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Thread: External 3.5" HDD Enclosure USB 3.0

  1. #1
    I just bought three Thermaltake Silver River 5G enclosures. I bought one a few years ago and it has performed great. I installed a HDD (3TB Toshiba with movies on it) into one of the new enclosures and Windows Explorer did not see it. I went into Computer Management->Storage->Disk Management and the drive was listed, but it was offline. I initialized it, but it showed that the HDD was not partitioned (100% unallocated). I then installed the HDD, connecting it to motherboard, Windows Explorer showed the HDD and I could read the files. I tried the other two enclosures, same thing, nothing. I even tried the older Thermaltake enclosure with same results. I installed another 3TB Toshiba HDD (partitioned and formatted, empty) and Windows Explorer didn't see that drive either. I went into Disk Management and initialized the drive, created a new volume and then formatted it. Windows Explorer now sees that drive and I can copy files to it and play movies from it. I pulled that HDD from the enclosure and tried it in the other two new enclosures and they work.

    In the past I've always been able to install a HDD (already used containing data) into an external USB enclosure and just plug it in and use it. Those were probably USB 2.0, though. Am I missing something? I'm going to try hooking up that 3TB HDD that was configured while installed in an external enclosure to see if it will still be readable.
    Last edited by MacGyverSG1; 08-24-2018 at 04:05 AM.

  2. Software & Hardware   -   #2
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    There should be no problem

  3. Software & Hardware   -   #3
    Quote Originally Posted by joneson View Post
    There should be no problem
    That's what I thought, but I guess it isn't the case. If a HDD is first partitioned and formatted when connected to motherboard (SATA port), it will not be readable if removed from computer and installed into external USB enclosure and connected to USB port. It might be an issue with GPT vs. MBR. All of my HDDs are GPT partitioned. I guess the conversion from SATA -> USB might be the issue.

    I've had to copy all data off any HDD to another HDD before disconnecting it from motherboard and installing it into an external USB enclosure and having to initialize it, partition it, and formatting it, to be able to use it again.

  4. Software & Hardware   -   #4
    shaina's Avatar Poster
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    Quote Originally Posted by MacGyverSG1 View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by joneson View Post
    There should be no problem
    That's what I thought, but I guess it isn't the case. If a HDD is first partitioned and formatted when connected to motherboard (SATA port), it will not be readable if removed from computer and installed into external USB enclosure and connected to USB port. It might be an issue with GPT vs. MBR. All of my HDDs are GPT partitioned. I guess the conversion from SATA -> USB might be the issue.

    I've had to copy all data off any HDD to another HDD before disconnecting it from motherboard and installing it into an external USB enclosure and having to initialize it, partition it, and formatting it, to be able to use it again.
    I can say i have an Antec HDD enclosure it is a bit older, and i have no problem reading all the info from a 4TB drive?? (but i have mostly 3tb), and i am running windows 7 64 if that makes a difference to you?? and i plug it into a usb 2.o or 3, shows everything, it also came with E-sata connection but i never use it. Saying that, i would assume a newer enclosure should have no problem reading everything on the drive??, And again i assume you are running a 64bit operating system....

    I bought it because a friend of mine fucked up his operating system and he needed the files off of it, now i my kids use it to transfer bigger file stuff from my main computer to there's , it was worth it to buy and have for sure.......

    Edit: Now you gave me an idea!!! If i see streaming through the network to the smart tv can't handle the 4k movies?? I am wondering if i plug in the enclosure directly will it work better
    Last edited by shaina; 10-28-2018 at 08:21 AM.
    The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money

  5. Software & Hardware   -   #5
    I'm using Win 7 Pro x64. I tried using an older USB 2.0 enclosure and a 3TB, 4TB, and a 6TB HDDs that were first installed and set up connected to motherboard, and they were not readable after installing into USB enclosure. I'm using Thermaltake Silver River 5G enclosures (USB 3.0). They've been around for a while. I haven't seen newer enclosures that look good. The new USB 3.1 enclosures are too much money right now.

    I was streaming movies from a USB 2.0 enclosure and high-bitrate videos stuttered. USB 3.0 I have no issue. Not sure about 4k videos. Would depend on video bitrate. If it's untouched 2160p video, USB 3.0 should still be able to handle it (in theory). Your USB 3.0 ports could be sharing bandwidth with other components.

  6. Software & Hardware   -   #6
    shaina's Avatar Poster
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    Quote Originally Posted by MacGyverSG1 View Post
    I'm using Win 7 Pro x64. I tried using an older USB 2.0 enclosure and a 3TB, 4TB, and a 6TB HDDs that were first installed and set up connected to motherboard, and they were not readable after installing into USB enclosure. I'm using Thermaltake Silver River 5G enclosures (USB 3.0). They've been around for a while. I haven't seen newer enclosures that look good. The new USB 3.1 enclosures are too much money right now.

    I was streaming movies from a USB 2.0 enclosure and high-bitrate videos stuttered. USB 3.0 I have no issue. Not sure about 4k videos. Would depend on video bitrate. If it's untouched 2160p video, USB 3.0 should still be able to handle it (in theory). Your USB 3.0 ports could be sharing bandwidth with other components.
    No no MacGyver, i have never used the enclosure direct to stream, i stream through wired Ethernet server, i have way too much stuff downloaded and too many tv's that use the media server, but i was just wondering if it will work better with a HDD connected direct to a smart tv to stream the full BD rips, being i only have one Pivos box in my bedroom that actually does....

    This is the enclosure i have and the specs say one thing but i have done way more stuff with it and i plug it in to anything that is 64bit OS and it reads no problem and reads full HD meaning all 3tb (or the 2.8 something conversion shit).....

    Attachment 181142

    And it has a fan as well to keep the hard drives cool plus it's own power supply....I have had it for a very long time, still works great, and assuming you bought a newer one it should be even better

    Edit: And i should really look at the specs on the LG tv if it has a 3.O usb port or not?? If that makes a difference?? I just saw it does have a few on it.....

    And yes they are pricey considering you can buy a enclosed hd already for cheaper today, but i bought it for repairing and getting information on damaged drives, that actually was the main reason why i got one....
    Last edited by shaina; 10-28-2018 at 09:07 AM.
    The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money

  7. Software & Hardware   -   #7
    Quote Originally Posted by MacGyverSG1 View Post
    I just bought three Thermaltake Silver River 5G enclosures. I bought one a few years ago and it has performed great. I installed a HDD (3TB Toshiba with movies on it) into one of the new enclosures and Windows Explorer did not see it. I went into Computer Management->Storage->Disk Management and the drive was listed, but it was offline. I initialized it, but it showed that the HDD was not partitioned (100% unallocated). I then installed the HDD, connecting it to motherboard, Windows Explorer showed the HDD and I could read the files. I tried the other two enclosures, same thing, nothing.
    Apparently this particular model is quirky on this regard?

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-r...23Y8MDNS32W8Y/

    Quote Originally Posted by shaina View Post
    Edit: Now you gave me an idea!!! If i see streaming through the network to the smart tv can't handle the 4k movies?? I am wondering if i plug in the enclosure directly will it work better
    But of course. The only downside is that USB 3.0 makes 2.4 GHz wireless work badly or not at all due to electromagnetic interference, but since you're all wired, that shouldn't be a problem.
    "I just remembered something that happened a long time ago."

  8. Software & Hardware   -   #8
    shaina's Avatar Poster
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    Quote Originally Posted by anon View Post
    But of course. The only downside is that USB 3.0 makes 2.4 GHz wireless work badly or not at all due to electromagnetic interference, but since you're all wired, that shouldn't be a problem.
    That's a positive Anon thanks, but is there an advantage or speed difference connecting direct usb 3.O tv vs Ethernet streaming?? The other thing, is there a difference in the router speeds when you are streaming internally?? Right now i am just using the rogers gigabit modem/router, and it works great with multiple tv's streaming at the same time and no lag or screw ups, but that is with encodes or everything smaller than true BD rips. Again repeating only one streaming box i have now works with those larger untouched rips.....
    The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money

  9. Software & Hardware   -   #9
    Quote Originally Posted by anon View Post
    Apparently this particular model is quirky on this regard?

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-r...23Y8MDNS32W8Y/

    Quote Originally Posted by shaina View Post
    Edit: Now you gave me an idea!!! If i see streaming through the network to the smart tv can't handle the 4k movies?? I am wondering if i plug in the enclosure directly will it work better
    But of course. The only downside is that USB 3.0 makes 2.4 GHz wireless work badly or not at all due to electromagnetic interference, but since you're all wired, that shouldn't be a problem.
    Luckily I have (4) of the Thermaltake enclosures. So I shouldn't lose data if one of the enclosures fails. I have moved a HDD from one enclosure to another without issue.

  10. Software & Hardware   -   #10
    Quote Originally Posted by shaina View Post
    That's a positive Anon thanks, but is there an advantage or speed difference connecting direct usb 3.O tv vs Ethernet streaming??
    For Fast Ethernet, absolutely, an order of magnitude greater. For Gigabit Ethernet, less so, though you may get an indirect benefit from not going through the network in the first place (see below).

    The other thing, is there a difference in the router speeds when you are streaming internally??
    Well, bandwidth is always finite and any sort of transfer requires some of it. If you push things too hard, there would eventually be a point where you don't have enough. A gigabit router should have plenty of headroom, though, so you'll be fine unless you stream 4K to multiple TVs at the same time you download a Linux ISO or whatever.
    "I just remembered something that happened a long time ago."

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