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    Urgent Help with WD external drives

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by n20nine, Mar 17, 2009.

  1. n20nine

    n20nine Notebook Consultant

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    Hey guys,

    I have 2 WD Elements External Drives - 640GB each, one formatted in FAT32, the other in NTFS.

    I know OS X does not write NTFS drives, but I've got NTFS for MAC installed.

    I have a problem: Everytime I connect either drive and leave them for sometime (at times just a couple of minutes) they eject unexpectedly. An error message pops up saying that the drive has not been properly ejected.

    However, there are times where I can connect without problems but when I try to copy a file, half-way it disconnects again :( (This is with the NTFS-formatted drive)

    On my FAT32 drive, when I connect successfully, either I can copy stuff, or the message : "Error Code 0, unexpected error occured" pops out

    What should I do? I have disabled the NTFS for MAC driver but it does not solve my problem.

    Cheers
     
    n20nine, Mar 17, 2009
    #1
  2. steve p

    steve p Notebook Evangelist

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    Are these drives connected through USB or FireWire? Make sure they are firmly plugged in to both power and your computer as either will cause improper ejection of the drive on your Mac.
     
    steve p, Mar 17, 2009
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  3. Budding

    Budding Notebook Virtuoso

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    <strike>Are they plugged in directly to the mac or are you using an unpowered hub? Chances are not enough power is being delivered to the drives.</strike>

    Thought those were USB powered external HDs.
     
    Budding, Mar 17, 2009
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  4. n20nine

    n20nine Notebook Consultant

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    they both are plugged in directly via USB to my aluminum macbook using the cables supplied by WD. still cant get it to work well :(
     
    n20nine, Mar 17, 2009
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  5. crazycanuk

    crazycanuk Notebook Virtuoso

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    Run them through a powered USB hub, the MB abd MBP unibodies seem to be hit and miss if they can output enough current through the USB ports to keep these drives running. if you have your AC adaptor plugged in this clears the problem 80% of the time
     
    crazycanuk, Mar 17, 2009
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  6. Colton

    Colton Also Proudly American

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    I agree on this. Since they are 3.5inch drives, they require a lot more power than the traditional 2.5inch drive, and therefore the USB ports may not be able to produce enough power to run these drives simultaneously. ;)
     
    Colton, Mar 17, 2009
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  7. crazycanuk

    crazycanuk Notebook Virtuoso

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    even many of the high end external 2.5" drives pull too much power from the USB ports as many manufacturers arent getting the full 500ma power to the ports under battery power, I have seen as low as 230ma which is under half of spec
     
    crazycanuk, Mar 17, 2009
    #7