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Joined: May 2000
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I don't think orientation of the drive would be a concern.
Just observe Mac's Rule #1 for Gettin' Inside:
Rule number one is: If it doesn't move, don't force it! Relax, study it, find out the trick that allows things to work. Don't get frustrated. If you can't get it open, put it aside. Ask someone who does that kind of thing if all else fails.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 193
Apprentice
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2009
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Will do. I appreciate all of your help.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,920
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,920 |
Hi keebo,
I think it's a power supply issue, Mac's suggestion is a possibility as well. If you have a bunch of other USB devices, and you're using ports on the front of your computer or a hub, you could see symptoms like that. To confirm if it's a power issue, you could plug it in directly into a port on the back of your computer or temporarily remove some of the other devices. Your self-powered USB hub would solve this. The 1.5 TB drives aren't USB powered so you wouldn't see the same issue with those.
Andrew
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
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I found out all usb cables are not made equal. I have some that will not charge my blackberry, the same ones will not run the drive. The make of the cable is suspect here.
I have gone through the about 30 usb cables I have and there's one long one that's thick and it runs the drive or powers my blackberry. Even the Y cable that came with the last drive I got will NOT charge the blackberry with both USB ends plugged into the computer.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812 |
Hi John,
Good point, as I noticed the same thing. BUT.....I have not determined what make or model of cable. Would you be so kind as to tell me what model cable you have?
Ed
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
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I actually have no idea. I just grabbed the one that looked the biggest, most robust. Seems everything I buy has a mini usb to usb cable. Once it works I don't mess with it.
Maybe an issue someone might want to tackle with a meter. And then the unknowns of which usb plug on the computer is 'better'. I'll take the one off the drive and try my blackberry on the Acer. It only has 2 ports and works fine with the harddrive but the blackberry says not sufficient power to charge, so it needs the most juice, or more than the external hard drive.
Weird thing is it might just be me but I've a silver 12v cigarette lighter to 120v converter in the car, and plugging my blackberry charger into that seems to work twice as fast as plugging the same thing into the wall. Maybe I should put the meter on that....
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 493
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 493 |
Are you having usb issues on a laptop running off of battery, ac power or a desktop? It shouldn't make much difference but it might. There was also a post here some time ago about a setting in device manager that had to do with usb going into power saving mode.
Good luck.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 193
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 193 |
Quote:
Hi keebo,
I think it's a power supply issue, Mac's suggestion is a possibility as well. If you have a bunch of other USB devices, and you're using ports on the front of your computer or a hub, you could see symptoms like that. To confirm if it's a power issue, you could plug it in directly into a port on the back of your computer or temporarily remove some of the other devices. Your self-powered USB hub would solve this. The 1.5 TB drives aren't USB powered so you wouldn't see the same issue with those.
Hi Andrew,
I took it apart but the connection seemed fine. I gently removed and reinserted the connector a few times in case of debris or what not. I'm working a 48 shift right now so I will see what happens on Thursday.
I was going to try plugging it in the back of the PC but it was late and crawling under my studio table in the dark amongst a myriad of wires, cable components, etc. is not a task I take lightly. That is the reason I have a audio patchbay, a 48 switch MIDI switcher, and the two new USB hubs that are on their way hopefully soon.
I think I may not have been clear on my 1 terabyte HD. I ordered the Iomega Prestige 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive as a backup device, not one from PGMusic.
Thanks for your reply.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
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You can also pick up USB extension cables that will route from back of PC to front, where you can plug and unplug devices without the hassle.
At that point I'd likely go with a powered USB Hub and connect it at the back one time, though.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674 |
just FYI, I tried using my USB powered hub and it did not work (it works for other things, tho, just not the BIAB HD). I had to plug mine into the rear ports of the computer.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
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I guess not all hubs are created equal either, then.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 193
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 193 |
Beagle,
Was your powered hub connected to the rear of your PC when you tried the BIAB HD? Not that it should matter but I was just curious.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674 |
yes, it's connected to the rear. FWIW, none of my USB hard drives (I have 3 total including the BIAB one) will work in the powered hub, but pretty much everything else will. I might need a better powered USB hub!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 193
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 193 |
Ouch!
I have never used a USB hub before so I may have purchased a dud. The reviews were swell for whatever that is worth. I don't recall the model off hand.
I am getting tired of swapping things out now that I have accumulated several USB related items. Where is the joy when it becomes hassle?
Hopefully I can find something that works. And I hope you do too Beagle.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674 |
I just have to have all of my USB hard drives plugged directly into ports in the back of the computer. I have 4 ports in the rear and I have 3 USB hard drives. I plug the USB drives in the rear and also the USB hub in the rear for everything else. I don't use the front ones. it works for now until I needs something else to plug in that won't work on the hub!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2009
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OP
Apprentice
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I think I only have two in the back and two in the front. My plan was to hook the hubs to back and leave them out of the way with everything plugged in. I would have then used the two front sockets for things that don't stay hooked up like memory sticks, iPod, camera, etc.
It looks like it will be experimental experience when all is said and done. At least it is a lot better than dealing with 5.25" disks :-) .
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 11
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 11 |
Mac, a reply here is as good a place as any. I've searched 30 pages of threads looking for the thread where it was recommended that a powered USB be used for the USB hard drive upgrade to BIAB 2010, but I didn't find it. I noted several users having trouble with USB in general and hubs in particular. I also noted user reviews of powered USB hubs at Amazon, saying that particular hubs didn't work for USB drives or drives that don't have their own power (require USB power). I see that a number of these are in the hi-$20s - mid-$30s price range.
Can you or anyone recommend one or several that have worked successfully? is this the right price range to be searching? I'm ready to order my 2010 upgrade, but I want the right hub to connect it when it comes. I'd appreciate any comments on this. Thanks,
Joe
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