Any known issues with external USB enclosures and SSDs?

Trying to pop my M4 into my old Seagate external drive and it isn't being recognized. The host controller just flashed the light, which usually means there's a problem of some sort. If I swap back in my traditional 2.5" drive it works just fine and the computer sees it immediately. Any known compatibility issues with SSDs and an external enclosure's USB controller?

PS - I also have a Thermaltake BlackX enclosure that works just fine with the SSD. Obviously the only difference is that it is a much newer device. The Seagate enclosure is a FreeAgent GO device (9nn2a4-500).

No external power on the FreeAgent...just USB, maybe there's a power issue. But I would think its an electronics issue.

Could be the wire.
As those wires wear out, they'll get fussy about some hard drives, while still working with others.
Is it a two into one USB wire that you're using?

Quote from RockySosua : Could be the wire. As those wires wear out, they'll get fussy about some hard drives, while still working with others. Is it a two into one USB wire that you're using?

Quote from repitall : No external power on the FreeAgent...just USB, maybe there's a power issue. But I would think its an electronics issue.

It has two USB connectors for power, but I've honestly never used more than one and it has worked just fine. I would think it was an electronics issue but I have the controller removed from the enclosure, hook it up to the M4 SSD and no go, then I hook it up to the traditional 2.5" and it works perfectly. Then I pop the M4 into my BlacX and it shows up just fine, even tried formatting it with exFAT and NTFS, no go. I'm not running the latest firmware, but I can't see how that would effect it. I can't imagine it's a power issue, but I've tried both USB connectors together and individually, no go.

I'll tinker with it some more tonight unless someone has a better suggestion.

Quote from brbubba : It has two USB connectors for power, but I've honestly never used more than one and it has worked just fine. I would think it was an electronics issue but I have the controller removed from the enclosure, hook it up to the M4 SSD and no go, then I hook it up to the traditional 2.5" and it works perfectly. Then I pop the M4 into my BlacX and it shows up just fine, even tried formatting it with exFAT and NTFS, no go. I'm not running the latest firmware, but I can't see how that would effect it. I can't imagine it's a power issue, but I've tried both USB connectors together and individually, no go. I'll tinker with it some more tonight unless someone has a better suggestion.

That happens to me with frequency.
The guts from the cases that I use, are cheapie cheapie, as that's what they sell here.
When I get a hard drive that outright refuses to be recognized, I swap wires, ALWAYS plugging in two at the computer and 1 at the case, and that almost always works, If not, I plug it into a powered case that does all sizes and types, and that does the trick.
USB powered cases don't deliver as much voltage as the powered ones, which is why most of them come with the double wires.
Dollar to a doughnut that if you change that wire and plug both ends in, it'll work.

I've had issues in the past with SATA external cases being picky on the drives they will accept - I think it was mostly the "brand" of the external enclosure, though. FWIW this was an unpowered case.

Quote from Dr. J : I've had issues in the past with SATA external cases being picky on the drives they will accept - I think it was mostly the "brand" of the external enclosure, though. FWIW this was an unpowered case.

Agreed. Thing is, that the cases they sell around here are cheaper than cheap, and it's a crapshoot at best, not to mention that even if it works today, a few weeks down the road, it may no longer recognize the drive.
I really should order a few good ones from the US. Not only would the electronics be better, but the wire quality would surely be vastly superior to the junk I buy here.

Quote from RockySosua : Agreed. Thing is, that the cases they sell around here are cheaper than cheap, and it's a crapshoot at best, not to mention that even if it works today, a few weeks down the road, it may no longer recognize the drive. I really should order a few good ones from the US. Not only would the electronics be better, but the wire quality would surely be vastly superior to the junk I buy here.

I had one kicking around that I bought a couple years ago to troubleshoot a dead HDD at work. It only "likes" 1 or 2 drives I've tried with it - everything else it just plain does not read. No commonality or rationale behind it, it just doesn't like some drives.

Recently though with my mobo issue I bought a couple external cases to access a couple different HDD's and had ZERO issue. Here though I was shopping for good reviews and value whereas before I was in a pinch and bought whatever Staples had at the time (as I recall they only had ONE external SATA enclosure in the whole store).

Quote from Dr. J : I had one kicking around that I bought a couple years ago to troubleshoot a dead HDD at work. It only "likes" 1 or 2 drives I've tried with it - everything else it just plain does not read. No commonality or rationale behind it, it just doesn't like some drives. Recently though with my mobo issue I bought a couple external cases to access a couple different HDD's and had ZERO issue. Here though I was shopping for good reviews and value whereas before I was in a pinch and bought whatever Staples had at the time (as I recall they only had ONE external SATA enclosure in the whole store).

If you know of a good one, please post a link to it. I'm due to get 3 or 4 good ones.

I keep the side off of my PC with SATA cables readily accessible, to plug stubborn hard drives into. If it doesn't work there, then the drive is toast.

I bought these:

StarTech.com 2.5in Black eSATA USB External Hard Drive Enclosure for SATA HDD [amazon.com]

Macally G-S350SU Hi-Speed eSata/USB2.0 External Storage Enclosure for 3.5inch SATA HDD [amazon.com]

Quote from RockySosua : If you know of a good one, please post a link to it. I'm due to get 3 or 4 good ones. I keep the side off of my PC with SATA cables readily accessible, to plug stubborn hard drives into. If it doesn't work there, then the drive is toast.

If you do a lot of swapping the BlacX is amazing. Obviously it's not portable.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6817153066

Quote from brbubba : If you do a lot of swapping the BlacX is amazing. Obviously it's not portable. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6817153066

I have something similar that does 3.5 and 2.5, both IDE and SATA, but when I'm working on laptops, those little case systems are so much more convenient. I never use the actual cover. I just have the connector plugged into the USB cable that it comes with, plug in the two wires at one end and slide the drive in at the other, and I'm ready to go.
It's just faster and more convenient and I don't even have to get up to go over to the powered model mentioned above.
I like the idea of that Thermaltake, but I still want a few of the little ones. Part of the reason is for when a client's laptop dies and he buys a new one, we just slap the old hard drive into the small USB case to transfer his data over and then he can use it as a back up device.

Quote from Dr. J : I bought these: StarTech.com 2.5in Black eSATA USB External Hard Drive Enclosure for SATA HDD [amazon.com] Macally G-S350SU Hi-Speed eSata/USB2.0 External Storage Enclosure for 3.5inch SATA HDD [amazon.com]

That StarTech looks good.
Does it come with one of those 2 into 1 cables?
Does it work with all and any 2.5 SATA drives, or is it fussy like the ones I have?

Yeah was going to give up on the SSD and put the old one back in it and it just kicked the bucket. So yeah, think it must have been on the way out to begin with. No worries I ordered a new one on newegg earlier today.