New DeepSpar USB Stabilizer

[fzabkar]

Power control helps a lot and no, it's not unique. This is my own clumsy way of handling it https://youtu.be/v1ql6yNS0qk?t=89

That's brilliant!

https://www.yepkit.com/product/300115/YKUSHXS

Full switching of both power and data lines

Now for a USB 3.0 version ...

[Arch Stanton]

They have a USB 3 version too if I'm not mistaking, I just didn't pay attention when I purchased.

[fzabkar]

They have a USB 3 version too if I'm not mistaking, I just didn't pay attention when I purchased.

You're right:

https://www.yepkit.com/product/300110/YKUSH3

[maximus]

Before I post too much more, I want to be clear, I do not have a USB Stabilizer. But I can see that it is a very valuable device, and if someone had the money, it could/would be a good investment. It is a great, if not excellent tool. Now that I have that out of the way...

When it comes to power cycles (and resets), yes, that is great. But when the drive is having issues, it can lock up even the best OS. Without the ability to set a timeout, you are stuck with what the OS does. The USB Stabilizer handles the timeouts internally, so the OS does not even see it. That is why it would be superior over an external relay system using the OS for reading. That means the USB Stabilizer can do amazing things when trying to read an unstable device through the OS. That is why it is great.

The direct mode of HDDSuperClone takes it a bit farther, and removes the OS from the equation. Once in the direct USB mode, the OS does not see the drive, which keeps it from trying to read it, and allows HDDSuperClone the opportunity to clone/image it (or access it through the virtual driver mode). It handles the timeouts, and allows for using an external relay to power cycle the drive without the OS being involved. But at this time it can’t handle SD card readers (that is on the to do bucket list).

And wow, that Yepkit USB Switchable Hub looks great, and it works with Linux! I might have to buy one of those to play with. I will put that on the bucket list.

For the most part, the USB Stabilizer can be better than HDDSuperClone, with the simple fact that it works with all attached devices (as far as I know), and works with Windows, which is what everyone uses. But there is one case where I do know the Direct USB mode of HDDSuperClone would be superior, and that is working with a slow responding WD USB drive without converting to SATA. It allows the ability to increase the cluster size to a point that greatly speeds up the cloning. Try that with the USB Stabilizer

[fzabkar]

If the stabilizer is a hardware tool, then why does it "Require Windows 10 x64"? Why not Linux, or Mac OS, or any other OS?

The web site offers "adapters for SATA, NVMe PCIe M.2 M-key, AHCI PCIe M.2 M-key, and Apple 12+16 pin PCIe SSDs". How do these adapters differ from the "basic adapters"? Do Deepspar's adapters allow for disabling bad PCIe lanes, changing link speeds, and issuing resets whereas the basic adapters do not? Or can the stabilizer achieve the same control with basic adapters?

http://www.deepspar.com/blog/Recovering-Problematic-PCIe-SSDs.html

[Arch Stanton]

It allows the ability to increase the cluster size to a point that greatly speeds up the cloning. Try that with the USB Stabilizer

But Stabilizer is not a cloner. So you'd need a Windows based imaging program that'd allow you to experiment with that. Or isn´t that what you mean? How does this work? You gradually increase size and then slightly lower until optimum speed is reached?

[Arch Stanton]

Or can the stabilizer achieve the same control with basic adapters?

Yes. Stabilizer doesn't do all that AFAIU (disabling bad PCIe lanes etc. - I think this refers to DDI PCIe SSD Add-on)

[fzabkar]

Or can the stabilizer achieve the same control with basic adapters?

Yes. Stabilizer doesn't do all that AFAIU (disabling bad PCIe lanes etc. - I think this refers to DDI PCIe SSD Add-on)

The web site seems to imply that there is something special about the "set of adapters" that Deepspar offers as an optional extra.

http://www.deepspar.com/usb-stabilizer.html

Works with any non-proprietary USB storage, including devices converted to USB through an adapter. With basic adapters it can be used with almost any type of storage device, including SATA drives and the newest AHCI/NVMe PCIe SSDs.

The implication seems to be that Deepspar's adapter are "not basic". Do users really need to purchase these adapters to get maximum benefit out of this tool?

[Arch Stanton]

Depends how you read that line ..

With basic adapters it can be used with almost any type of storage device, including SATA drives and the newest AHCI/NVMe PCIe SSDs.

[fzabkar]

I'm still curious as to why one would need Win 10 x64. Does the stabilizer call home to Deepspar every time you use it? If it enumerates as a standard USB mass storage device, then I should be able to use it on an old DOS machine with UASP drivers. So what gives?

[Arch Stanton]

I'm still curious as to why one would need Win 10 x64.

Because it comes with 64 bit software perhaps?

Does the stabilizer call home to Deepspar every time you use it?

I haven't checked but it works fine without internet access.

If it enumerates as a standard USB mass storage device

Out of the box it presents itself as a small drive, maybe you could get this far in DOS, I dunno. You need to install driver to get the system to see drives you plug into the stabilizer. You control settings using 64 bit software.

[fzabkar]

I'm still curious as to why one would need Win 10 x64.

Because it comes with 64 bit software perhaps?

Does the stabilizer call home to Deepspar every time you use it?

I haven't checked but it works fine without internet access.

If it enumerates as a standard USB mass storage device

Out of the box it presents itself as a small drive, maybe you could get this far in DOS, I dunno. You need to install driver to get the system to see drives you plug into the stabilizer. You control settings using 64 bit software.

Maybe this is one of those devices that needs its firmware ("driver") to be downloaded via USB every time it starts up? Cypress has an EZ-USB product that works this way.