USB 3.0 hard drives keep ejecting

Hi Ken, I came across an article that might just be the solution you are looking for.
Click here <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell> to get the article, I hope it solves your problem. Thank you

You should try it, but I think I would look elsewhere for cause of problems:

wdc.custhelp.com/.../what-is-the-ses-driver,-why-is-it-needed,-and-how-to-get-the-driver-popup-to

" Western Digital still recommends installing the SES driver when not using WD SmartWare, but the drive will function without it."

And, yes ... I actually have a WDC 3tb Essentials USB-3.

Actually, you have to work pretty hard to NOT allow the driver to install. I give WDC a big fail for doing it like this ... should have kept it all generic, using only Windows drivers. My understanding is that it's not a communication driver for the main USB-3 link.

Maybe try a shorter, thicker (higher gauge) USB-3 cable.

Hi,

So far the driver update hasn't helped. Currently I am using the cable supplied with one of the drives which is about 14" long and you would hope it should be rated to work at USB 3.0 standard. I had no issues with the 16gig USB 3.0 memory stick I bought to use for the restore partition backup.

would be weird if it was simply cable related, you would have thought WD would have done some joined up thinking there

The 16gig USB-3 flash drive is actually a pretty good test (of the laptop's USB-3 port) ... surprised you have one. However, is it running at the same throughput speed and the same quantity of data? Sounds like it all works to a point.

WD bundled the minimum-build cable that they found would work (with the machines they had available). USB-3 is a fairly new interface. m17x-R4 sounds really new. Better cable is just something to try (all cables are not the same). Try other machines and other drives ... see where problem follows.

I will try and get a better quality cable today. I also contacted WD support yesterday to see what they say. I am guessing they will blame the laptop, lets just wait and see

Just came across this article, I also just received an m17x R4 and my 3TB USB 3.0 WD My Book HDD is giving the same problem... and it occurs on all USB ports.

Really unsure how to approach the issue, the HDD was working fine on an 11 year old dinosaur on Windows XP with no issues. 

This has been a problem for me with several USB devices. If you search the web, it's a widely known issue on the m17x R4's, and there is no fix for it. Unless the USB devices are self-powered this is the experience you will have. I doubt Alienware or Dell will do anything to help us out on this front, because short of a different chipset at this point there is no fix. Just workarounds (how convenient is it to carry around an extra USB hub with your 17x)

I have Alienware 17X R4....and facing same problem.

Tried lot of stunts but nothing works....so follow this simple procedure...my WD external hard disk ejects and connects back automatically.

SOLUTION:

CONNECT YOUR 50GB/1TB/2TB WB EXTERNAL HARD DISK THROUGH A USB3.0 HUB....and your problem is solved. No more hassles.

What exactly do you mean by a usb HUB? I'm plugging my external drive into a 3.0 port but that doesn't solve the problem. I'm dying for the fix!

Stauf99

What exactly do you mean by a usb HUB? I'm plugging my external drive into a 3.0 port but that doesn't solve the problem. I'm dying for the fix!

Just look up USB 3.0 Hub on Amazon and you will immediately understand. I bought the Amazon Basics version due to all the positive reviews. It works well but has not solved the problem of being ejected randomly.

I have 2 Alienware laptops: an M17x R2 and an AW17 (2014). Both suffer from this issue however, I note that it is a problem related to Windows 7 because plenty of people using other brands are experiencing the same thing. Furthermore, it is NOT limited to USB 3.0 ports. It does it with USB 2.0 also.

I don't know how to solve it because a Windows reinstall woks for a short while and then it reoccurs as usual. On the Alienware owners section of Notebook Review, some claim it is related to the Haswell chip but my R2 doesn't have one so I can't agree.

Dell came out with a new USB 3.0 driver which supposedly addresses the issue. Well it may have worked on their test machine/s but it doesn't make any difference on mine.

I'm conviced this is a Windows issue and am keen to discover whether it applies solely to Win 7 or 8 and 8.1 too?

Just to be certain, you tried the hub with the power adapter plugged in?

I think you're on the right track with the Windows version theory. I've only had Windows 8.1 with 3.0 hardware, so if anyone tries using Windows 7, or heard someone that has, please pass along the info! 

This problem seems to depend on the host computer.

I have it on my Dell Precision T1700, which is running Windows 7 and is not older than 1 year.

I started to get this problem on a USB external drive and initially I blamed the drive. I bought a new one and I am getting the same problem.

Same with my tablet when connected by USB. I blamed the extension cable, but it works perfectly if I connect it on my computer at work.

I saw that changing hardware and cables doesn't work. Changing USB port doesn't help.

What can I change on the computer:
Disable USB3 in BIOS?
Get an external powered USB?
Get another one avoiding the Precision series?