PC Won't Start w/ USB Drive Plugged In

[GaryRichie]

First, my PC specs, from Belarc Advisor:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating System
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600)
Processor a
2.80 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Drives
1240.03 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
986.32 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

LITE-ON DVDRW LH-20A1H [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removable media [Floppy drive]

WD 10EACS External USB Device [Hard drive] (1000.20 GB) -- drive 2
WDC WD2000JB-22FUA0 [Hard drive] (200.05 GB) -- drive 1, s/n WD-WMAEP1783246, rev 15.05R15, SMART Status: Healthy
WDC WD400BB-71DGA0 [Hard drive] (40.04 GB) -- drive 0, s/n WD-WMADK1040414, rev 05.03E05, SMART Status: Healthy
System Model
MICRO-STAR INC. MS-6580 5.00
Main Circuit Board b
Board: MICRO-STAR INC. MS-6580 5.00
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. V7.0 1 12/24/2003
Memory Modules c,d
1024 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot '0' has 512 MB
Slot '1' has 512 MB
Local Drive Volumes

c: (NTFS on drive 0) 40.02 GB 20.42 GB free
d: (NTFS on drive 1) 200.05 GB 18.77 GB free
e: (FAT32 on drive 2) 999.96 GB 947.13 GB free

Network Drives
None detected


System Model
MICRO-STAR INC. MS-6580 5.00
Main Circuit Board b
Board: MICRO-STAR INC. MS-6580 5.00
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. V7.0 1 12/24/2003
Memory Modules c,d
1024 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot '0' has 512 MB
Slot '1' has 512 MB
Local Drive Volumes

c: (NTFS on drive 0) 40.02 GB 20.42 GB free
d: (NTFS on drive 1) 200.05 GB 18.77 GB free
e: (FAT32 on drive 2) 999.96 GB 947.13 GB free

Network Drives
None detected
---------------------------------------------------------------------
My system will not boot with the USB external drive (WD 10EACS) plugged in. My BIOS is configured to only boot from the CD drive or internal hard drive 0. I have unplugged all other USB devices from the PC and it still won't boot with the USB HD plugged in. I have tried it with and without a AC powered USB hub, same results. It will boot every time with no problems when the USB HD is not connected.

Any suggestions?

I hope I posted this in the right forum. If not, I apologize.

Thanks!

[Computer_Doctor]

Hmmmm.......I had the same issue on a client's computer too. Would it be a hassle to hook the external hdd once you logged on to windows? Probably a hassle for you everytime though.

[Deleted090308]

In BIOS, under Integrated Peripherals >> disable "USB Legacy Support".

[Wozer]

also do NOT connect an external drive via a hub....

[GaryRichie]

Originally Posted by eneles

In BIOS, under Integrated Peripherals >> disable "USB Legacy Support".

My BIOS is already set to that setting. Any other ideas?

[Deleted090308]

At what point does the computer "hang" during boot?
P.O.S.T or when Windows starts?

[GaryRichie]

P.O.S.T.

At the first "splash" screen.

[Deleted090308]

If you have the USB2.0 bracket - use it.



See if you can enter BIOS with the external HDD connected.
If possible >> make it no. 3 in "Boot devices".

[GaryRichie]

Can't get to BIOS with the drive plugged in.

[Deleted090308]

Weird.
Enable "USB Legacy Support" >> try again.

[wadeagain]

WD 2TB USB Hard Drive on Windows XP Service Pack 3
This is what I did and it seems to have worked.
Unplug ALL USB devices. (You might need a PS2 mouse and keyboard)
Load Factory Defaults in BIOS.
Restart your computer and go into Device Manager and delete ALL your USB devices. (Don’t worry, they will automatically reinstall)
Turn off your computer.
Plug in just your USB Hard drive.
Restart your computer, waiting for everything to be re-installed. This might take 5 or so minutes.
Then, one by one, plug in your USB devices again.

[qishengguan]

Originally Posted by Deleted090308

In BIOS, under Integrated Peripherals >> disable "USB Legacy Support".

this trick worked for me.
it is a AMD triple core system.
thanks