Solution to USB Hard Drive and CT5000

[Josh]

I finally sorted out getting the Buffalo [750GB] to connect with the CT5000 for releases of the software above 1.37. I could strange the guys that write the software for CT since they introduced USB handling issues which led to the software not waiting around long enough for the drive to boot up from box start up. One solution was / is to leave your USB drive running all the time which I judged to be not on ie. clicking the switch at the back of the drive so auto start up is turned off.

I did read on the German site posted up back in the spring time that the Logitech 4-port USB Hub for Notebooks solved all of their drive problems and that was before the developers of the CT5000 software buggered up the handling, this guy had issues with the drive [not Buffalo] and what software they had then. I put off buying this hub on the basis that I didn't believe it would sort out my problem [ie. a success rate of boot up of about 25 percent with software above 1.38 - not good for a PVR] hoping that CT would release their own revised software and the p guys would build on from there. Little did I realise that the p guys were the developers of the CT software themselves [so it would appear ].

So after they released 1.47 / 1.47p / 1.49 / 1.49p and not forgetting 1.43 I decided enough was enough and I'd risk the £15 on the notebook hub. I went for the Logitech Premium 4-Port USB Hub for Notebooks but the bottom line is it does sort out my issues but in a interesting way.

Story so far 1.38 / 1.38p software and everything before was fine with the Buffalo everything above big issues. If you connected the drive directly too the unit it didn't work at all with the box refusing to see the Buffalo and it isn't my drive, I have three of these !. I use the Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 3-port hub & 15-in-1 Media Reader/Writer so I can play USB memory stick music, look at pics and put SD cards in with PICs and music on etc. Look at pics in HD quality etc. It was this that gave me the 25 percent success rate with 1.47 and everything above when booting up, and always works with 1.38 and everything below. Leave your drive running 24/7 by clicking the switch at the back and it works fine if you want to waste power and wear out the drive.



Now add in the Logitech Premium 4-Port USB Hub for Notebooks



Daisy chain all of this:

CT > Logitech > Belkin > Buffalo

upgrade software in the box to 1.49p and bobs your uncle it now boots up and down the Buffalo as it should do, cut out the Belkin ie.

CT > Logitech > Buffalo

and the Buffalo stays on all the time [just how those p developers like their software to work / not fussed !].

So any how if you are having problems with the CT5000 and drives, it's true that the Logitech is helpful. It was £15 well spent and now I can use the latest CT software rather than being stranded on 1.38. Thanks a lot to those p developers that ignore what people have been telling them about their software not working with all drives.