External HD won't mount

[Kurt V. Ullman]

I have a 2T My Passport for Mac that worked fine yesterday but wouldn't
mount after I shut down and then started back up (thunderstorms came
through). Nothing else changed. The light on the HD is flashing, looks
to be faster, maybe ~1 per second. I hear no noise. It has two
partitions and neither one is showing up. I am running a mid-2015 MBP
10.12.6.
I have tried plugging it into the other USB port on the computer and
got the same response. A thumb drive into the USB port I normally use
for the HD worked fine. I have no other computer nearby to plug it into
to see if it that works. The only thing I did between the time it worked
and it didn't was turn the computer off. I disconnected the HD after it
was off so I didn't eject it incorrectly.

Suggestions?

[nospam]

In article <2PqdnV-vP4Rp8wDE...@earthlink.com>, Kurt V.

that sounds like the drive isn't spinning up anymore.

try using an actual 5v power adapter rather than relying on bus power.

also try choosing about this mac in the apple menu, then click on
system report... (or use the option key to directly access it), click
on usb and see if the mac is even seeing the drive.

[Kurt V. Ullman]

On 8/23/17 10:03 AM, nospam wrote:
> In article <2PqdnV-vP4Rp8wDE...@earthlink.com>, Kurt V.
> Ullman <kurtu...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> I have a 2T My Passport for Mac that worked fine yesterday but wouldn't
>> mount after I shut down and then started back up (thunderstorms came
>> through). Nothing else changed. The light on the HD is flashing, looks
>> to be faster, maybe ~1 per second. I hear no noise. It has two
>> partitions and neither one is showing up. I am running a mid-2015 MBP
>> 10.12.6.
>> I have tried plugging it into the other USB port on the computer and
>> got the same response. A thumb drive into the USB port I normally use
>> for the HD worked fine. I have no other computer nearby to plug it into
>> to see if it that works. The only thing I did between the time it worked
>> and it didn't was turn the computer off. I disconnected the HD after it
>> was off so I didn't eject it incorrectly.
>>
>> Suggestions?
>
> that sounds like the drive isn't spinning up anymore.
>
> try using an actual 5v power adapter rather than relying on bus power.

Not sure how I do that. I have a powered 4-port hub. Would that work
instead? Both buses did not work. Would that make any difference on
relying on the bus if both are the same. Also I am getting the blinking
on the drive/

>
> also try choosing about this mac in the apple menu, then click on
> system report... (or use the option key to directly access it), click
> on usb and see if the mac is even seeing the drive.
>

The Mac is seeing the drive.

[nospam]

In article <EKqdndkYVb_8OgDE...@earthlink.com>, Kurt V.

Ullman <kurtu...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> > that sounds like the drive isn't spinning up anymore.
> >
> > try using an actual 5v power adapter rather than relying on bus power.
> Not sure how I do that.

by plugging in a 5v adapter for portable drives, which use very thin
barrel connector, so if you have a 5v adapter (such as for your usb
hub) it probably won't fit.

on the other hand, not all portable drives have a 5v input, so it may
not matter.

> I have a powered 4-port hub. Would that work
> instead? Both buses did not work. Would that make any difference on
> relying on the bus if both are the same. Also I am getting the blinking
> on the drive/

a powered usb 3 hub is worth a try because usb 3 can source at least
900 ma per port which should be enough to spin up the drive, although
your computer has usb 3 so it probably won't make a difference. a usb 2
hub generally can't source that much.

> > also try choosing about this mac in the apple menu, then click on
> > system report... (or use the option key to directly access it), click
> > on usb and see if the mac is even seeing the drive.
>
> The Mac is seeing the drive.

then the usb bridge works.

without seeing the drive it's impossible to tell, but based on your
description, it sounds like the drive has failed.

[Kurt V. Ullman]

When I listen to it, there is a whirring sound, I can feel a vibration.
Does that change anything?

[nospam]

In article <-didnVZKavC6LgDE...@earthlink.com>, Kurt V.

Ullman <kurtu...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> When I listen to it, there is a whirring sound, I can feel a vibration.
> Does that change anything?

that means it's spinning.

[Jolly Roger]

When you initially power up the drive, can you hear the head move at
all? Is there a repetitive pattern to the sound?

--
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my ravenous SPAM filter.
I often ignore posts from Google. Use a real news client instead.

JR

[Kurt V. Ullman]

On 8/23/17 1:16 PM, Jolly Roger wrote:
> On 2017-08-23, Kurt V. Ullman <kurtu...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> On 8/23/17 12:31 PM, nospam wrote:
>>> In article <EKqdndkYVb_8OgDE...@earthlink.com>, Kurt V.
>>> Ullman <kurtu...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>> without seeing the drive it's impossible to tell, but based on your
>>> description, it sounds like the drive has failed.
>>>
>> When I listen to it, there is a whirring sound, I can feel a vibration.
>> Does that change anything?
>
> When you initially power up the drive, can you hear the head move at
> all? Is there a repetitive pattern to the sound?
>

I just hear a whirring or spinning sound that doesn't change.
Disk Utility, when the drive is plugged in, just says it is searching
for disks and continues to search for 6 minutes one time until I gave
up. If I turn the computer off and restart it w/ the HD plugged in I get
the internal HD on the computer and the thumb drive on the other port.

[Jolly Roger]

What make and model hard drive enclosure is this?

[nospam]

In article <f08lm7...@mid.individual.net>, Jolly Roger

<jolly...@pobox.com> wrote:

> >>>> without seeing the drive it's impossible to tell, but based on your
> >>>> description, it sounds like the drive has failed.
> >>>>
> >>> When I listen to it, there is a whirring sound, I can feel a vibration.
> >>> Does that change anything?
> >>
> >> When you initially power up the drive, can you hear the head move at
> >> all? Is there a repetitive pattern to the sound?
> >>
> > I just hear a whirring or spinning sound that doesn't change.
> > Disk Utility, when the drive is plugged in, just says it is searching
> > for disks and continues to search for 6 minutes one time until I gave
> > up. If I turn the computer off and restart it w/ the HD plugged in I get
> > the internal HD on the computer and the thumb drive on the other port.
>
> What make and model hard drive enclosure is this?

In article <2PqdnV-vP4Rp8wDE...@earthlink.com>, Kurt V.
Ullman <kurtu...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I have a 2T My Passport for Mac that worked fine yesterday...

[Jolly Roger]

Thanks for the reminder. So it looks like this drive doesn't come with a
power cable, nor does it have a power cable port. So the only way to test
the drive itself outside of the enclosure seems to be to remove it from the
enclosure.

[nospam]

In article <f09340...@mid.individual.net>, Jolly Roger

<jolly...@pobox.com> wrote:

> >> What make and model hard drive enclosure is this?
> >
> > In article <2PqdnV-vP4Rp8wDE...@earthlink.com>, Kurt V.
> > Ullman <kurtu...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >> I have a 2T My Passport for Mac that worked fine yesterday...
>
> Thanks for the reminder. So it looks like this drive doesn't come with a
> power cable, nor does it have a power cable port. So the only way to test
> the drive itself outside of the enclosure seems to be to remove it from the
> enclosure.

which might not help because many portable drives, including wd, now
use an integrated usb bridge/controller rather than a sata port and
separate bridge.

<http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20140130/avaseded.jpg>
<http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20140130/jasaze5u.jpg>

[Jolly Roger]

Ugh. That's kind of ridiculous. I guess they are trying to save money?
Anyway, no thanks! I'll steer clear of these.

[Jolly Roger]

On 2017-08-25, Jolly Roger <jolly...@pobox.com> wrote:
> On 2017-08-24, nospam <nos...@nospam.invalid> wrote:
>> In article <f09340...@mid.individual.net>, Jolly Roger
>><jolly...@pobox.com> wrote:
>>
>>> >> What make and model hard drive enclosure is this?
>>> >
>>> > In article <2PqdnV-vP4Rp8wDE...@earthlink.com>, Kurt V.
>>> > Ullman <kurtu...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> >> I have a 2T My Passport for Mac that worked fine yesterday...
>>>
>>> Thanks for the reminder. So it looks like this drive doesn't come with a
>>> power cable, nor does it have a power cable port. So the only way to test
>>> the drive itself outside of the enclosure seems to be to remove it from the
>>> enclosure.
>>
>> which might not help because many portable drives, including wd, now
>> use an integrated usb bridge/controller rather than a sata port and
>> separate bridge.
>>
>><http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20140130/avaseded.jpg>
>><http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20140130/jasaze5u.jpg>
>
> Ugh. That's kind of ridiculous. I guess they are trying to save money?
> Anyway, no thanks! I'll steer clear of these.

I've never seen an enclosure that can accept such drives. None of mine
do. Screw that noise.

[Kurt V. Ullman]

On 8/24/17 2:53 PM, Jolly Roger wrote:
> Kurt V. Ullman <kurtu...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> On 8/23/17 1:16 PM, Jolly Roger wrote:
>>> On 2017-08-23, Kurt V. Ullman <kurtu...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>> On 8/23/17 12:31 PM, nospam wrote:
>>>>> In article <EKqdndkYVb_8OgDE...@earthlink.com>, Kurt V.
>>>>> Ullman <kurtu...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> without seeing the drive it's impossible to tell, but based on your
>>>>> description, it sounds like the drive has failed.
>>>>>
>>>> When I listen to it, there is a whirring sound, I can feel a vibration.
>>>> Does that change anything?
>>>
>>> When you initially power up the drive, can you hear the head move at
>>> all? Is there a repetitive pattern to the sound?
>>>
>> I just hear a whirring or spinning sound that doesn't change.
>> Disk Utility, when the drive is plugged in, just says it is searching
>> for disks and continues to search for 6 minutes one time until I gave
>> up. If I turn the computer off and restart it w/ the HD plugged in I get
>> the internal HD on the computer and the thumb drive on the other port.
>
> What make and model hard drive enclosure is this?
>

WD My Passport for Mac P/N WDBZYL0020BSL-05. Yesterday there was a
short time when it showed up again on devices. There was only one Time
Machine backup and it was about 5:00 and I saw this around 8. Went away
for awhile, the computer went to sleep and when I woke it back (and
since then) it hasn't shown up again. At this point, I am only concerned
about the partition that has the TM (assuming with this last bit that
there is any TM left) and SuperDuper! (on the other partition) is no
particular problem if I just get a new drive.