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BT Home Hub 5 - USB Hard Drive Keeps Failing on Startup

silklink — Sat, 07 Aug 2021 11:30:29 GMT

I have a BT Home Hub 5 and have a connected USB-powered hard drive. Up until maybe 6 months ago, all was well, but ever since, it fails to connect for each Windows 10 PC / Laptop in the house. I have to drop/disconnect the mapped network connection for it and then re-establish it upon every restart.

I'm using BT's McAffee virus protection and can't find anything obvious there.

I've tried a few things suggested from searching Google - I can't recall which ideas - but none of that has worked.

It's a real pain because this setup is part of my backup strategy.

I guess a WIndows update is responsible, but any help would be appreciated

Thanks in advance

Re: BT Home Hub 5 - USB Hard Drive Keeps Failing on Startup

supertedster — Sat, 07 Aug 2021 23:51:06 GMT

It probably uses the old SMB1 network protocol.

A google search will show you how to re-enable it on Windows 10. But it is a security concern, so your choice, your risk.

Re: BT Home Hub 5 - USB Hard Drive Keeps Failing on Startup

silklink — Sun, 08 Aug 2021 17:32:23 GMT

Thanks Ted

I have seen this when looking on Google.

If this is the case, what is BT doing to support it? I renewed my contract recently, so shouldn't I get a firmware update, or an up-to-date hub or something?

Re: BT Home Hub 5 - USB Hard Drive Keeps Failing on Startup

licquorice — Sun, 08 Aug 2021 17:45:38 GMT

What are BT doing to support what?

The problem is with Windows, not the hub.

Google network drive mapping problems

Re: BT Home Hub 5 - USB Hard Drive Keeps Failing on Startup

Les-Gibson — Sun, 08 Aug 2021 17:52:05 GMT

If you have a need for a backup strategy then you would be well advised to buy yourself a NAS instead of relying on such a crude system

Re: BT Home Hub 5 - USB Hard Drive Keeps Failing on Startup

silklink — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 10:16:35 GMT

You have no idea what my backup strategy is, so how do you consider it crude?

Let's keep to the topic

Re: BT Home Hub 5 - USB Hard Drive Keeps Failing on Startup

silklink — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 10:21:11 GMT

Windows updates security frequently. If a company like BT uses an insecure technology, it has an obligation to make it secure. That's what I expect for what I'm being charged.

It's rather simple, really doesn't take much thinking about.

Re: BT Home Hub 5 - USB Hard Drive Keeps Failing on Startup

licquorice — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 10:26:24 GMT

As the USB port on the Home Hub is only accessible from within your LAN, I'm not sure where the security problem with using SMB1 lies.

However, the use of SMB1 is not the cause of your problem.

Re: BT Home Hub 5 - USB Hard Drive Keeps Failing on Startup

supertedster — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 10:30:12 GMT

If you get one machine infected with some malware. It can then propagate to others using the compromised protocol.

Re: BT Home Hub 5 - USB Hard Drive Keeps Failing on Startup

Les-Gibson — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 14:43:43 GMT

I am keeping with the subject and I don't need to know your strategy to know that SMB1 is crude