External Harddrive USB Y Cable problem

I have a external harddrive (1TB IOmega Select USB 2.0 Desktop Harddrive) and bout a USB Y cable so I could hook up to my 2 computers. But only one of the Male ends on the Y cable work in my computer, when I plug in the other one Windows says "USB Devuce Not Recognized". The other end works fine.

Are you sure the Y cable isn't to allow the hard drive to pull it's power solely from the USB ports? The only Y USB cables that I've used were designed to allow the device to pull power from 2 USB ports so you wouldn't have to plug the device into a wall outlet. I don't know if you can connect a USB device to 2 computers at once, but I may be wrong.

Are you sure the Y cable isn't to allow the hard drive to pull it's power solely from the USB ports? The only Y USB cables that I've used were designed to allow the device to pull power from 2 USB ports so you wouldn't have to plug the device into a wall outlet. I don't know if you can connect a USB device to 2 computers at once, but I may be wrong.

z8Jdt

This is correct. The OP's idea of the function of a Y is not. You can network the two computers to use the same HDD, but one would have to act as the host for the drive.

Is it possible to edit your posts? I would edit my previous post, but I don't see the option.

Anyway, I think you would need a special USB hub for connecting to two computers at once or would need to connect the drive to a router or something. Another option is to connect the hard drive to 1 computer and then share it so that other computers on your home network would be able to access it.

EDIT: Found the edit option. ThanksSnotweasel530.:)

Is it possible to edit your posts? I would edit my previous post, but I don't see the option. Anyway, I think you would need a special USB hub for connecting to two computers at once or would need to connect the drive to a router or something. Another option is to connect the hard drive to 1 computer and then share it so that other computers on your home network would be able to access it.z8Jdt

You should see a drop down menu to the left of the reply options.

edit: to the right =P

But that still doesn't explain why only one end of it only works, or does it?
So I cannot use my Y cable at all to connect my computer to ps3?

The function of a USB Y cable WRT an external hard drive like this, is because depending on the drive inside, it may need more power than what the USB port it is connected to allows. So, that second plug is to give it an extra part to draw current from. On the flip side, what I find irritating now is that modern enclosures that do have this as an option, and have an input for using an external AC adapter, never provide one, instead expecting everyone to just use the Y cable. Well, this is all well and good if the drive ONLY connected via Y cable, but I have one enclosure that also provides e-SATA connectivity. And the drive won't "use" the e-sata bus for data if you're using the Y-cable. So for this, you need the power plug to get to employ the full speed over e-sata.codezer0

My enclosure provided me with one. You get what you pay for bud.

[QUOTE="z8Jdt"]

Are you sure the Y cable isn't to allow the hard drive to pull it's power solely from the USB ports? The only Y USB cables that I've used were designed to allow the device to pull power from 2 USB ports so you wouldn't have to plug the device into a wall outlet. I don't know if you can connect a USB device to 2 computers at once, but I may be wrong.

Snotweasel530

This is correct. The OP's idea of the function of a Y is not. You can network the two computers to use the same HDD, but one would have to act as the host for the drive.

Or do I have to buy a Y Cable with a power supply in it? Or can I get a power supply for my current Y Cable?

My enclosure provided me with one. You get what you pay for bud.

Snotweasel530

[QUOTE="Snotweasel530"]

[QUOTE="z8Jdt"]

Are you sure the Y cable isn't to allow the hard drive to pull it's power solely from the USB ports? The only Y USB cables that I've used were designed to allow the device to pull power from 2 USB ports so you wouldn't have to plug the device into a wall outlet. I don't know if you can connect a USB device to 2 computers at once, but I may be wrong.

OilerBoy

This is correct. The OP's idea of the function of a Y is not. You can network the two computers to use the same HDD, but one would have to act as the host for the drive.

Or do I have to buy a Y Cable with a power supply in it? Or can I get a power supply for my current Y Cable?

[QUOTE="Snotweasel530"]

My enclosure provided me with one. You get what you pay for bud.

codezer0

Hrmpf. Troof son.