ZenDrive external disk drive is not detected by new MacBook Pro

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Level 1

18 points

ZenDrive external disk drive is not detected by new MacBook Pro

Based on reviews, I bought an Asus ZenDrive for use with my computers, including a new MacBook Pro 16". Though touted to work with XP and Vista, it doesn't if they aren't 64bit. It does connect fine with my inexpensive Toshiba Satellite W10 laptop. It is supposed to work with iOS systems, including Catalina. Supposedly it is essentially "Plug-n-Play". There is no mention of installing any Drivers.

But the brand new MacBook does not detect it. It comes with a single-line mini to USB-C cord and a mini to USB-A Y-headed cord to supply PC power and data separately. I tried the intended iOS single cord as per the (simple) instruction book, and then the Y cord with adapters. Neither would jog the MacBook to detect the drive; it showed up on neither the desktop nor in the Drive Utility.

ASUS passed me off to a JustAnswers tech that charged for the service, and could not fix the issue, agreeing I should take the devices to an Apple Store. The Apple Stores here do not answer the phone, but forward calls to Apple Support where you wait on hold forever. I gave up. Apple Chat worked with me briefly, but was lost when he had me restart the computer. Aaaarrrggghhhh!

Has anyone any ideas about how to get the MacBook to detect the drive, or is it likely a faulty drive I need to return to Amazon before its too late. As I said, my $200 Toshiba detects the drive readily. I just want to be able to run DVD disks, especially to create and edit and watch old family videos. That was the whole idea of getting a new computer and a new external disk drive; but despite researching and buying supposedly the best hardware and easiest to connect available, I can't do any of that!

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Aug 3, 2020 6:26 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

swguilford

Level 1

14 points

Sep 16, 2020 10:48 AM in response to HWTech

For anyone else having problems with the ASUS ZenDrive on a MacBook: I was able to get it to work using both sides of the Type-A USB Y cable into two dongles side by side into the MacBook. Before trying that, it just sat there and clicked and I couldn't get it to register anywhere (Finder, Disk Utility, System Information, etc). Thank you, HWTech.

MacBook Pro 2019, macOS Catalina 10.15.6

ASUS ZenDrive SDRW-08U9M-U

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Answer 2

Sep 16, 2020 2:48 PM in response to Hafcanadian

hi hafCanadian,

someone else said that it played a disc that was already in the player but does not show up if the drive is empty. that makes sense. i have an apple usb superdrive hooked up to my iMac (catalina) and the drive only shows up when i insert a disc. i would assume this applies to 3rd party optical drives as well. just make sure to check the "CDs, DVDs, and iPods" box in finder preferences. it should show up when you put in a disc.

don't forget to set up the drive's preferences.

System Preferences>CDs & DVDs:

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Answer 3

HWTech

Level 9

60,620 points

Aug 3, 2020 10:36 PM in response to Hafcanadian

Does the System Profiler show the external drive's hardware? If not, then it is not working either because it is not getting enough power, the adapters/dongles are not compatible, or the drive may be bad or incompatible with Macs. I saw such a thing with an old USB drive enclosure many years ago (worked on a standard PC, but not on a Mac).

If the drive is seen by the System Profiler what file system is on the external drive? macOS can read the NTFS filesystem (but not write to it) so it should be visible if the drive is working. If the drive is formatted as exFAT, then you may need to first erase it using Disk Utility since macOS cannot recognize some block sizes available for the exFAT file system.

Macs can be very picky about the drives they can work with. It doesn't help that you need two connections to power & use the drive. You should purchase a drive that only needs a single cable that is compatible with the Mac. OWC sells good external drives.

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Answer 4

Hafcanadian Author

Level 1

18 points

Aug 5, 2020 4:16 PM in response to HWTech

Hi. Thanks for responding.

I can't find, using Finder, a "System Profiler" exactly, but opened System Information. There is no external hardware listed there under "Hardware". Perhaps I also mentioned previously that the drive does not appear in the "Drive Utility".

The ZenDrive came with a USB-A cord and a lightning one. The simple instructions say to use the obvious lightning one with Macs. The drive just sits there and clicks once a second. The USB-A cord has a Y split into two connectors for use with Windows devices, where you can plug just one in if there's not a second USB port on the same side, or plug both connectors in - one for data and one for power so the drive is more effective transferring data.

My $200 Toshiba W10 laptop sees the drive immediately when I plug just one of the Y connectors in to its USB port. I didn't try both connectors because the Y dongle is too short to reach the only other USB port on the other side of the computer. I did not try running anything in the drive there because it requires software effort I didn't want to mess with, and that's not the computer I want the drive for at this time anyway. I did not hook the drive to my old slow but reliable 2002 XP computer because it's not 64bit, and neither is my 2008 Vista one; the ZenDrive box touts it works with XP and Vista, but fine print elsewhere (after you've bought the thing) lists only 64bit versions.

I did try using USB-A to lightning adapters to try the Y cord on the MacBook, but the drive is still not seen and doesn't even click. Interestingly, reviews on Amazon of the ZenDrive list at least one fellow whose MacBook Pro saw and worked with the drive. I may just have a bad drive; yet it's seen by both the Vista and W10 computers (seen by but won't run on the Vista 32bit).

My local Apple Store has Apple external disk drives ($$), but they probably won't work on the Vista 32bit computer. It's internal optical drive failed and is not reparable or replaceable according to Office Depot techs, which is the main incentive for this ZenDrive; plus I could run music CD's and edit/create home DVD videos on the Mac with it. The Apple Store techs would look at things if I took the Mac and the drive in, and probably clarify the issue in minutes. But they are scheduling a week out, which may take my Amazon return timeline option out of reach if I can't figure out what's really wrong by myself.

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Answer 5

HWTech

Level 9

60,620 points

Aug 5, 2020 6:37 PM in response to Hafcanadian

Hafcanadian wrote:

I can't find, using Finder, a "System Profiler" exactly, but opened System Information. There is no external hardware listed there under "Hardware". Perhaps I also mentioned previously that the drive does not appear in the "Drive Utility".

Apple has changed the name over the years and I still think of it as Apple System Profiler. The drive should appear under one of the USB controllers if it is physically seen.

The ZenDrive came with a USB-A cord and a lightning one. The simple instructions say to use the obvious lightning one with Macs. The drive just sits there and clicks once a second. The USB-A cord has a Y split into two connectors for use with Windows devices, where you can plug just one in if there's not a second USB port on the same side, or plug both connectors in - one for data and one for power so the drive is more effective transferring data.

My $200 Toshiba W10 laptop sees the drive immediately when I plug just one of the Y connectors in to its USB port. I didn't try both connectors because the Y dongle is too short to reach the only other USB port on the other side of the computer.

If one USB cable doesn't allow the drive to work, then you need to connect the second USB cable so the drive receives the necessary power to operate.

I did try using USB-A to lightning adapters to try the Y cord on the MacBook, but the drive is still not seen and doesn't even click. Interestingly, reviews on Amazon of the ZenDrive list at least one fellow whose MacBook Pro saw and worked with the drive. I may just have a bad drive; yet it's seen by both the Vista and W10 computers (seen by but won't run on the Vista 32bit).

Disconnect all other devices from the laptop so they are not interfering.

Connect the drive directly to the laptop using no more than a simple USB-C to USB-A adapters if necessary. Sometimes the multi-connector adapters don't work as expected.

Each computer is different on what power they supply over the USB ports. Some follow standards and others do not. It is possible your Mac has an issue supplying power to USB devices. Or maybe the ZenDrive is defective and not working because the Mac is following standards more closely on the power being delivered to the drive while the other computers are letting the drive pull as much power as needed.

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Answer 6

Hafcanadian Author

Level 1

18 points

Sep 16, 2020 1:04 PM in response to swguilford

So that’s a crapshoot. As stated previously, my new Pro would not even click when both plugs of the “Y” were used. The Pro didn’t even discover either the ASUS nor the LG I tried.

What sort of USB-A to C adapter do you use?

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Answer 7

Hafcanadian Author

Level 1

18 points

Sep 16, 2020 2:19 PM in response to swguilford

I think I tried at least one if not both drives with a disk with no change except that one, I don’t recall which, gave me trouble getting the disk back out. I tried all my adapters, 2 new aftermarket buss’ and small aftermarket direct adapters, and they all behaved the same. I don’t remember seeing adapters on the Apple catalog site. Probably expensive like everything Apple. Might as well have purchased the Apple SuperDrive, except it wouldn’t work on my other Windows machines.

I still don’t get why if they’re trying to increase convenience, making laptops thinner and lighter by tossing internal optical drives, they then don’t include USB-A ports on Apples. Excluding disk drives was bad enough... the world still has tons of disks in cases that are easier to store “cataloged” and less costly than thumbdrives. Just my 2 cents. I’d rather have the extra width and ounces of an all-in-one old laptop than deal with all the add-on hardware, and the darned adapters that just make the unit uglier, bulkier and clumsier, and more subject to port wear issues.

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Answer 8

Sep 16, 2020 3:22 PM in response to jeffreythefrog

the drive is always connected to my iMac. here's what i see:

no disc inserted:

disc inserted:

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Answer 9

Sep 16, 2020 1:45 PM in response to Hafcanadian

I'm using the Mac brand adapters. I should also say I had a disc already inserted, and it just started playing. I just tried, and it doesn't register at all if there's no disc.

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ZenDrive external disk drive is not detected by new MacBook Pro

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