Nexstar 3 enclosure with 1TB WDC not showing up - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

lima20 · 2009-09-27, 07:27 PM

I have the item mentioned in the subject line and although I see in under device manager, I can't get it to show up under "my computer".

This is making it difficult for me to backup my C: drive onto the external storage device.

Help

I am running windows 7 ultimate

thx

Larry · 2009-09-27, 07:41 PM

You will likely need to go to control panel - administrative tools - disk management and then create a primary partition and assign a drive letter.

You'll see the new drive listed with no partition or drive letter.

stampeder · 2009-09-27, 10:59 PM

Also if it is a WD Green drive (instead of a Black) you might have this problem with putting it into a Vantec NexStar 3 enclosure (see paragraph 2):

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...4&postcount=20

ScaryBob · 2009-09-28, 02:26 PM

There are two Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB models. They are the WD10EADS and WD10EAVS. The WD10EAVS has a hard coded spin down idle time. It is likely incompatible with the Vantec NexStar 3 enclosure enclosure. The WD10EADS works fine with the Vantec NexStar 3 enclosure. The Vantec CX enclosure is a better choice with either drive since it handles drive power down and spin up.

lamproboy · 2009-10-03, 04:46 PM

I spoke to WD and Vantec, I changed the Nexstar 3 twice and the drive to the one mentioned WD10EADS (I originally had the EAVS model) STILL no LUCK!! I spoke to tech support (VANTEC) he didn't have any info on what drives will or will not work. WD doesn't support any enclosures except theirs.

Yes I initialized the drive and formatted it etc. (that works only if the drive is directly connected to the computer NOT with the NEXSTAR)
Flashed my BIOS
Tried all the jumper settings on the drive.
Connected this unit to a iMAC (no luck)
Connected this unit to a MACBOOK PRO (less then a month old) NO Luck
Connected this unit to a PC using XP (NO LUCK)
Connected this unit to a PC using Linux (NO LUCK)

In short, this unit is a piece of garbage. I have been building boxes for 15 years used OS2 warp to UBUNTU MAC OSX etc. and this thing has got me stumped ANY advice (I'm not proud) would be most welcome.

help, help, help.....

Larry · 2009-10-03, 05:59 PM

How are you connecting the NexStar to your computer? USB? Firewire? eSata?

lamproboy · 2009-10-03, 06:09 PM

Larry

thank you for your quick reply. I'm using USB2.0.

Larry · 2009-10-03, 06:34 PM

A few questions - when you connect with USB do you see the message saying the system has found a new USB device?

When you say it shows up in the device manager, what exactly do you see?

When you go into administrative tools...disk management - do you see the drive ? What does it say? Does it have a drive letter assigned?

The Vantec case works like a charm with all the WDC I've every had.

When you turn on the power to the enclosure, do you see the "blue light" ?

lamproboy · 2009-10-04, 12:41 AM

Larry

When the drive is connected to the enclosure I see N O T H I N G:
1. in the device manager
2. in the Disk Management (Admin tools)
3. nothing anywhere
4. The blue device light constantly flickers, however I don't think the drive is spinning up. (I can't hear it or feel it while holding the device)

I'm going to to try to re-format the drive again, perhaps I missed something. The problem is I would like to use the drive for my mac (NTFS is a problem). In theory, the "Disk Utility" should see the drive.

Lamproboy

Larry · 2009-10-04, 10:03 AM

Have you tried other USB cables, or USB ports on your PC?

I don't know why the blue light would be constantly flickering.. I've never seen that before. You should be able to feel or hear the drive spinning (put your ear on the case to be certain).

Did you put any jumpers on the HD?

If you have eSATA port on your PC, try that too. Also, what is the model # of your Vantec?

A mystery for sure.

lamproboy · 2009-10-04, 11:14 AM

Larry

Thank you once again for your help. Remember I'm trying this with three different computers, I've switched both Nexstar 3 units and hard drives. To summerize, USB connectors, units and computers all have been tried and still nothing. The instant I insert the drive into the nexstar it disappears ( I did reformat the drive).

lamproboy · 2009-10-04, 11:20 AM

I forgot to mention that the unit is the correct one (NST-360SU-BK)

Larry · 2009-10-04, 11:24 AM

What do you mean by "instantly" ? Installing the hard drive in the enclosure takes time - I assume you are fitting the drive into the slot firmly and securing the 4 screws connecting it to the tray.

lamproboy · 2009-10-04, 11:48 AM

Larry

Instantly is perhaps not the best in describing what is going on. The minute I plug in my enclosure (with tightly screwed in screws). The computers (mac or pc) it is not there!

stampeder · 2009-10-04, 12:37 PM

Larry, see my link in Post #3 to understand his troubles better - I've been through the exact same thing already with these Nexstar 3/WD hassles.

The problem exists regardless of whether the connection is via Firewire, USB2.0, or eSATA, and regardless of the OS. If there is no read or write activity to that hard drive after a certain time it spins down and goes to sleep and cannot be awoken until its internal timer allows it. No amount of power cycles or reconnects/disconnects will change that timeout. Direct communication with the drive using mlord's hdparm command is only partially possible when the drive is alive. Therefore the glitch has got to be in the Nexstar 3's circuitry that is preventing keepalive signals from getting to the WD hard drive. IMHO either or both of those companies are using non-standard methods.

I'm tempted to try a Seagate in the Nexstar 3 to confirm this WD issue and redeploy the WD to my MythTV backend to join the other WDs in there.

2009-09-27, 07:27 PM	#1
lima20 Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 659	Nexstar 3 enclosure with 1TB WDC not showing up I have the item mentioned in the subject line and although I see in under device manager, I can't get it to show up under "my computer". This is making it difficult for me to backup my C: drive onto the external storage device. Help I am running windows 7 ultimate thx

2009-09-28, 02:26 PM	#4
ScaryBob Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Dandelion City Posts: 7,133	There are two Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB models. They are the WD10EADS and WD10EAVS. The WD10EAVS has a hard coded spin down idle time. It is likely incompatible with the Vantec NexStar 3 enclosure enclosure. The WD10EADS works fine with the Vantec NexStar 3 enclosure. The Vantec CX enclosure is a better choice with either drive since it handles drive power down and spin up. __________________ At 20 I had a good mind. At 40 I had money. At 60 I've lost my mind and my money. Oh, to be 20 again. --Scary

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2009-09-27, 07:41 PM	#2
Larry Veteran Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ottawa, Ontario (Rogers) Posts: 1,521	You will likely need to go to control panel - administrative tools - disk management and then create a primary partition and assign a drive letter. You'll see the new drive listed with no partition or drive letter.

2009-09-27, 10:59 PM	#3
stampeder OTA Forum Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Delta, BC (96Av x 116St) Posts: 23,338	Also if it is a WD Green drive (instead of a Black) you might have this problem with putting it into a Vantec NexStar 3 enclosure (see paragraph 2): http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...4&postcount=20

2009-10-03, 04:46 PM	#5
lamproboy Rookie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 12	I spoke to WD and Vantec, I changed the Nexstar 3 twice and the drive to the one mentioned WD10EADS (I originally had the EAVS model) STILL no LUCK!! I spoke to tech support (VANTEC) he didn't have any info on what drives will or will not work. WD doesn't support any enclosures except theirs. Yes I initialized the drive and formatted it etc. (that works only if the drive is directly connected to the computer NOT with the NEXSTAR) Flashed my BIOS Tried all the jumper settings on the drive. Connected this unit to a iMAC (no luck) Connected this unit to a MACBOOK PRO (less then a month old) NO Luck Connected this unit to a PC using XP (NO LUCK) Connected this unit to a PC using Linux (NO LUCK) In short, this unit is a piece of garbage. I have been building boxes for 15 years used OS2 warp to UBUNTU MAC OSX etc. and this thing has got me stumped ANY advice (I'm not proud) would be most welcome. help, help, help.....

2009-10-03, 05:59 PM	#6
Larry Veteran Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ottawa, Ontario (Rogers) Posts: 1,521	How are you connecting the NexStar to your computer? USB? Firewire? eSata?

2009-10-03, 06:09 PM	#7
lamproboy Rookie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 12	Larry thank you for your quick reply. I'm using USB2.0.

2009-10-03, 06:34 PM	#8
Larry Veteran Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ottawa, Ontario (Rogers) Posts: 1,521	A few questions - when you connect with USB do you see the message saying the system has found a new USB device? When you say it shows up in the device manager, what exactly do you see? When you go into administrative tools...disk management - do you see the drive ? What does it say? Does it have a drive letter assigned? The Vantec case works like a charm with all the WDC I've every had. When you turn on the power to the enclosure, do you see the "blue light" ?

2009-10-04, 12:41 AM	#9
lamproboy Rookie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 12	Larry When the drive is connected to the enclosure I see N O T H I N G: 1. in the device manager 2. in the Disk Management (Admin tools) 3. nothing anywhere 4. The blue device light constantly flickers, however I don't think the drive is spinning up. (I can't hear it or feel it while holding the device) I'm going to to try to re-format the drive again, perhaps I missed something. The problem is I would like to use the drive for my mac (NTFS is a problem). In theory, the "Disk Utility" should see the drive. Lamproboy

2009-10-04, 10:03 AM	#10
Larry Veteran Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ottawa, Ontario (Rogers) Posts: 1,521	Have you tried other USB cables, or USB ports on your PC? I don't know why the blue light would be constantly flickering.. I've never seen that before. You should be able to feel or hear the drive spinning (put your ear on the case to be certain). Did you put any jumpers on the HD? If you have eSATA port on your PC, try that too. Also, what is the model # of your Vantec? A mystery for sure.

2009-10-04, 11:14 AM	#11
lamproboy Rookie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 12	Larry Thank you once again for your help. Remember I'm trying this with three different computers, I've switched both Nexstar 3 units and hard drives. To summerize, USB connectors, units and computers all have been tried and still nothing. The instant I insert the drive into the nexstar it disappears ( I did reformat the drive).

2009-10-04, 11:20 AM	#12
lamproboy Rookie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 12	I forgot to mention that the unit is the correct one (NST-360SU-BK)

2009-10-04, 11:24 AM	#13
Larry Veteran Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ottawa, Ontario (Rogers) Posts: 1,521	What do you mean by "instantly" ? Installing the hard drive in the enclosure takes time - I assume you are fitting the drive into the slot firmly and securing the 4 screws connecting it to the tray.

2009-10-04, 11:48 AM	#14
lamproboy Rookie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 12	Larry Instantly is perhaps not the best in describing what is going on. The minute I plug in my enclosure (with tightly screwed in screws). The computers (mac or pc) it is not there!

2009-10-04, 12:37 PM	#15
stampeder OTA Forum Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Delta, BC (96Av x 116St) Posts: 23,338	Larry, see my link in Post #3 to understand his troubles better - I've been through the exact same thing already with these Nexstar 3/WD hassles. The problem exists regardless of whether the connection is via Firewire, USB2.0, or eSATA, and regardless of the OS. If there is no read or write activity to that hard drive after a certain time it spins down and goes to sleep and cannot be awoken until its internal timer allows it. No amount of power cycles or reconnects/disconnects will change that timeout. Direct communication with the drive using mlord's hdparm command is only partially possible when the drive is alive. Therefore the glitch has got to be in the Nexstar 3's circuitry that is preventing keepalive signals from getting to the WD hard drive. IMHO either or both of those companies are using non-standard methods. I'm tempted to try a Seagate in the Nexstar 3 to confirm this WD issue and redeploy the WD to my MythTV backend to join the other WDs in there.