Does simple tech 250 drive need an external power source?
Hi there.
I just "inherited" a Simple Tech 250GB drive. Have USB cabled it into both a PowerMac and a PC desktop and it does not show up on either. There is a red light that glows steady and a blue one that flashes then goes out on the drive.
Do I need driver software? or an external power source for the drive to make it work. (I see a very small power port on the back of the drive.)
I just "inherited" a Simple Tech 250GB drive. Have USB cabled it into both a PowerMac and a PC desktop and it does not show up on either. There is a red light that glows steady and a blue one that flashes then goes out on the drive.
Do I need driver software? or an external power source for the drive to make it work. (I see a very small power port on the back of the drive.)
Computers & Internet - SimpleTech - 250GB USB2.0 7200 RPM External 250 GB IDE Hard Drive
Answers & Comments
Yes, you need a power supply. I have several USB peripherals that, in a similar way, APPEAR to be on when you plug them into USB. But that interface cannot supply enough power to actually run the machine. The maximum is 0.5 A * 5 V = 2.5 W. The wee portable drives can run on that power, but a normal desktop drive, such as is inside a full-size desktop external enclosure, use ~ 8 W.
So you need a DC power supply! I bet SimpleTech can tell you what the correct current, voltage, and polarity is. Good luck.