StarTech docking station - not resolved with KeepDriveSpinning

[mcgrete]

Hi,

My apologies; I thought that I posted something within the last 1 hour.  I can not find it on this forum now to update.  Perhaps something went wrong.  

Perhaps in duplicate, here is my problem (inbetween '****'):

***************

Hello,

 

Thanks for your script/software.  I have a 2017 MacBookPro, High Sierra (10.13.2).  I also have a ~2015 MacBookPro with Sierra (not High Sierra).

 

I tried to use a StarTech docking station - which permits docking standard external hard disk drives and laptop standard hard disk drives.  

On 2015 MBP, connect to Mac through USB cable directly to USB port.  Worked fine; can mount/unmount/format/read/write/Time Machine backup.

 

 

On 2017 MBP, I need to connect to MAC through USB cable into an Apple multi-adpater (USB-C to USB-C/HDMI/USB (2.0?)).  Mounts/unmounts/formats (OS Ext Case Sensitive Journaled).  Read and write a few files/folders.  FAILS to work with Time Machine backup.  I downloaded and installed KeepDriveSpinning; set it to write file to this drive.  Monitored drive for hidden file update... successful at observing writing / modifying file every 60 seconds.

 

Attempted to conduct Time Machine backup - failed.  Keep Drive Spinning failed to keep writing.  Time Machine hung up on 'Zero KB of ###GB'.  Shutdown PC; reset SMC.  Observed file writing to drive via KeepDriveSpinning again.  Tried Time Machine backup - same results (no backup, no file writing to keep drive spinning).

 

Tried on two different drives; same problem.

 

Any advice?  I could understand if one drive may have problems, but both external drives?  Possible, but unlikely.

 

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Now, after posting per above (or attempting to at least), I found the diagnostics post, and followed.  Here is what I observe:

1. I ran diagnostics before trying to run Time Machine but after having requested KeepDriveSpinning to keep my drive of interest in spinning; result of diagnostic - everything is fine.

2. I tried to run Time Machine backup; the backup started then stalled as indicated above in earlier/attempted post.  I ran diagnostics as requested/recommended; diagnostic 'running' with no response after 15 minutes, other than visibly seeing the little 'wheel' thing-a-ma-jig' spinning....  I verified that in "Finder" that there is no update / change of the date of the hidden KeepDriveSpinning file.

Without any diagnostic feedback, was hoping that you may have some insight / suggestions.  I did not attempt to review the diagnostic script.  Not sure if the diagnostic tool is supposed to 'time-out' after any period of time if it can not communicate with the drive in question - I would assume that it would attempt to do so; if it does not time-out, any feedback on what this might mean and what it doesn't mean?

Thanks in advance.

[Jon Stovell]

It sounds to me like the cable or adapter you are using is faulty. Keep Drive Spinning can't help you with hardware issues like that. Sorry.