External Hard Drive Missing After Big Sur Download

I wonder if Samsung's disk software would resolve it for me? I am hesitant since all my backups are on that T5 drive. I would be very unhappy if something happened to my data while installing the software.

I still have not been able to retrieve my data. I tried several retrieval software and they are not showing anything, so I fear that all my data are lost. I think they were probably plugged when I did the upgrade though I don't remember as the upgrade was taking a very long time. The message I get when I try to mount my external drives is "The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer" with the options to initialise, ignore or eject. I don't think it is a conicdense.

They cannot be read by any computer. Went to Genius and they could not solve the problem. They suggested I go to a private data retrieval company which is very expensive.I also don't know how they failed but since I saw that others have experienced related problems with Big Sur there must be a connection. I also went to other forums online and they are also reporting similar issues.

Disappointing and infuriating. the discussions around the web re: BigSur Failures are numerous.

People report having called and gotten nowhere. They should take responsibility.

I am uninstalling it and going back as soon as I have time.

hey..

Tried the exact thing today. bought a 2020 MBP Saturday, migrated everything to my new mac, and yesterday thought it would be a good plan to backup my new mac with my WD ext HD. No such luck.....couldn't mount, doesnt show up in finder and cannot erase. Called apple and had no luck, took to the Genius bar today and the tech said" my ext. drive is bad"! I left there in disbelief.....its hardly even been used, I think he may not have been a "genius"!

I am having the same exact issue and i have five different hard drives (mostly full of music i created in Ableton/logic etc) that all worked perfectly before the Big Sur update. I also can't use certain software for my Roland gr-55 guitar pedal now. My brand of hard drives are three of them being seagate and the other two are wd my passport. This is extremely frustration because most of these are filled with music I created that cant be replaced as well as old photos and projects from school and work. Please help there is no way that I am deleting these or resetting them. I have a MacBook pro-2017 so it is not that old of a laptop.

You will then need to contact Apple Support about the installation of macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 failing along with your external drives failing on your MacBook Pro and everything you have tried to get macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 and your external drives to work on your MacBook Pro up to now to see if they can help you out or not. If they can't help you out, they may either send you to an opened nearby Apple Store or to a nearby Apple Authorized Retailer if there aren't any Apple Stores opened near where you live.

hilarypost What size is your MacBook Pro (13", 15" or 16")? What year is your MacBook Pro? How much RAM and storage is currently installed on your MacBook Pro? What brand and model of external hard drive are you currently using?

I don't know if your above comment is going to help hilarypost out at all since we don't know what brand and model of external hard drive she/he is currently using right now. We all need more information from you to be able to help you out more.

My particular problem with a external CD/DVD drive resolved after they sent me 11.2. I have not yet tried to work with my backup HD.

the fact that there is so much conversation on the topic leads me to believe that it is universal. Anybody going to uninstall? Pros and cons? I am thinking about it. There are other "bugs" too numerous and fussy to go into here. My machine is "just not itself" sob!

Why won't the "helpful" button work for me? Anyhow, this is just totally unacceptable. Who needs it? Are they trying to force us all onto the cloud where companies can get paid for storing our stuff?

I bought a new iMac with Big Sur already installed (which updated last night) and it is disconcerting that my external 5TB Seagate drive is being constantly accessed even tho I am simply working in my browser and not calling files. It has some VERY valuable data (to me) on it and I do not want it damaged with all this apparent reading/writing going on for seemingly no reason. I use Carbonite but it only has access to the desktop and not external drives. Time Machine is not turned on. Nothing seems too suspicious in Activity Monitor (but I am no expert). Any advice would be great before my drive burns out.

I would copy that drive immediately even pay to have it done. So sorry you are going through this. I really think they are trying to force us onto the cloud. Why else is this being ignored? Sorry to not answer your question, it sounds redolent of what others have written in this thread.

I also have noticed that my external HDD is always "spinning" even though I only use it as a back-up. Never did this prior to Big Sur. I have been an Apple fan and have an Apple environment at home and work BUT I have to say that in the last 5 or so years, Apple is not what it used to be. Remember when Apple just worked when you plugged something in.

Warning to all! Apple never got back to me with any solutions or even an apology and my external drives are officially ruined. A Data Retrieving company is asking me 7000 HK$ to retrieve my data. I will make sure to tell all my colleagues at the University to think twice before going with Apple.