Can't access drives in external USB 3 enclosures

rivre · 04 Oct 2016

Ever since I switched over to my new Windows 10 PC, I haven't been able to access my external USB 3.0 enclosures. They are all 4-disk enclosures by IcyDock (Black Vortex). On my old Windows 7 PC, all I had to do was turn it on and all 4 drives were detected via USB 3. Now on the new PC none of the drives are detected. I checked their site and they don't list any drivers so I don't think that's the problem. Any idea what I can do? I also have a couple older e-SATA external 4-disc enclosures and those are detected fine through my e-SATA card. So it's an issue with the USB 3.0 enclosures. Also, I have a Mediasonic brand 4-disc USB 2.0 enclosure and that works fine - all drives are detected. So it's just the USB 3.0 enclosures by IcyDock that aren't being recognized.

bro67 · 04 Oct 2016

Did you try a new cord with the dock? Have you tried it with a different computer? If the USB hub is not showing in Device Manager as even a Hidden device, you may have to unplug the hub and reboot, then plug it back in. Also if it is not a powered Dock, you should power it, due to your new computer may not be sending enough voltage to power the device.

rivre · 04 Oct 2016

It's not the cords. They all worked on my old Windows 7 PC. The docks run off AC power. I've tried it directly plugged into a USB 3.0 port on my PC, and also the same 3.0 card that I was using on my old PC. Neither way recognizes the drives. I've tried it with 2 different IcyDock enclosures.

bro67 · 04 Oct 2016

Again you need to make sure by plugging them into another computer running Windows 10 to see if the dock is recognized. If it is not a powered dock, you will have to use a powered USB hub, since the drivers for 10 may have changed from the previous drivers.

Also a lot of hardware that may have worked up to Windows 7, may not have drivers available for it in Windows 10. So you have to try and install the drivers in compatibility mode for the older OS.

It is your computer and device. Unless you actually go through the steps and make sure where the problem lies, nothing can be done to help you with figuring out, other than giving you the same guesses that you are thinking of.

We can only go by your word. If you come back about what it did in the past and what it is not doing now, this thread will quickly die.

rivre · 05 Oct 2016

I don't know what I"m supposed to say here.

I don't have another Windows 10 PC. That's why I'm on here asking.

The enclosures are new and still available for purchase. They don't list any drivers on their website so it doesn't seem to require special drivers. Beyond that I don't know what else to say. I was hoping somebody in here would be familiar with this issue.

Maybe somebody else can contribute a suggestion who might have experienced this issue with Windows 10?

essenbe · 05 Oct 2016

Have you looked in Disk Management to see if they are recognized there? They may just need initializing and adding a drive letter.

mike s · 05 Oct 2016

rivre said:

I don't know what I"m supposed to say here.

I don't have another Windows 10 PC. That's why I'm on here asking.

The enclosures are new and still available for purchase. They don't list any drivers on their website so it doesn't seem to require special drivers. Beyond that I don't know what else to say. I was hoping somebody in here would be familiar with this issue.

Maybe somebody else can contribute a suggestion who might have experienced this issue with Windows 10?

Try another USB 3 device (go to Staples and buy a $9 flash drive). If it does not work, then the drivers for the USB3 port might have to be updated. These might come from the manufacturer of the port, or from the chipset manufacturer (NEC/Renesas, Intel, VIA, etc).

If the flash drive works in USB3 mode, the chances are that the SATA-to-USB bridge controller inside the drive enclosure is incompatible with Windows 10's power management. It is likely that you would run into the same issues with Windows 8.

This would not be a driver issue, but a firmware issue. The microcode in the interface chip of the controller needs reprogramming, and unless the manufacturer of the enclosure recognizes this and seeks to update it from the chip manufacturer (Jmicron, Sunplus, Prolific, Marvell, etc. etc), you're not going to get them to work.

rivre · 05 Oct 2016

- My USB 3.0 flash drive works fine. Just tested it.

- The USB 3.0 4-bay enclosures that aren't working also include e-sata ports. I tested and those same enclosures run fine when plugged into my esata card. So the enclosures work fine through the e-sata but not USB 3.0

mike s · 05 Oct 2016

rivre said:

- My USB 3.0 flash drive works fine. Just tested it.

- The USB 3.0 4-bay enclosures that aren't working also include e-sata ports. I tested and those same enclosures run fine when plugged into my esata card. So the enclosures work fine through the e-sata but not USB 3.0

you're not alone (from review on Newegg):

Can't access drives in external USB 3 enclosures-icd.gif

rivre · 05 Oct 2016

I just came across that same exact review while searching through Newegg's reviews hoping to dig up some clues. I'm going to contact Icy Dock this morning when they open but this doesn't sound good. I have 3 of those and together they cost over $450! And now they don't seem to work on Windows 10 through USB 3.0. I have no idea what to do now. I already have a 2-port esata card in my new PC to support a couple older e-sata enclosures. They are in use. That's why I bought these Icy Dock enclosures - I needed USB 3.0 support.