MacBook not finding My Passport external backup?

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Level 1

8 points

MacBook not finding My Passport external backup?

I have been quite happily using My Passport external backup with Time Machine for a couple of years with no issues. Yesterday, I plugged in my device as usual (via USB), but it cannot be located? The lights on the device are flashing as normal, so I thought it was behaving itself, then later received a pop-up message saying (something along the lines of) "back-up could not be completed" and, a little later, another pop-up saying (something along the lines of!) "device not ejected correctly..." as if I had just disconnected the My Passport (although it was still plugged in). I went to Finder to eject it...but the device wasn't listed.

I tried following Troubleshooting advice on Time Machine website, but I really don't understand it (I'm very far from a tech wizard) :

Attempting to remove the My Passport - temporarily - brought up this BTW - the device wasn't connected to the MacBook at the time???)

I assumed that it thought that the disk was still connected, so clicked on 'Remove Disk' thinking I could then connect it again. However, when I tried to reconnect, I then got "Time Machine not configured" and the device still not visible in Finder?

I have tried numerous times to connect and find the backup device (but I actually don't know what I'm doing 🙄)

If someone could help - preferably in ABC123 language - I should be very grateful!

MacBook Pro early 2015 running Catalina vs 10.15.7

MacBook Pro Retina

Posted on Sep 12, 2021 2:59 AM

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Answer 1

leroydouglas

Level 10

200,262 points

Sep 12, 2021 8:03 AM in response to Mitramonday

Mitramonday wrote:

I have been quite happily using My Passport external backup with Time Machine for a couple of years with no issues.

If someone could help - preferably in ABC123 language - I should be very grateful!

MacBook Pro early 2015 running Catalina vs 10.15.7

Drives can fail at anytime.

Trouble Shooting—

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/time-machine-troubleshooting-mh15653/mac

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Answer 2

Mitramonday Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 12, 2021 8:11 AM in response to leroydouglas

Yeah, thanks Leroy. I did attempt to follow the steps in that link you posted 🤷‍♀️. Is there some way of telling whether it is the external drive that has failed? As I said, when plugged in, the white lights on the device are flashing as per usual (as if it's busy backing up)?

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Answer 3

Mitramonday Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 12, 2021 10:08 AM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks so much Leroy - never knew such a thing existed 🙄🤣. When I go to Disk Utility, it seems to show two My Passport?! I tried the top one and received this screen:

So I then tried the 2nd My Passport listed...and First Aid is running!!! I did try to eject the top one (^) but it wasn't having it?!

So I'll see what happens when First Aid has stopped running and let you know... please 🤞for me!

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Answer 4

Mitramonday Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 12, 2021 10:38 AM in response to Mitramonday

And then, just when I thought everything was ticking along, I got the same message about First Aid process failing? AND there is now a THIRD WD My Passport listed? Interestingly, it calls this one "disk4" but there are only 3 listed...that might mean more to you than it does to me?!

I guess the next step is to run First Aid on the Mac disk?

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Answer 5

Mitramonday Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 12, 2021 11:30 AM in response to Mitramonday

OK, Leroy...latest update and I don't think it's particularly good news? I managed to run Disk Utility on the External Drive (see above) and then on Mac Disk (in repair mode) and ran First Aid on all available drives/containers/folders etc. All performed and tried connecting external drive again....but it's still not finding it. I'm guessing that means it's 'the End' for that device (even though its lights are still bravely flashing?)? Could you confirm (or otherwise if you know of anything else to try)? Many many thanks for your help - you've taught me things I never knew!

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Answer 6

leroydouglas

Level 10

200,262 points

Sep 12, 2021 8:19 AM in response to Mitramonday

Mitramonday wrote:

Yeah, thanks Leroy. I did attempt to follow the steps in that link you posted 🤷‍♀️. Is there some way of telling whether it is the external drive that has failed? As I said, when plugged in, the white lights on the device are flashing as per usual (as if it's busy backing up)?

Did you try running the Disk First Aid on your external...

Disk Utility> run the First Aid on your external drive. If errors are found and repaired, run again until no errors reported.

Disk Utility>View>Show All Devices

Repair a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

How to repair a Mac disk with Disk Utility - Apple Support

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MacBook not finding My Passport external backup?

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