Cant get eSata port working

[Hemps]

I have an Acer Extensa 5630 that has an eSata port at the back.
I originally installed Windows 7 x64 end of September at the port worked, I could connect external drives no issues.

Somewhere in the middle of October when I started connecting eSata drives they were not being picked up anymore.
I tried system restore to a point when I know it worked but nothing.
Tried various eSata drives as well, ALL work via usb.

Recently installed Windows 8 thinking it would help the issue but same thing doesnt detect anything.

Only thing under device manager is:

Other DEvices - Mass Storage Controller with exclamation mark.
Harware ID's
PCI\VEN_1217&DEV_7130&SUBSYS_013C1025&REV_03
PCI\VEN_1217&DEV_7130&SUBSYS_013C1025
PCI\VEN_1217&DEV_7130&CC_018000
PCI\VEN_1217&DEV_7130&CC_0180

Relates to some O2Micro software when I did some googling.

 

[Freaksta]

Tried plugging in a drive and then scanning for new disk drives! Maybe the hot swop part isn't working properly!

 

[Hemps]

Tried plugging in a drive and then scanning for new disk drives! Maybe the hot swop part isn't working properly!

Yip tried all that, also rebooting a couple times, I'm going to test with eDock disconnected and only eSata drive connected to laptop.

 

[Hemps]

Eish, seems docking station was the problem, unplugged laptop from docking station, reconnected eSata cable to back of laptop and drives get picked up.

Wonder why docking station would interfere, it doesnt have eSata ports and is NO way connected to any eSata or sub drives, I connect all drives directly to the back of the laptop.

 

[FlatspinZA]

Try a BIOS flash - sometimes ports stop working due to a BIOS corruption (been there, done that).

 

[FlatspinZA]

Eish, seems docking station was the problem, unplugged laptop from docking station, reconnected eSata cable to back of laptop and drives get picked up.

Wonder why docking station would interfere, it doesnt have eSata ports and is NO way connected to any eSata or sub drives, I connect all drives directly to the back of the laptop.

Ah, been there too. Docking stations, especially USB port replicators have an amazing way of interfering with other devices. You get to a point where Windows won't recognize your devices - normally a safe-mode boot and deletion of all devices in Device Manager fixes it, but there have been extreme cases where a complete OS reload is required.

 

[ponder]

Ah, been there too. Docking stations, especially USB port replicators have an amazing way of interfering with other devices. You get to a point where Windows won't recognize your devices - normally a safe-mode boot and deletion of all devices in Device Manager fixes it, but there have been extreme cases where a complete OS reload is required.

Yeah it can be a real pita at times. I've actually marked all my USB cables to match certain ports because sometimes when I disconnect them to clean out the pc they won't work unless plugged into the exact same ports they were in previously :wtf:

 

[FlatspinZA]

Yeah it can be a real pita at times. I've actually marked all my USB cables to match certain ports because sometimes when I disconnect them to clean out the pc they won't work unless plugged into the exact same ports they were in previously :wtf:

I have to label all the LAN connectors on one of my networks because they keep unplugging everything when the lightning comes and can't find the one cable that absolutely must be plugged into the WAN port. Ah, well - I also make a point of plugging my USB Devices into the exact same port I installed them on for the very reason you mentioned.

Even in safe-mode you have devices that don't show up in Device Manager - you have to explicitly enable viewing of unused/disabled devices to get them to show.

 

[Tim the Techxpert]

Hi There,
Have you checked the cables and tried alternate cables? A cable fault may be the problem. I had one a few weeks ago with SATA

Regards

Tim

 

[FlatspinZA]

Hi There,
Have you checked the cables and tried alternate cables? A cable fault may be the problem. I had one a few weeks ago with SATA

Regards

Tim

No, I am pretty sure he didn't do that because we're all daft around here. Having said that, I apologise for making a tit of you because I could have been just like you somewhere else.