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regtor

Q: Time capsule, powered USB hub and two hard drives

I have a first gen (A1254) TC, 1TB, replaced in 2010 under the Apple's warranty extension program (bad power supply).

 

I am trying to connect two 1TB USB drives via a powered Belkin 4-port USB hub, F5U403.  The two drives are a non-powered WD Elements (2.5") and a Samsung 1TB 3.5" in a powered 3.5" enclosure.  Both are formatted Mac OS extended journaled, GUID partition. 

 

I plug in the powered hub to the TC, and then connect either one of the two USB drives.  The TC immediately goes to blinking yellow and Airport Utility tells me that "the disk needs repair".  This happens when either disk is connected through the hub.

 

I then repaired both disks (connected directly to my MBP) using disk utility.  The disks are fine, and the MBP recognizes them when connected directly or when connected through the same USB hub.  In other words, the hub and the disks work fine when connected to my MBP.

 

In addition, when I connect either of the USB drives directly to the TC, they are recognized and work fine (green light).  But, when I then connect the USB hub to the TC and then connect a drive to the hub, the TC then starts blinking yellow (and Airport Utility says "drive needs repair").

 

Any suggestions?  I will try another hub tomorrow, but as I mentioned the hub works fine when connected directly to my MBP.

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2010), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Mar 7, 2012 4:34 PM

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Q: Time capsule, powered USB hub and two hard drives

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  • by LaPastenague,Solvedanswer

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Mar 7, 2012 8:36 PM in response to regtor
    Level 9 (52,715 points)
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    Mar 7, 2012 8:36 PM in response to regtor

    TC is very particular about hubs.. since the disks work fine direct to the TC but fail via the hub.. that is the problem.. belkin on the front is the bigger problem.

  • by regtor,

    regtor regtor Mar 8, 2012 7:45 PM in response to LaPastenague
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    Mar 8, 2012 7:45 PM in response to LaPastenague

    Yup - the Belkin hub was the problem.  I swapped it out for a Rosewill 7-port I had around and everything works great. Both drives are recognized and accessible via the TC.  The weird thing is that the Belkin hub works fine when connected directly to a Mac.  Well, live and learn - no more Belkin for me.

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Mar 9, 2012 12:49 AM in response to regtor
    Level 9 (52,715 points)
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    Mar 9, 2012 12:49 AM in response to regtor

    The TC has limited space for drivers for all the hubs.. if you could see console messages you would find it just doesn't have drivers for it. (At least that is my idea at this point) The Mac is not limited in the amount of space so it stores all the drivers for known brands out in the wild.

  • by regtor,

    regtor regtor Mar 9, 2012 5:40 AM in response to LaPastenague
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    Mar 9, 2012 5:40 AM in response to LaPastenague

    LP - that's a good theory.  You'd think there would be a way to add drivers  to a firmware update, as long as there was enough ROM space.  In any event, this is not the first time a Belkin product has failed me so I'm not surprised.  Thanks for your help.