Maxtor OneTouch 4 Mini - two USB plugs?

It's to do with the power supply level/voltage available, some drives need both USB connections to power them up.

I only have a Pro, but just a hunch: the regular macbook puts out a higher voltage through its USB ports. did you try it on both ports on the MBP?

+Any ideas?+

The MacBook has lower power demands in general so more power is available at the USB Port ...

Another good reason for always buying a Firewire drive when it comes to Macs (apart from the MacBook Air). Firewire isn't just twice as fast - it also puts out more power for bus-powered devices.

Cheers

Rod

The various comments so far are good.

Apple specify 500mA output for each usb port on their MacBooks and MacBook Pros. However, experience has shown that the ports on any one machine are not necessarily equal in their performance, nor on different machines. Any device that draws very close to 500mA at times during its use is likely to be problematic. My LaCie (Porsche) drive has firewire & usb options with the twin cable arrangement for the usb connection. I haven't tried it as a usb drive but power usage is probably above 500mA making the second cable necessary.

You could try the drive on the RH usb port which works better for some extras and see whether the extra power is really necessary.

Neville

I don't know the only one drive with FireWire powered just through this connector.

Yesterday i also got a new Maxtor OneTouch 4 Mini 250 GB; it needs only a single USB power line (not the original Y-Maxtor-line)with my MacBook Pro as well as with my iMac.
That way it works perfect!

I ran the firmware update last night, now My maxtor OneTouch 4 Mini drive no longer works on my macbook. It works on a PC, it works on my PowerMac, but no longer on the MBP.

Unfortunately this is the computer for which I bought the thing. When I plug it in the drive just keeps clicking, like the drive heads keep parking.

Is there any way to revert to the older firmware to see if the firmware update is the problem?

Apple advise that it's not possible to revert to an earlier firmware version if the installation has been successful. So the issue is to get the external drive working as it should. From what you've said the drive is OK.

Have you tried each usb port? If neither support it try plugging the second usb connection in as well - to boost the power into the drive. I understand it comes with a regular data usb cable connection and a usb power connection (plugged into a second usb port). If this works then the issue is power supply. In this case I would get a powered usb hub so that other usb devices can be plugged in too.

Neville