HP Pavilion h8-1070t usb 3.0 limitations

[frank-hopwood]

Running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. When I connect two 3-terabyte external hard drives to my two USB 3.0 ports, the PC freezes on reboot (on the HP logo screen).  If I remove one device the PC boots normally.  Tech support tells me that there is a combined 3 terabyte limit on the two USB 3.0 ports, and that is why the PC freezes on reboot. I haven't been able to find any such limitation cited anywhere.  Fortunately, I guess, after the machine has booted normally with one hard drive connected, I can then connect the second drive to the USB 3.0 port, and both drives function normally.  It is just a hassle to keep plugging and unplugging the second drive whenever I shut down and restart the PC.  Any one else have this problem?  If there is no solution, then my alternatives are I have to live with the problem, or buy a USB 3.0 interface card and use it instead of the PC's USB 3.0 ports.  Sheesh.

[Big_Dave]

Hi Frank,

What bios level is your PC running?  Bios version 7.12 is the latest level posted.

Go into Device Manager and look for the USB 3.0 device.  What is the driver level and the manufacturer?  The driver is not so important as the PC is obviously freezing at the HP splash screen.

Look in the bios and make sure that the USB devices are below the hard drive in priority.  They both should be lower.

[frank-hopwood]

Thanks for the suggestions Big Dave.  I have the latest bios (7.12, rev A) installed, the latest Texas Instruments driver (XCHI controller, 1.12.4.0) installed, and have set the boot sequence so that the internal HD boots before USB devices.  Still the same problem.  I'm thinking I'll just add a USB 3.0 card.  Just wish HP had put a warning out on limitations of USB 3.0-connected hard drives.  thanks again,

frank