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

[Gene Heskett]

On Friday 06 July 2007, dsavage at peaknet.net wrote:
>> 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

Thanks Doc, that seems to be the general recommendation.  Now to find a 
suitable wall wart and test it.

-- 
Cheers, Gene
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
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