I have a P4 based computer which has multiple USB ports on an Asus P5 based
motherboard.

Yesterday I plugged my Seagate 1tb external drive into it. I then plugged a WD
portable HDD into it. However, Windows reported a hardware error.

I unplugged the Seagate and plugged the WD in. It read fine.

I then plugged the Seagate back in. Windows reported the hardware error again.

It seems that for some reason Windows (XP SP2) cannot have two USB based storage
devices running at the same time.

I used different USB ports during this testing, too in case they were off the
same root hub or whatever it's called.

Didn't make any difference.

Any ideas?

Marts wrote:

> I have a P4 based computer which has multiple
> USB ports on an Asus P5 based motherboard.

> Yesterday I plugged my Seagate 1tb external drive into it. I then plugged
> a WD portable HDD into it. However, Windows reported a hardware error.

> I unplugged the Seagate and plugged the WD in. It read fine.

> I then plugged the Seagate back in. Windows reported the hardware error again.

> It seems that for some reason Windows (XP SP2) cannot
> have two USB based storage devices running at the same time.

Works fine here.

You sure you didnt just stuff up the cabling to a front USB port ?

What happens if you plug them both in at once to USB ports off the
motherboard at the back of the motherboard, no hubs used at all ?

> I used different USB ports during this testing, too in case
> they were off the same root hub or whatever it's called.

Thats fine, USB allows mulitiple devices.

> Didn't make any difference.

> Any ideas?

See above.

Marts wrote:

> I have a P4 based computer which has multiple USB ports on an Asus P5
> based motherboard.
>
> Yesterday I plugged my Seagate 1tb external drive into it. I then
> plugged a WD portable HDD into it. However, Windows reported a
> hardware error.
>
> I unplugged the Seagate and plugged the WD in. It read fine.
>
> I then plugged the Seagate back in. Windows reported the hardware
> error again.
>
> It seems that for some reason Windows (XP SP2) cannot have two USB
> based storage devices running at the same time.
>
> I used different USB ports during this testing, too in case they were
> off the same root hub or whatever it's called.
>
> Didn't make any difference.
>
> Any ideas?

What happens when you have a thumb drive and one of the HD's at the
same time?

On 8/02/2010 12:31 PM, Marts wrote:
> I have a P4 based computer which has multiple USB ports on an Asus P5 based
> motherboard.
>
> Yesterday I plugged my Seagate 1tb external drive into it. I then plugged a WD
> portable HDD into it. However, Windows reported a hardware error.
>
> I unplugged the Seagate and plugged the WD in. It read fine.
>
> I then plugged the Seagate back in. Windows reported the hardware error again.
>
> It seems that for some reason Windows (XP SP2) cannot have two USB based storage
> devices running at the same time.
>
> I used different USB ports during this testing, too in case they were off the
> same root hub or whatever it's called.
>
> Didn't make any difference.
>
> Any ideas?
>

yes you can have 2 USB HDD's at the same time actually I have used 3.
Exterhal case, and two sata docking stations. All mine are powered tho.

Is the WD portable tak8ng too much power?? and does it have two USB
plugs on the cable? are both plugged in?

r

Rob wrote:
> On 8/02/2010 12:31 PM, Marts wrote:
>> I have a P4 based computer which has multiple USB ports on an Asus P5
>> based
>> motherboard.
>>
>> Yesterday I plugged my Seagate 1tb external drive into it. I then
>> plugged a WD
>> portable HDD into it. However, Windows reported a hardware error.
>>
>> I unplugged the Seagate and plugged the WD in. It read fine.
>>
>> I then plugged the Seagate back in. Windows reported the hardware
>> error again.
>>
>> It seems that for some reason Windows (XP SP2) cannot have two USB
>> based storage
>> devices running at the same time.
>>
>> I used different USB ports during this testing, too in case they were
>> off the
>> same root hub or whatever it's called.
>>
>> Didn't make any difference.
>>
>> Any ideas?
>>
>
> yes you can have 2 USB HDD's at the same time actually I have used 3.
> Exterhal case, and two sata docking stations. All mine are powered tho.
>
> Is the WD portable tak8ng too much power?? and does it have two USB
> plugs on the cable? are both plugged in?
>
> r
I would be interested to see if they work together in another machine ,
it might be a case thing but I have had trouble with wd and another
brand in the same machine , wd seems not terribly compatable with other
brands

Marts wrote:
> I have a P4 based computer which has multiple USB ports on an Asus P5 based
> motherboard.
>
> Yesterday I plugged my Seagate 1tb external drive into it. I then plugged a WD
> portable HDD into it. However, Windows reported a hardware error.
>
> I unplugged the Seagate and plugged the WD in. It read fine.
>
> I then plugged the Seagate back in. Windows reported the hardware error again.
>
> It seems that for some reason Windows (XP SP2) cannot have two USB based storage
> devices running at the same time.
>
> I used different USB ports during this testing, too in case they were off the
> same root hub or whatever it's called.
>
> Didn't make any difference.
>
> Any ideas?
>

The 1TB must be 3.5", therefore needs a 12V or 240V supply external
The WD, you didn't say 2.5" or 3.5". Assuming it's a 2.5" then it's
USB Power problem, and probably need an external 5V supply.

You need to map the drives to different letters eg. WD -->M: and SeaG -->N:

On Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:20:35 GMT, "Evan" <newsreader@evan.me> wrote:

> You need to map the drives to different letters eg. WD -->M: and SeaG -->N:
>

Windoze does that automagically.

Marts wrote:
> I have a P4 based computer which has multiple USB ports on an Asus P5 based
> motherboard.
>
> Yesterday I plugged my Seagate 1tb external drive into it. I then plugged a WD
> portable HDD into it. However, Windows reported a hardware error.
The issue will be power - the portable HDD will be drawing
the limit of power that your USB ports can deliver. The USB
specification is that a device cannot draw more than 500mA
from the USB bus. WD don't seem to list a power spec for
their external drives, but their internal 2.5" drives draw
500mA. The externals are basically internal drives in a
shell, so are going to be drawing right on the limit of the
USB port. In theory each port should be able to deliver full
power simultaneously, but in practice a lot of USB
implementations fall over when they are delivering high power.
>
> I unplugged the Seagate and plugged the WD in. It read fine.
>
> I then plugged the Seagate back in. Windows reported the hardware error again.
>
> It seems that for some reason Windows (XP SP2) cannot have two USB based storage
> devices running at the same time.
It can comfortably drive as many devices as you have drive
letters - actually more if you use some tricks. I routinely
use 4 external HD's plus 2 or more thumb-drives, an Ipod,
and a memory card reader. Windows doesn't even blink at this.
>
> I used different USB ports during this testing, too in case they were off the
> same root hub or whatever it's called.
But most likely still off the same interface.
>
> Didn't make any difference.
>
> Any ideas?
A good quality powered USB hub will solve your problem. I
can recommend from experience either a Belkin or Targus, but
there are sure to be many more that will work.
>


--
What is the difference between a duck?

Evan wrote:

> You need to map the drives to different letters eg. WD -->M: and SeaG -->N:

Nope, I dont do that and it works fine without that.