Question from Dreama L.: I have a Lenovo desktop computer with Windows 7. I bought an external USB hard drive to make backups with, and it works great when plugged into one of the USB connectors on the back of the PC. It won’t work at all when it’s plugged into the front connectors though.
I’d really like to be able to plug the drive into the front of the computer, make the backup, then unplug it and set it on a shelf until I need to use it again. Can you tell me how to get the drive to work with a front mounted USB connector?
Rick‘s answer: Dreama, the short answer is you probably won’t be able to. The USB connectors on the back of the computer are soldered directly to the motherboard, and they are able to provide maximum power to the devices plugged into them.
The USB ports on the front of a PC are connected to the motherboard via small cables, and the power they can supply is limited. It’s a virtual certainty that those front-mounted ports simply cannot supply enough power to operate the drive
I understand your desire to be able to connect and disconnect the drive without turning the PC around, and I have a solution for you: Buy a powered USB 3.0 hub and plug it into the back of your computer, then plug the external hard drive into the hub. The are surprisingly inexpensive. Just be sure to buy a powered hub instead of a passive (non-powered) model.
You’ll find a great selection of powered USB 3.0 hubs at Amazon. Click here (#ad) to check them out.
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