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Can the T60p's USB port power a 2.5" external hard driv

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 1:34 am
by zephyr
I'm looking to buy a Western Digital Passport 2.5" external drive. http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-W ... 48-1104860.

This drive gets all its power from the USB port, and it comes with a single-ended USB cable (unlike the Seagate portable drives, which have a Y-ended USB cable that will plug into two computer USB ports to supply additional power).

Will my T60P be able to provide enough power for this drive? I saw that the drive needs 1000mAh of power, and I've read that most USB ports only supply 500mAh; what about the T60P?

Re: Can the T60p's USB port power a 2.5" external hard

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 1:54 am
by Ken Fox
zephyr wrote:I'm looking to buy a Western Digital Passport 2.5" external drive. http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-W ... 48-1104860.

This drive gets all its power from the USB port, and it comes with a single-ended USB cable (unlike the Seagate portable drives, which have a Y-ended USB cable that will plug into two computer USB ports to supply additional power).

Will my T60P be able to provide enough power for this drive? I saw that the drive needs 1000mAh of power, and I've read that most USB ports only supply 500mAh; what about the T60P?
This should work with any laptop that has a powered USB 2 port (on the X32/X31, only one of two USB ports is powered, and I'm not sure of the arrangement on the T60 but I'd assume that all are powered)

The above having been said I would not buy this drive, and certainly not for this price. For the same or less money you can buy a cheap USB2 2.5" external enclosure plus a separate 120gb (or other sized) drive, assemble it yourself, and have a better final product with at least a 3 year warranty as opposed to this thing's 1 year warranty.

I did buy one of this exact thing through the now expired Buy.com/google checkout deal, for $80. The one I got was defective and would not format nor work consistently with any of my computers including two desktops which certainly produce more than enough power through their USB ports. I had to return it for a replacement since having opened it I could not get a refund. Had I been offered the chance to take a refund instead, I would have taken it.

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 2:21 am
by RonS
I've done it. I've powered and used a 2.5" drive from the T60 USB port and had no problems. I did this while it was plugged in - I haven't tried it on battery power. I don't know if that would make a difference or not.

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 12:38 am
by dwhatfield
I have the 60 and 120 gb versions of this drive (well, the generation before it---they are silver)

I have had no issues with either of them on any of my thinkpads. The only problem..my A31 and T23 are USB 1.1......