Maxtor Basics Portable Storage USB Hard Drive Not Recognised By Mac Book

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Maxtor Basics Portable Storage USB Hard Drive Not Recognised By Mac Book

I have a need to transfer files regularly between my Mac Mini and Mac Book. So I have a Maxtor Basics Portable Storage 80GB hard drive. This is correctly formatted for the Mac, works ok with the Mac Mini but when plugged into my Mac Book lights up and I can hear the disc rotating but 'chuntering' as if in some loop and it is not showing up in Finder.

Other USB devices work ok with the Mac Book. I had wondered if the Mac Book USB port has enough power for the Maxtor - but surely?..........

Any ideas how to get the Mac Book working with the Maxtor would be appreciated.

MacBook Black 2.2Ghz 2GB Memory, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on May 29, 2008 6:08 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,885 points

May 29, 2008 6:14 PM in response to AlanJX

I believe that system uses a 3.5" drive. I doubt the USB port provides enough power to run the drive. Try using the external power brick that usually comes with drive systems.

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Answer 2

AlanJX Author

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May 29, 2008 8:10 PM in response to Kappy

Thanks for responding - it is a 2.5inch disk that did not come with a power supply.

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

361,885 points

May 29, 2008 8:34 PM in response to AlanJX

It could still be not enough power on the USB port for that drive. I've got a Seagate notebook SATA drive in a small USB enclosure that only runs on one of the USB ports on my MBP while it sputters on the other. You can buy small power bricks at a Radio Shack for example that come with different sized plug attachments. The drive case probably has a jack on it for an external power supply.

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Answer 4

May 30, 2008 3:46 AM in response to AlanJX

Hi, I found this All USB ports aren’t created equal (whilst researching which external drive to buy to use with my powerbook and a future macbook purchase.)

If you've already tried both usb ports then - sorry! Your description of the symptoms sounds similar to one of my 2.5 enclosures (which I found was because it couldn't supply enough power to spin up the large capacity disk inside.)

Regards, Andrew.

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Answer 5

AlanJX Author

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May 30, 2008 4:10 PM in response to Andy Robbins

Many thanks - it sounds as if I have bought the wrong external disc for my needs.

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