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No boot of onboard HDD if a nonbootable USB HDD is connected
Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 2:16 pm
by Lemonheadtoo
Bios: CR_2.2.0.377 X64
Symptoms: If a nonbootable USB3.0 external storage HDD (WD MyBook 3TB) is connected to USB3.0 port on power-on there is no internal HDD Win7 OS boot. Just a black screen.
**Note: This is independent of boot order set in bios.**
I tried moving the boot devices around in the bios and even tried deleting the USB HDD as a boot device altogether. That cannot be done as it seems to be protected.
Interestingly if that same external HDD is connected to a front USB2.0 port on power-on, the startup screen appears but there is no further functionality.
This seems to be only true of USB3.0 devices. The on-board HDD booted normally when testing with a USB2.0 thumbdrive.
Please advise.
Re: No boot of onboard HDD if a nonbootable USB HDD is conne
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 1:34 pm
by gabrielh
Please press "Shift +1" to exclude USB3 HDD from boot devices
Re: No boot of onboard HDD if a nonbootable USB HDD is conne
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 6:18 pm
by Lemonheadtoo
If I do this <Shift>1 the system just hangs at the splash screen. F2 is unresponsive at this point as well. Note: My WD MyBook 3TB is powered externally by a DC supply.
I tested using a colleagues WD Mypassport USB3.0 which is powered off the USB bus. There was no problem. The system booted properly.
I need to have the WD MyBook in the system at startup.
Any ideas?
Re: No boot of onboard HDD if a nonbootable USB HDD is conne
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:00 pm
by Lemonheadtoo
This is the same issue that SIRK posted on Oct. 23, 2012. You posted that the "root of the issue is in the bios".
Looks like it is still there.
Re: No boot of onboard HDD if a nonbootable USB HDD is conne
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 11:15 am
by gabrielh
I have made a test with USB3 external powered My Book Essential without any issues. I think the issue related to the specific external drive.
Re: No boot of onboard HDD if a nonbootable USB HDD is conne
Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:21 pm
by Lemonheadtoo
I have more drives (I think 3 or 4) of the same type, I will test. I think they are all of recent manufacture date. But not sure. Thanks.
Re: No boot of onboard HDD if a nonbootable USB HDD is conne
Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 10:05 pm
by Lemonheadtoo
How many times did you test the boot? I tested three different WD MyBook 3TB drives. Interestingly one booted properly...but only one time. The other times each one inconsistantly gave either the startup screen or blank screen. I think there is a logic race going on here depending on what device comes up and says "I'm here" first. Onboard I have a Hitachi 500gb sata 5400RPM HDD. If you can boot every time with the WD connected, I'd almost bet that you are using a solid state drive. Am I correct?
Re: No boot of onboard HDD if a nonbootable USB HDD is conne
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 11:16 am
by gabrielh
I use Hitachi 160GB HDD. I did 10 power cycles without any failure. Does this WD model is the only USB3 device you have tried with Intense PC?
Re: No boot of onboard HDD if a nonbootable USB HDD is conne
Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 7:13 pm
by Lemonheadtoo
Hi Gabriel,
Sorry I never responded. No, I tried non-powered USB3 thumb-drives and also two different model Seagate 3TB USB3 ext. drives and did NOT have this problem. I think it is a unique combo of a certain motherboard and that WD drive. I saw on a WD forum where certain laptops exhibited this same behavior. Odd that your WD model did not have the problem. Perhaps they changed something for the blessed US models.
Thanks for the ideas.