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The Disk Utility is unresponsive (everything grayed out, nothing even trying to load) when MacBook Pro is started with the external drive connected. The external drive shows up in Finder. When starting my MacBook without the external drive connected, my internal hard drive does show up in Disk Utility. I have a MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015 running macOS Monterey Version 12.6.1
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 12.6
If this only occurs with this specific external drive connected, then most likely there is some sort of problem with that drive (cable, drive, or perhaps the partition/file system). Or perhaps some other external device or even third party software is causing a problem. Make sure to connect the drive directly to the Mac. Disconnect all other external devices.
Try booting into Safe Mode to see whether that allows Disk Utility to work with the external drive. If this works, then you likely have some third party software installed which is interfering with the normal operation of macOS.
Does Disk Utility launch at all? Or is just the entry for the external drive grayed out within Disk Utility?
What file system is used on the external drive?
If this only occurs with this specific external drive connected, then most likely there is some sort of problem with that drive (cable, drive, or perhaps the partition/file system). Or perhaps some other external device or even third party software is causing a problem. Make sure to connect the drive directly to the Mac. Disconnect all other external devices.
Try booting into Safe Mode to see whether that allows Disk Utility to work with the external drive. If this works, then you likely have some third party software installed which is interfering with the normal operation of macOS.
Does Disk Utility launch at all? Or is just the entry for the external drive grayed out within Disk Utility?
What file system is used on the external drive?
Thank you for your help. I do believe the issue was the external drive. They are sending me a replacement. I also guess I shouldn't use an external drive for both storage & Time Machine. I guess I'll have to buy another one just for Time Machine backups.
A backup drive should only ever be used for backups.
Besides, how are you backing up the data portion of the drive? Backing up the data portion to the same drive does not provide a backup if the backup/data drive fails or becomes corrupted.
FYI, SSDs can fail at any time without any warning signs (even a brand new SSD).
People should always have frequent and regular backups of their computer and all external media (including the cloud) which contains important & unique data.
Disk Utility not working with external drive plugged in.
