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Read errors, power & the sleep-bug fix

The single most common support question, solved. If your drive throws read errors or stops responding, it's almost always power or the "sleep bug" — both easy fixes.

Read errors? Start with power

External drives drawing power from a single laptop USB port can under-volt, especially mid-rip, which shows up as read errors or a drive that disappears. The fix is almost always a powered USB hub — it gives the drive a steady, dedicated supply.

1. Use a powered USB hub (we sell one, and include it in the Complete Kit) rather than a bare laptop port.
2. Try a rear USB port on a desktop, or a different cable, to rule out a flaky connection.
3. Give the disc a clean — fingerprints and dust cause real read errors too.

The "sleep bug"

Some firmware stops responding after the computer sleeps. Two reliable fixes:

1. Disable USB selective suspend in your power settings so the OS stops powering the port down.
2. Or simply unplug and replug the drive after the machine wakes — it comes straight back.