Q: Disk Drive ejecting itself

Richard thank you for trying to help.

Sure, I'm emotional since I spent couple of hundreds of dollars on a HD that is full of data that cannot be used.

I have, 2 external G-Tech HD's connected with FW through FW self powered FW Hub. One 2TB HD has this problem and one 500 MB HD no problem. Tried to switch ports, cables, going directly into the computer, daisy chaining… nothing resolves the problem. Ejected.

My Profiler says - FireWire:

Problem with:

OEM ATA Device 00:

  Manufacturer:          G-TECH

  Model:          0x0

  GUID:          0x1C0D02E0127CF9

  Maximum Speed:          Up to 800 Mb/sec

  Connection Speed:          Up to 800 Mb/sec

  Sub-units:

OEM ATA Device 00 Unit:

  Unit Software Version:          0x10483

  Unit Spec ID:          0x609E

  Firmware Revision:          0x110

  Product Revision Level:

  Sub-units:

OEM ATA Device 00 SBP-LUN:

  Capacity:          2 TB (2,000,398,934,016 bytes)

  Removable Media:          Yes

  BSD Name:          disk4

  Partition Map Type:          GPT (GUID Partition Table)

  S.M.A.R.T. status:          Not Supported

  Volumes:

  Capacity:          209.7 MB (209,715,200 bytes)

  Writable:          Yes

  BSD Name:          disk4s1

G-BUFFALO 2TB :

  Capacity:          2 TB (2,000,054,960,128 bytes)

  Available:          1.6 TB (1,598,374,780,928 bytes)

  Writable:          Yes

  File System:          Journaled HFS+

  BSD Name:          disk4s2

  Mount Point:          /Volumes/G-NAMEA 2TB

No Problem with:

OEM ATA Device 00:

  Manufacturer:          G-TECH

  Model:          0x0

  GUID:          0x1C0D02E09D0415

  Maximum Speed:          Up to 800 Mb/sec

  Connection Speed:          Up to 800 Mb/sec

  Sub-units:

OEM ATA Device 00 Unit:

  Unit Software Version:          0x10483

  Unit Spec ID:          0x609E

  Firmware Revision:          0x110

  Product Revision Level:

  Sub-units:

OEM ATA Device 00 SBP-LUN:

  Capacity:          500.11 GB (500,107,862,016 bytes)

  Removable Media:          Yes

  BSD Name:          disk2

  Partition Map Type:          GPT (GUID Partition Table)

  S.M.A.R.T. status:          Not Supported

  Volumes:

  Capacity:          209.7 MB (209,715,200 bytes)

  Writable:          Yes

  BSD Name:          disk2s1

G-LIVINGroom 500 blak righ down:

  Capacity:          499.76 GB (499,763,888,128 bytes)

  Available:          148.31 GB (148,309,889,024 bytes)

  Writable:          Yes

  File System:          Journaled HFS+

  BSD Name:          disk2s2

  Mount Point:          /Volumes/G-NAMEB 500

Serious Suggestion to everyone,

We should try to make a list of the features that are causing this problem. It is very hard to go back and read all 23pg. of this thread, but lets try to make the list that each next poster would add their characteristics to and to carry to the next post. Otherwise, we can wrongly assume what is causing the issue since we are lost among all this info that we have in this dissusion. So here is my list and I have added 2 other person's (slowdive101 and Jay Daley) characteristics too give an example how we continue with this discussion:

Problem setting:

Person:

1- U.B.

2- slowdive101

3- Jay Daley

4- ?

Computer:

1- MacBook Pro

2- iMac 27"

3- MacBook Air 13"

4- ?

OS:

1- 10.6.7

2- 10.6.7

3- 10.6.7

4- ?

HD:

1- G-TECH 2TB

2- Lacie Drive

3- Kingston DataTraveler G3 8GB

4- ?

Connection:

1- FireWire 800

2- USB

3- USB 2.0

4- ?

Directly plugging into the Comp:

1- Yes - Problem when directly plugged into the Comp.

2- Yes - Problem when directly plugged into the Comp.

3- ?

4- ?

When using Hub:

1- Yes - Problem when using FW Hub

2- No - No Problem when with USB Hub

3- ?

4- ?

Cables Changed:

1- Yes - Problem conntinues

2- ?

3- ?

4- ?

Run Maintenance Programs:

1- Yes - Problem conntinues

2- Yes - Problem conntinues

3- Yes - Problem conntinues

4- ?

Copying data and amount problem:

1- Yes - ?

2- Yes - 200 GB

3- Yes - 500 GB

Without copying:

1- Yes - Ejects without copying

2- ?

3- ?

4- ?

please contiune….

I'm happy to do the list but I would point out two important things:

• This looks very much like two separate issues, a FW one and USB one
• The USB problem looks to be with specific USB drivers, and identifying those is the important issue.

Person:

1- U.B.

2- slowdive101

3- Jay Daley

4- ?

Computer:

1- MacBook Pro

2- iMac 27"

3- MacBook Air 13"

4- ?

OS:

1- 10.6.7

2- 10.6.7

3- 10.6.7

4- ?

HD:

1- G-TECH 2TB

2- Lacie Drive

3- Kingston DataTraveler G3 8GB

4- ?

Connection:

1- FireWire 800

2- USB

3- USB 2.0

4- ?

Directly plugging into the Comp:

1- Yes - Problem when directly plugged into the Comp.

2- Yes - Problem when directly plugged into the Comp.

3- Not tried - only through LED display

4- ?

When using Hub:

1- Yes - Problem when using FW Hub

2- No - No Problem when with USB Hub

3- Yes.

4- ?

Cables Changed:

1- Yes - Problem continues

2- ?

3- Not applicable

4- ?

Run Maintenance Programs:

1- Yes - Problem continues

2- Yes - Problem continues

3- Yes - Problem continues

4- ?

Copying data and amount problem:

1- Yes - ?

2- Yes - 200 GB

3- Yes - 500 GB

Without copying:

1- Yes - Ejects without copying

2- ?

3- Yes - Ejects without copying

4- ?

Thanks Jay for your reply and for fixing my spelling mistakes. If you think of any other category that needs to be added to this list, please bring it in. The more clear situation is the better and faster we can find the solution. I'm not so sure if USB and FW are two different issues, because we all have the same symptoms. For now, the most common thing is OS 10.6.7. Let's see what others are saying.

Person:

1- U.B.

2- slowdive101

3- Jay Daley

4- ?

Computer:

1- MacBook Pro

2- iMac 27"

3- MacBook Air 13"

4- ?

OS:

1- 10.6.7

2- 10.6.7

3- 10.6.7

4- ?

HD:

1- G-TECH 2TB

2- Lacie Drive

3- Kingston DataTraveler G3 8GB

4- ?

Connection:

1- FireWire 800

2- USB

3- USB 2.0

4- ?

Directly plugging into the Comp:

1- Yes - Problem when directly plugged into the Comp.

2- Yes - Problem when directly plugged into the Comp.

3- Not tried - only through LED display

4- ?

When using Hub:

1- Yes - Problem when using FW Hub

2- No - No Problem when with USB Hub

3- Yes.

4- ?

Cables Changed:

1- Yes - Problem continues

2- ?

3- Not applicable

4- ?

Run Maintenance Programs:

1- Yes - Problem continues

2- Yes - Problem continues

3- Yes - Problem continues

4- ?

Copying data and amount problem:

1- Yes - ?

2- Yes - 200 GB

3- Yes - 500 GB

Without copying:

1- Yes - Ejects without copying

2- ?

3- Yes - Ejects without copying

4- ?

please continue...

@U.B.

I'm so glad you came back!  Thank you for contributing your experience to help "figure this out".

Can you please post more details about the non-working drive?  I'd like the G-Tech part number and the Hard Drive's manufacturer and part number?

The manufacturer date code for the drive would be nice too.  You may have to pop the case open to get this info off of the label on the hard drive itself.

Every time it auto-ejects on you, please use Disk Utility to "repair" the drive. 

I'm going to research the drive and the product its in to see if there are others experiencing this problem.  I have to say, as soon as you say the non-working drive is over 750G (or over 3 years old), I get suspicious of a limitation or problem in the drive itself.

Does the G-Tech have another interface?  USB?  Ethernet?  Have you tested with them to see if the problem persists?  And I would like the chip info when they are connected on USB if they have a USB interface.

Hey Richard,

Glad you are still here!

First, let's try to work with this info below before I would get into opening the case.

So, G-Tech drive, just few weeks old, and I got it from an Apple Store like this:

http://store.apple.com/ca/product/TX538VC/A?fnode=MTY1NDA0Nw&mco=MTM3NjM5NTg&s=a lpha

I believe that I have tried with USB connection before, and the problem stayed the same as with FW. I just now plugged it into USB ports again via USB HUB to make sure that my previous statement is true, but I need few days to confirm this.

Where do I find a Chip info?

2TB7200rpm (Gen4)

Part No. 0G00203

Reference #: TX538VC/A

Mfr. Part Number: GD4-2000

UPC or EAN No.: 705487181371

Profiler says: USB: USB2.0 Hub:

G-DRIVE:

  Capacity:     2 TB (2,000,398,934,016 bytes)

  Removable Media:     Yes

  Detachable Drive:     Yes

  BSD Name:     disk3

  Product ID:     0xce33

  Vendor ID:     0x4971

  Version:     1.05

  Serial Number:     0D0FF7

  Speed:     Up to 480 Mb/sec

  Manufacturer:     G-TECH

  Location ID:     0x26430000

  Current Available (mA):     500

  Current Required (mA):     0

  Partition Map Type:     GPT (GUID Partition Table)

  S.M.A.R.T. status:     Not Supported

  Volumes:

  Capacity:     209.7 MB (209,715,200 bytes)

  Writable:     Yes

  BSD Name:     disk3s1

G-NAMEA 2TB :

  Capacity:     2 TB (2,000,054,960,128 bytes)

  Available:     1.6 TB (1,599,468,281,856 bytes)

  Writable:     Yes

  File System:     Journaled HFS+

  BSD Name:     disk3s2

  Mount Point:     /Volumes/G-NAMEA 2TB

In meanwhile:

Person:

1- U.B.

2- slowdive101

3- Jay Daley

4- ?

Computer:

1- MacBook Pro

2- iMac 27"

3- MacBook Air 13"

4- ?

OS:

1- 10.6.7

2- 10.6.7

3- 10.6.7

4- ?

HD:

1- G-TECH 2TB

2- Lacie Drive

3- Kingston DataTraveler G3 8GB

4- ?

Connection:

1- FireWire 800

2- USB

3- USB 2.0

4- ?

Directly plugging into the Comp:

1- Yes - Problem when directly plugged into the Comp.

2- Yes - Problem when directly plugged into the Comp.

3- Not tried - only through LED display

4- ?

When using Hub:

1- Yes - Problem when using FW Hub

2- No - No Problem when with USB Hub

3- Yes.

4- ?

Cables Changed:

1- Yes - Problem continues

2- ?

3- Not applicable

4- ?

Run Maintenance Programs:

1- Yes - Problem continues

2- Yes - Problem continues

3- Yes - Problem continues

4- ?

Copying data and amount problem:

1- Yes - ?

2- Yes - 200 GB

3- Yes - 500 GB

Without copying:

1- Yes - Ejects without copying

2- ?

3- Yes - Ejects without copying

4- ?

please continue...

The chip info I was looking for is "Product ID" and "Vendor ID", and your profile report has it so thanks.

Yes, let me research what you gave me so far before we get intimate with that device.....

@U.B.

Have you spoken to G-Tech support yet?  They recalled a bunch of drives for exactly this problem:

http://www.g-technology.com/kbase/users/kb.php?id=43&category_id=1

G-Technology places a high value on the quality of our products and we want our customers to always expect that our products meet your expectations.

Recently, it has come to our attention that a limited amount of 1TB G-DRIVE and 4TB G-SPEED external hard drives were built using an internal hard drive with incorrect firmware.  This firmware causes problems when transferring large files of 30GB or greater.  Your data, however, is not affected. Although we estimate that only a few units shipped have this problem, we are now screening all hard drives used in our G-SPEED and G-DRIVE lines to ensure that the correct firmware is used. However, it is possible that some customers may have a unit that experiences this problem.

If you bought either the 1TB G-DRIVE or a 4TB G-SPEED between March and April of 2010, please contact technical support to determine if your drive is affected by this issue.  If it is affected, G-Technology will be happy to arrange a replacement of the unit.

Thank you for your continued support of G-Technology.

@U.B. : Holy cow!

http://www.g-technology.com/kbase/users/kb.php?id=1&category_id=0

MAC OS X Symptoms
You may get the error “Device Removal – The device you removed was not properly put away...” or the “Spinning Beach Ball.”

Windows XP Symptoms
The drive is no longer visible in Explorer or you may get the “Spinning Hour Glass” when accessing the drive.

This condition affected some G-RAID units manufactured around Aug 2006.

STOP USING YOUR DRIVE IMMEDIATELY
Continuing to use your Drive with these symptoms could cause data loss.

Your Drive requires service. Contact G-Technology Support to obtain an RMA to return your drive for service. The most efficient way to obtain an RMA is to use our web form by clicking here.

Hi Richard,

Wow, this is alarming.

Yes, I believe that is the message ("Device Removal - ...") that I was getting after my HD is ejected.

But my Drive is 2TB not 1TB or 4TB and I have bought it in March of 2011.

Well, it appears that it belongs to that recalled group.

I will get the RMA number, but shouldn't I bring it to Apple Store since I have bough it from them?

Should I expect a new HD or they can fix this one?

Also, what is the most secure way to erase a HD so that there is no way for anyone to recover my valuable data? Just to format my drive by going to Disk Utility -> Erase tub? As it is described here:

http://macs.about.com/od/applications/ss/diskutilformat_4.htm

Thanks for all of your help!

Yes, that is the correct procedure.  Step 5 "security options" lets you control how paranoid you are.

The default (dont erase) just marks all your files as "free space".  Casual snoopers won't find your data, but there are lots of software around to "undelete" files that could recover all of your files.

If your sending it direct to the G-Tech or Apple, I would use this option.  They don't care about your data, and are likely going to shred (as in chop to bits) your drive when they get it back, it won't ever be read from again.  Plus its very very fast.

Each of the next levels makes your data increasingly harder to recover, but takes a LOT longer to process your drive.

Thanks Richard Again and Again.

Let me digest this info, and will try to get RMA number and probably tomorrow to go by the Apple Store in my city to bring this HD to them. As soon as I get some news I will be sharing it with you guys here.

Until then, hope others will resolve their ejecting problem.

All the best!

I had this problem with my Drobo unit last year sometime, and I came across a fix for the issue (which is entirely Apple's, BTW - the issue, not the fix). After the most recent OSX update, my Drobo started mysteriously ejecting itself again, and I had to search for the solution again. I have no idea whether it's been posted somewhere in this thread already, and I'm not going to go back and read through it to find out. But in case it hasn't, here's the solution that worked for me:

1. Download the OSX 10.6.4 combo update.

2. Download Pacifist

3. Download kext helper b7

4. Open the OSX 10.6.4 combo update with Pacifist

5. Drag over the following files to the desktop, AppleUSBAudio.kext, AppleUSBMultitouch.kext, AppleUSBTopCase.kext, IOUSBFamily.kext, IOUSBMassStorageClass.kext, AppleUSBDisplays.kext.

I know you probably dont need all of these, but i downgraded all of these kexts and all seems to work fine.

6. Open up Kext Helper b7 and drag all kext into the app, put in your password, all should be good.

7. Reboot.

I didn't come up with this fix, but I found it while looking for the solution to the problem, and it worked like a charm. I had no further issues with the ejecting Drobo until this latest software update. Your mileage may vary.

Eh, I might advise against trying the above. I followed the instructions perfectly on a Macbook Pro and my keyboard and trackpad are non-responsive. Im actually not sure how I can go about restoring my machine from here.

Edit: Ah, holding down C while rebooting to restore actually works.