External hardrive clicks when connected to X22

[Yossarko]

I have a Thinkpad X22 (with XP PRO). I recently changed the slowish 20gb hard drive for a faster 40gb 5200rpm one. Everything is fine. I also decided to buy a small 2.5" USB enclosure for laptop hardrives so I could have a small external 20gb drive for my laptop. It's powered by USB.

The problem is it doesn't work...on the laptop. If I connect the enclosure/drive to my desktop (XP) on USB1 or USB2 it works, the harddrive spins up and I can access the drive. If I connect the drive to my Thinkpad (USB1 or my externally powered USB2.0 PCMCIA card) the drive just makes a clicking sound. Like a clock on fast forward. And doesn't stop. Nothing is detected. I tried putting my new 40gb in the enclosure, SAME THING. So it rules out faulty hard drive. And it rules out faulty enclosure because it works perfectly on my desktop.

So basically my external laptop harddrive won't work on my laptop. Any ideas?

[christopher_wolf]

Welcome to the Thinkpad Forums

If it is making that kind of clicking sound without spinning, that indicates that the heads are being ramped and un-ramped quickly...I don't know what the problem could be; I would have saidthat the enclosure needs extra software to work, but it works fine on the desktop without any additional steps being taken.

[hishamh]

Another first time poster!

@Yossarko

That sounds very much like the drive is not getting enough power from USB to spin up. If your enclosure supports it, try it on external power or use a powered hub. My enclosures actually have both USB and a power input, plus a Y cable for the power input so I can use two USB slots to power up the drive without having to use a transformer.