External hard Drive connection issues

[couggod]

When I connect my Toshiba external HDD to my computer through a USB male to female adapter, it makes a clicking sound. But when I connect directly to the computer with its supplied cable I get no problems with it, what's causing this?

 

[chunkymonster]

Have you tried using other USB ports? DO they give the same result; clicking?

The USB port may not be supplying enough power to the drive.

Also worth trying another USB cable, just to eliminate possibilities.

 

[KingArcher]

Use a Y-cable and connect two usb ports to the drive so that it gets more current.