zachssanders

Q: Retina Macbook doesn't notice External HD

I Have an early 2015 retina macbook 12", 1.1 ghz. It is a few months old. It does not notice a usb flash drive, hard drive or ssd drive, all usb 3.0 plugged into an adapter. It will however, charge and it will notice my iphone 6s plus on itunes,(with wifi sync off). Any idea why it wouldn't notice it?

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on Jul 8, 2016 12:08 PM

Close

Q: Retina Macbook doesn't notice External HD

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 8, 2016 12:10 PM in response to zachssanders
    Level 9 (50,245 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 8, 2016 12:10 PM in response to zachssanders

    Maybe its the adaptor causing this issue, 3 devices all using the same one would point me in that direction

  • by zachssanders,

    zachssanders zachssanders Jul 8, 2016 12:56 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 8, 2016 12:56 PM in response to Csound1

    No, it worked for my iphone, and it noticed the hd, when i restored the mac from a time machine backup

  • by SKI_2005,

    SKI_2005 SKI_2005 Jul 8, 2016 7:59 PM in response to zachssanders
    Level 1 (17 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 8, 2016 7:59 PM in response to zachssanders

    I think you have disabled the ’Show External Hard Disks’. Click on Command + ,(comma) in the home screen an go to General > Show these items on your desktop. Then, Enable ‘External disks’. Hope this helps

     

    Image Here

  • by Nelson Ancalmo,Helpful

    Nelson Ancalmo Nelson Ancalmo Jul 10, 2016 6:45 PM in response to zachssanders
    Level 1 (37 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 10, 2016 6:45 PM in response to zachssanders

    I have the same problem with my MacBook 12" Retina early 2015. It all started when I did an upgrade to either El Capitan 10.11.5, or an upgrade for the USB-C Digital AV Multipart Adapter. Can't be sure which one it was. But since, all USB 3.0 devices fail to be recognized by the computer, unless I restart or reboot it in some way.

    I have tried several old USB (2.0) flash drives and an external drive (Passport) also 2.0 and all work fine all the time, but once I try to use the new 3.0 devices, I have the same problem.

    Recently I re-installed El Capitan (same version) and now it's been working intermittently, some times the 3.0 devices will mount and some times they don't.

    It's a real pain in the neck because now I can't rely on my 3.0 devices.

    The USB-C is a new technology and when I bought the MacBook I accepted there were going to be some problems, now I regret trading my MacBook Air, maybe one of this days I will just do that.

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Jul 10, 2016 7:59 PM in response to zachssanders
    Level 5 (7,900 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 10, 2016 7:59 PM in response to zachssanders

    What make and model of adapter are you using?

  • by Nelson Ancalmo,Helpful

    Nelson Ancalmo Nelson Ancalmo Jul 11, 2016 8:49 AM in response to Lanny
    Level 1 (37 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 11, 2016 8:49 AM in response to Lanny

    I'm not sure if the question is directed to me or to zachssanders

    If it is to me, here is the answer:

    two kinds, both made and sold by Apple.

    1) USB-C to USB Adapter

    2) USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter

    And It makes no difference which one I use, or whether it's connected to power.

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Jul 10, 2016 8:24 PM in response to Nelson Ancalmo
    Level 5 (7,900 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 10, 2016 8:24 PM in response to Nelson Ancalmo

    Screen Shot 2016-07-10 at 11.23.38 PM.jpg

     

    It was directed to the OP, zachssanders. You should start your own posting, it's confusing to respond to more than the OP. Start your own posting, as it is not likely that your issue is really identical to the OP's issue.

  • by zachssanders,

    zachssanders zachssanders Jul 11, 2016 8:49 AM in response to Lanny
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 11, 2016 8:49 AM in response to Lanny

    Lammy, i am using the same adapters nelson is using. A single usb c to usb adapter, and usbc to digital av multiport adapter. The adapters are not the problem.

  • by Nelson Ancalmo,

    Nelson Ancalmo Nelson Ancalmo Jul 11, 2016 10:53 AM in response to zachssanders
    Level 1 (37 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 11, 2016 10:53 AM in response to zachssanders

    zachssanders, try using an old flash drive or external hard drive (they will have the USB 2.0) and see if they are recognized by your MacBook.

    If they are, then you'll know the problem is with the software failing to communicate with the drives, or vice-versa.

    I'm still hoping somebody with the knowledge and the interest will gives us a solution.

  • by zachssanders,

    zachssanders zachssanders Jul 11, 2016 7:59 PM in response to Nelson Ancalmo
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 11, 2016 7:59 PM in response to Nelson Ancalmo

    Yes, it did! It noticed the usb 2 drive right away, with the same adapter. So i guess it is something with the software. And again, it happened on el captain and sierra beta. Hopefully someone here is smart enough to find a solution. We cant be the only ones with this problem

  • by Nelson Ancalmo,

    Nelson Ancalmo Nelson Ancalmo Jul 12, 2016 1:32 PM in response to zachssanders
    Level 1 (37 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 12, 2016 1:32 PM in response to zachssanders

    This its something else I fail to report, and may be important.

    I work side by side with an iMac27 Retina 5K 27" late 2014, running also on El Capitan 10.11.5. Both computers (the MacBook 12" and the iMac27") were upgraded to the 10.11.5 version on the same day.

    All my devices, USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 (flash dives or external drives) have been working fine all the time in the iMac 27, with makes me think that the problem started with the upgrade I made for the USB-C Digital AV Multipart Adapter.

    My problem is that I can't go any further than that, since I don't have enough knowledge about the way these devices and upgrades work. But I'm sure somebody does, I'm still hoping for a resolution to this annoying problem.