WindowsOS external NTFS formatted SSD's have unreliable connection(?)

Former user wrote on 1/27/2024, 4:08 PM

I put projects on an SSD drive, each one has its own SSD. If I have a Vegas project on an SSD, the drive would be formatted NTFS. If I plug the SSD into a dock or direct cable via USB, Windows will not recognize and automount the drive the way it would an HDD. I have to go into 'manage' and assign a drive letter for the SSD. When I work on a Vegas project the computer will disconnect from the SSD and will no longer have access to the project. I then have to go into 'manage', assign the drive another letter, and then reconnect it to the project. There is no physical reason for the drive to be disconnected.

I dualboot with Linux, any drive I plug in is recognized and it will not unmount unless I instruct or remove it, this indicates that there is no physical issue with the devices. Can I get the same ability to automount and reliability for external SSD's the way I would an HDD? This issue happens on both lap and desktops, Windows 10 or 11. It seems for Vegas (or any other Windows program on an external drive) I can only use spinning drives if I want 'automount' and a reliable connection to an external device.

Further, I tried formatting SSD's to GPT and MBR, both have same results, no 'automounting', and an unreliable connection. The only solution seems to be to use HDD's exclusively when connecting an external drive to Windows OS. Can anyone suggest a fix or this or do we need to wait for Microsoft update?

Comments

Former user wrote on 1/28/2024, 7:20 PM

I researched and see that many message boards and Youtube videos mention this problem, the solutions are limited at best, and the issue is systemic with Microsoft OS. Microsoft has not released a fix. Backing up a video project between SSD's, ten minutes. Backing up on a performance HDD, half hour.

It is clear than that Vegas (or any program on Windows OS that needs an external SSD) cannot be used for client (or any) work stored on external SSD's until Microsoft resolves this issue. It is a Microsoft problem.

Dexcon wrote on 1/28/2024, 7:52 PM

My 2 x Samsung T5s and a T7 SSDs are formatted exFAT and are recognised by Windows 11 and do auto show up as active drives with drive letters in File Explorer. I wonder if the display problem only occurs with NTFS formatted SSDs.

Former user wrote on 1/28/2024, 7:56 PM

@Dexcon Interesting! Thanks! I can try to format to that file system and see if the disk is recognized and stays connected. Right now, I am looking at re-doing project on other OS'. If your solution works, that can also help save time. I try to work on projects on desk and laptop, but had issues with connectivity no matter what device I used. Really frustrating!

Former user wrote on 1/28/2024, 9:28 PM

@Dexcon I did some reading and found this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/editors/comments/pa8lcd/is_exfat_fine_for_video_editing_from_an_external/

Outlook does not look good for exFAT.

Microsoft needs to get it together. A reliable external connection is important.

Dexcon wrote on 1/28/2024, 10:26 PM

Thanks for the info @Former user ... that's good to know.

I'm not sure how the SSDs came to be exFAT - maybe they were already formatted exFAT out-of-the-box. For a long time, I've always formatted new drives requiring formatting as GPT / NTFS / Simple.

The exFAT problem may not be so much of an issue for me because I'm using the SSDs just to backup camera media while on trips away, but I'll likely reformat them to NTFS once I don't need the backup media on them.

Former user wrote on 1/28/2024, 10:34 PM

@Dexcon I spoke with a professional photographer about this issue earlier today (he edits with Adobe CC on Windows) and he said he uses spinning drives (HDD) for back up and storage. For photography, I store the same. WesternDigital Black Edition. Regular storage, any disk drive would do. SSD's are strictly for video editing...perhaps audio as well and HDD's can handle that. While a performance HDD can handle even 4K editing, when I compare the performance against an SSD--it is hard to beat.

bvideo wrote on 1/28/2024, 10:52 PM

What kind of USB SSD drives are these? And are they self-contained or are they e.g. M2 drives put into a USB/M2 adapter. Whatever they are, do they have their own updatable firmware? Some of those adapters have updatable firmware. Some Samsung M2 drives have had firmware updates too.

Former user wrote on 1/28/2024, 11:01 PM

@bvideo It is a combination. I use both a NextStarTX dock and/or a cable adaptor USB connected to a SATA device. But the problem is the same for NVME hooked up to an external adaptor to USB as well. It does not matter the make. The SSD happened to be a Samsung SATA for this particular project.

Former user wrote on 2/1/2024, 2:17 PM

After consulting with IT specialists and some hardware shops, they suggest the best course of action is an external HDD drive (preferably NAS) with a good enclosure, even for video editing, as the most stable and reliable connection between an external storage device and a WindowsOS computer. Not really the answer I was hoping for, but seems reasonable. Something to plan for in the future...