Buffalo external USB drive (model HD-HB300 U2)

You’re not alone. See this thread:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2004304&tstart=30

A number of owners of Buffalo external hard drives have found they're not being recognized after the 10.5.7 update. This problem appears to be a firmware incompatibility with the drives, and hopefully Buffalo will come out with a fix soon; however, until then if you use and especially if you depend on the functionality of your Buffalo drive, we recommend you avoid updating until this problem has been addressed.

(From MacFixit)

Hi,

I noted the same events after my 10.5.7 upgrade, and I do have Buffalo USB drives in use as well. BUT, I did some testing, and even with the Buffalo drives disconnected I was still receiving same events;

May 20 08:26:48 sebbys-macbook kernel[0]: USBF: 2466.387 AppleUSBEHCI[0x67d1000]::Found a transaction which hasn't moved in 5 seconds on bus 0xfd, timing out! (Addr: 0, EP: 0)

I did have one Lacie USB drive connected, so I did disconnect it as well. But still gettings these events.

I did disconnect ALL my USB things, and then connect them to different sockets (I have two 7 port USB hubs connected to my MacBook), this way they will get different address when they are recognized by the system, at least this is the way it seems to work for Linux.

After total disconnection and re-connection (different sockets for all USB things), I'm now not receiving any of these events anymore, and the Buffalo drives (3 x 500Gb Buffalo CE500-U2) are working just fine.

Actually there is already a firmware for these drives, at this site;
http://www.buffalotech.com/press/releases/important-notice-to-customers-using-hd -ceu2-series-external-hard-disk-drive/

I did check my MacMini which also have a Buffalo USB drive (HD-CE1.0TU2) connected to it, and after the 10.5.7 update I have not seen same events regarding the USB, and the drive has been visible and accessable all time.

The only difference between the MacBook and MacMini that I can come up with that could cause the events are the USB hubs I have connected, and after re-arranging the cables to be connected to different sockets.

The Buffalo issue seems to be more related to the hibarnation/standby/sleep issue, at least according to their press release. My drives are not same as yours, so check if you have the auto power switch, as mine does not have this.

Regards,
Sebastian

Sebastian Sjoholm wrote:
Actually there is already a firmware for these drives, at this site;
http://www.buffalotech.com/press/releases/important-notice-to-customers-using-hd -ceu2-series-external-hard-disk-drive/

Note that the firmware update is a Windows executable file & won't work with systems running OS X. It isn't clear if this model's early firmware only has hibernation issues with PC's or with any connected computer, so it may or may not be a moot point.

My drives are not same as yours, so check if you have the auto power switch, as mine does not have this.

Note as well that Buffalo recommends that the power mode switch for drives so equipped be set to "auto" for use with Macs.

Yes, I agree that the stated model does not need to have the hibernation related problem, and that the firmware is only windows executable.

My main point were however, that I did not receive these events after I did disconnect/reconnect (and reorganize) the USB connections.

The Buffalo USB harddisks which the firmware release points to, does not have this auto switch.

My theory is that this would be an USB related issue, at least for me, regardless of what external harddisk you have connected. Since the events did occur even if no external harddisks where connected, and the only connected devices where my 2 USB hubs.

Regards,
Sebastian

Hi,

Please try this (it's only my theory) and as I have my problem solved I can not test it on my macbook,

1. Disconnect ALL USB devices

2. Clear system cache, use the Cocktail utility at http://www.maintain.se/cocktail/index.php

3. Re-connect the USB devcies

Let us know if the problem persist.

Regards,
Sebastian

Phil, can you post what the enclosure you bought was please, think I will have to do the same thing and want to get a make I know will work.
Regards

Hi,

Could you please try to download the Cocktail utility ( http://www.maintain.se/cocktail/index.php) and clean the system cache, just to see if it would help. (Keep the USB drive disconnected when cleaning the system cache).

It does not do any harm if it does not work. But it would be good to know if it is the problem or not. If you need assistance with this tool, then I can help you.

Regards,
Sebastian

If users want to try this suggestion but do not want to use a shareware product like Cocktail, several alternatives exist to empty the caches. (All, including Cocktail, use the same OS routines & UNIX commands to do this, so it does not matter which one you use.)

I used to use Cocktail, & have paid the shareware fee to its author, but my current favorite utility of this type is Onyx (available at http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/systemdiskutilities/onyx.html), which is freeware.

I am just up the road from there I presume you mean the one on the old A33 near the Mad Stad known for its low low err I mean, high, prices ? 🙂