External Hard drive keeps failing to download and would always disconnect from my laptop when installing games on steam

[WaifuArcher404]

Hi all, I would like to ask for help in dealing with this type of problem for I do not know what to do in order to make it work or what is simply the issue. soooooooo pls. help this poor gamer download games with his hard drive huhu

[Phoenix]

There's a reason why Steam does not recommend using external HDDs.

Solution is quite simple - don't use external HDDs and use (and/or upgrade) your internal drive instead to avoid associated problems.

[Crashed]

Have you by any chance tried a different cable and/or USB port? Also do not use a hub because a HDD tends to draw more power than other USB devices.

[BloodShed]

The that comes with the external harddrive can have a tendency to be faulty due the way they're packaged.

Originally posted by Crashed:

Also do not use a hub because a HDD tends to draw more power than other USB devices.

Unless it's a powered hub.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Ensure sleep mode disable.
Disable powers saving.


You could install via C drive, then use the move feature to your external drive afterwards.

[Crashed]

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

Ensure sleep mode disable.
Disable powers saving.


You could install via C drive, then use the move feature to your external drive afterwards.

Because Steam doesn't disable Windows sleep mode while installing, and if Windows goes to sleep the drive could get temporarily unmounted because the USB ports might not wake up in time?

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by Crashed:

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

Ensure sleep mode disable.
Disable powers saving.


You could install via C drive, then use the move feature to your external drive afterwards.

Because Steam doesn't disable Windows sleep mode while installing, and if Windows goes to sleep the drive could get temporarily unmounted because the USB ports might not wake up in time?

There can be rare cases when comes to certain manufacturer PCs where issues could happen, possible windows thinks you're gone, and for whatever reason ignore what going on, it may just go to sleep which can interrupt downloading, and may even unmount the drive, another possibility is power saving where it supply less power, and external drive stopped getting enough power supply if it only source is via USB, and likely a external hard drive. Another possibility is bad cable, or port is very loose due to wear & tear.

[Elucidator]

(the official method of getting to device manager)
Open up MMC, hit ctrl+M on your keyboard, select "Device Manager", Hit add, hit OK, hit OK, Select the module in the left column, click on USB Controllers in the center column, Right click on Generic USB Hub, Select properties, hit the Power Management tab, uncheck "allow the computer to turn this device off to save energy", Hit OK
Do this for a number of those USB devices, once done just close MMC.
That should prevent at least your external HDD from losing power (even slightly)

Make sure you connect the device before starting up Steam before you try to download anything to that library.

Make sure there is enough room for the entire game wherever Steam is. (if Steam is installed on C: hold steam, make sure the game can fit there, as Steam will use this place while downloading the game.)
Make sure Windows Update isn't doing anything as it also corrupts downloads.

[ritzrisay]

1.List your Laptop/Specs and your external HDD you are using. The issue could be anything, but based on what your describing it sounds more to me like a manufacturer defect of the external.
2.I'm assuming you have a standard retail laptop, make sure you are saving the steam folder in the external HDD and that you boot your computer with the external HDD plugged in (not necessary but it helps)
3.Run Steam as Administrator
4.Ensure the USB connection is secure between both the external and the laptop including the ports
5.Ensure to plug in your external HDD in the FASTEST PORT AVAILABLE (USB 2.0 is a minimum)

[Crashed]

Originally posted by ritzrisay:

5.Ensure to plug in your external HDD in the FASTEST PORT AVAILABLE (USB 2.0 is a minimum)

Beware USB 2.0 may be asking for trouble for 2.5 inch bus-powered drives as they are often rated for over 0.5A, the USB 2.0 standard current.

USB 3.0 increases the maximum to 0.9A, reducing the chances of voltage dropouts that could cause the drive to reset or fail to spin up.

[Iceira]

Just so you get it, compare usb 2 and usb 3 or better speed with internal disk, so dont try run highend games that can give issue, same as install it,

That dont ruleout USB Controll Driver and port with 2/3 combination , and the mistake own Product Brand do. ( mine was a usb2 driver and had to reinstall driver to fix it ) i bet thats rare, but as you see all things goes here. ) could be a laptop , not sure i have seen a combi port on desktop , and why should they do that on a tower.