40GB Maxtor III in usb doesn't work on FC6, any kernel

[dsavage at peaknet.net]

> Greetings;
>
> I have a 40GB Maxtor III in one of those usb enclosures with a dual usb
> pigtail cable.  Plugged into my F7 HP dv5120us lappy, it lights up powers
> up
> and works albeit I think considerably slower than a usb2.0 interface
> should.
> This is a usb bus powered device and did not come with a power supply
> although there is a socket for one on the rear of the shirt pocket sized
> enclosure.
>
> Plugged into this FC6 box, a Biostar m7vib with 1 update from the original
> bios, this box will not post until its unplugged, at which point it posts
> normally.
>
> Plugged in later, the drive is recognized according to the logs, but is
> then
> reset quite a few times and finally offlined, and while its power led
> lights
> at normal brightness, it never spins up so is unusable.
>
> The F7 lappy uses libata.  How do I switch this FC6 install to libata
> usage,
> and how would I go about switching the kernel build to make it since my
> kernel.org kernels are not even making it?
>
> I do note that libata.ko does exist in the /lib/modules path for the 3
> fedora
> kernels installed, but booting to one of those kernels does not enable the
> use of this device.  I'm thinking its a bios problem.  Can anyone confirm?

Gene,

This sounds like a hardware problem rather than software. Your FC6 box
probably isn't capable of sourcing enough power through its USB port to
spin up and run your Maxtor. I'll bet you need a dedicated +5VDC power
supply for that external enclosure so it doesn't have to depend on the
laptop for power. They're not terribly expensive. You'll have to find one
with the right size plug to match your enclosure, and one that can provide
enough current to do the job. I'd guess somewhere between 1-1.5A.

--Doc Savage
Fairview Heights, IL