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eSata and drive detection


JimmyD

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Ok, let's see what the networked brains can come up with on this one - I've got a Gateway GT4016 and I just installed a JMicron JMB360 PCI-Express to Sata II controller card - this gives me an external eSata port.  Installed the driver.  Computer recognizes the card, says it's working.  So, I connect my SansDigital Raid unit via the eSata cable and - nothing.  Computer doesn't see the drive.  So, I connect the SansDigital unit via USB, the computer recognizes the drive.    Is there something I need to do to initialize this eSata card?  The computer knows it's there.  If I unplug the eSata cable the SansDigital unit lets me know it's being connected and disconnected, but the computer sees nothing.  Ideas?

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I'm running Windows XP media center edition.  The eSata card came with just a driver and the Raid unit came with software that allows me to monitor the disks/status, rebuild databases and that sort.

Connected by eSata my computer detects nothing.  Connected by USB the computer detects it, but I have no icons, no drive access letters appear.  So far all I can do is look at the drive status via the monitor software, but I cannot access any read/write functions.

JimmyD

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Update:  Ok, solved one issue.  I can now access and use the Raid drive via the USB connection.  It was a drive letter assignment issue.  However, I still cannot use the eSata connection.  Computer doesn't see the drive.  Computer sees the eSata hardware, but when connected it doesn't see a drive.  The point of having the Raid unit is to access it via eSata, because USB is slow.  So, help still wanted on this issue!

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Update 2:  Spoke with the techs at Sans Digital (the Raid unit), and it turns out that not all eSata chipsets function with all eSata devices (everything is too new, apparently), so I purchased a card from them directly, one they know is compatible.  Suppose I should have done that from square one, but, hey, things are supposed to work together.  We'll see what happens when the new card arrives!

JimmyD

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FYI, I saw a similar issue with my SIIG RAID ExpressCard.  See http://www.siig.com/product.asp?catid=128&pid=1037 for the card I have.  I was trying to use an external Adaptec eSATA case.  It didn't work.  So I am now using the Vantec NexStar 3.  See http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817145167 for the case I'm using on a temp basis.  It works great, but I am looking for a better case with better cooling.  My external drive is just for backups and repository stuff so I don't run it 24x7.

Send me a note later and let me know how your enclosure works out.  I will probably end up getting something similar to yours with multiple drives.

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