Korean Job Discussion Forums

[robot]

...it's not working.

I've got an MBox something-or-other external hard drive, and when I plug it into my computer the green read/write light flickers for a moment, then dies.

I thought I might have broke it somehow, but now I'm wondering if the answer is this: the power light is red. I thought it meant power, but I guess it could mean no power. There's also a place for an adapter (I don't think I ever got one, though...) Do these things usually use adapters? Plugging them to the USB port isn't power enough?

/computer idiot

[blackjack]

need more details, a 3.5" or a 2.5" drive. Has it worked in the past or has it recently stopped working

[Demophobe]

I guess you are talking about a 2.5" USB drive. The red light means it's busy writing or reading (green means "on"; when it goes red - at least on every one I have seen, including my own - it means it is busy), but if it stays on all the time, that means there is a problem. If you can, try a new enclosure to make sure the one you have is functional.

These drives can be picky about the cable; mine powers fine from one USB port only with certain cables; other cables need two ports to get power. Also, in my experience, front USB ports don't function as well as back (on the mainboard) ports. This is due to front USB ports being made by the same folks who make cases, and with no-name cases, these will be of questionable quality.

You say you thought you broke it; how?

[robot]

Yeah, I think it's a 2.5" one.

Here are some pics of the problem.

This is what happens when I first plug it in. The green read/write light comes on for a sec, then flickers and dies:

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j230/vancouverock/SDC12711.jpg

Notice in the above pic that there seems to be a place for an adapter to plug in... hmm. After a few seconds, all that's on is the red light:

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j230/vancouverock/SDC11947.jpg

It works neither in the front or back USB ports. When I try to access E: through "run" in the start menu, it says it's not accessible as it's corrupted and unreadable. I think I may be solving my own problem here as I type. I guess it's not a power problem (the green light flickers on when I try to access it again). I don't think I dropped it or anything, and it's really new, but somehow it must have got broken.

[Demophobe]

[robot]

Oops! Wrong pic! (Not our house, though) ^^

I'll just take it up to Yongsan where I got it and see what they can do.

I don't remember dropping it, but I just thought that's probably what happened.

[blackjack]

Could also be that you are running it off a laptop. Laptops tend to put less power through there usb ports. You will need the two usb port cable

[Demophobe]