External hard drive won't be recognized when plugged into the USB port in the front panel

Question

I'm using a Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 1.5TB USB3.0 portable hard drive and my desktop computer uses a H55M-E33 motherboard. I've found that each time when I try to plug the hard drive into the USB port in the front panel, it won't be recognized at all. Plugging the hard drive into the USB port at the back panel won't have any problem. I've Googled this issue and seems basically it is an issue of the power supply to the USB port. Some people say that the reason goes to the chassis and some say the reason goes to the motherboard.

So what is the reason for this problem and how should I solve it?

Solution

In my experience this is due to (as you said) the front usb ports having less power. Its also a possibility that while the motherboard has USB 3.0 ports, the case does not.

Comments

[soandos]

If it is a power issue, try using a powered hub.

[David Schwartz]

Do other devices work in those ports?

[David Schwartz]

When you say they won't be recognized at all, does that mean nothing shows in the Device Manager and you get no 'bee-boop' sound?

[derekhh]

@DavidSchwartz: Actually I get "bee-boop" sound but just the disk won't get recognized.

[David Schwartz]

What shows in the Device Manager? If you get the "bee-boop" sound, something should show.

[Moab]

Follow the front usb port cable to the motherboard, make sure it is plugged in good, if there is an alternate usb header on the motherboard move it to a different one. Your user manual for that mobo shows 3 usb headers on the board.

[Canadian Luke]

Many USB 3.0 hard drives will work in USB 2.0 ports, mainly at reduced speeds

[derekhh]

Actually the front USB ports are working, as my iPhone can get charged when plugged to them.

[David Schwartz]

That proves that they at least are connected to power. It doesn't prove their data lines are connected. But I admit it's quite rare to have the power connected and not the data. The only way I could see this happening is if they were connected to a motherboard port that connects to a different controller and you didn't have drivers loaded for that controller or the controller was disabled in the BIOS.

[Ben Voigt]

@Luke: But only if self-powered. USB 3.0 provides a much higher current to bus powered devices than the USB 2.0 maximum (which was 500mA).

[derekhh]

And if we plug a flash disk into that USB port, it will be recognized without any problem...

[Canadian Luke]

@BenVoigt Didnt know that

[Moab]

USB 3.0 devices tend to be flaky on some usb 2.0 ports as suggested by Ben Voigt, I have one usb3.0 2.5" portable drive and I have to plug it twice to some of my usb ports (monitor ports), first time it does not recognize it, then unplug, wait 10 seconds, plug back in to the same port and it gets recognized but can lose connectivity during file copy to and from the drive.

[derekhh]

@Shakehar Thanks for the suggestion! However Seagate Freeagent GoFlex 1.5TB does not come out with a Y cable. Do you know if there are Y cable upgrades for that model?

[Shekhar]

@derekhh you can buy one from any where amazon.com/Connectland-CL-CAB20042-5-Pin-Power-Cable/dp/…