External drive not working, unless plugged into a 5 port USB splitter

RetroKeith · 25 Jun 2021

I have a Dell Latitude 5580, Windows 10 Pro, Version 10.0.19041 Build 19041. I use it with a powered hub. For the past 3 years or so I’ve used a WD 4GB My Book external drive with no trouble. The external drive has its own power supply in addition to going through the powered hub. I rarely plug it directly into the laptop.

Recently, it stopped showing up in file explorer.

When I needed to back up some work, I grabbed my old 1GB My Book external drive. To add it to the mix, I grabbed a 5 port USB splitter. Both drives appeared when plugged into the splitter.

Doing some experimenting, my old 1GB drive will work in any port on the system. On the laptop (2 USB ports), on the powered hub (all ports). On a different powered hub, and through a brand new 4 port splitter.

The newer 4GB drive will not work on any port, except my old 5 port splitter. Then it will work, no matter where the 5 port splitter is plugged in. Weird. In the end, it’s a workable arrangement.

Should I worry that my external drive might be failing?
Has anyone ever heard of this kind of flakiness in external USB drives?

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I have a Dell Latitude 5580, Windows 10 Pro, Version 10.0.19041 Build 19041. I use it with a powered hub. For the past 3 years or so I’ve used a WD 4GB My Book external drive with no trouble. The external drive has its own power supply in addition to going through the powered hub. I rarely plug it directly into the laptop.

Recently, it stopped showing up in file explorer.

When I needed to back up some work, I grabbed my old 1GB My Book external drive. To add it to the mix, I grabbed a 5 port USB splitter. Both drives appeared when plugged into the splitter.

Doing some experimenting, my old 1GB drive will work in any port on the system. On the laptop (2 USB ports), on the powered hub (all ports). On a different powered hub, and through a brand new 4 port splitter.

The newer 4GB drive will not work on any port, except my old 5 port splitter. Then it will work, no matter where the 5 port splitter is plugged in. Weird. In the end, it’s a workable arrangement.

Should I worry that my external drive might be failing?
Has anyone ever heard of this kind of flakiness in external USB drives?

jamis · 27 Jun 2021

Yes, I have a similar situation with a pair of old 500GB Seagate external USB drives, but only on the front ports of the tower. Rear ports have no issues. Mine will eventually pair with the USB ports after some time (10 to 30 minutes), but the problem started with v.20H2. The drives will work fine after they are recognized by the system. The drivers check out as current and the drives themselves pass W10 testing.
Front USB Recognition Issue