It seems like you're encountering some unusual behavior with your external hard drive and Time Machine backups after updating to macOS Ventura 13.5 on your M1 Max MacBook Pro. While I can offer some suggestions to troubleshoot the issue, keep in mind that my information might not be up to date with the latest software updates and changes. Here are some steps you can consider:
1. Check Power Settings: Even though Power Nap isn't available on M1 Macs, the energy-saving settings might still impact the behavior of external drives. Go to **System Preferences > Energy Saver** and ensure that "Put hard disks to sleep when possible" is not checked. This might help prevent the drive from going to sleep and causing interruptions.
2. Reset SMC and NVRAM/PRAM: Sometimes, resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) and NVRAM/PRAM can help resolve issues related to power and external device behavior. Instructions for resetting these vary based on whether your MacBook Pro has an M1 chip or Intel chip, so be sure to look up the appropriate steps for your model.
3. Check for Firmware Updates: Check if there are any firmware updates available for your external hard drive from Western Digital. Sometimes, firmware updates can address compatibility issues with newer macOS versions.
4. Check Disk Utility: Run Disk Utility to check the health of your external hard drive. It's possible that there might be disk or file system issues causing the unusual behavior. If Disk Utility finds any issues, try repairing them.
5. Reconnect Drives: If your external hard drive appears empty after waking from sleep, it might be a connection issue. Try disconnecting and reconnecting the drives to see if the data reappears.
6. Time Machine Settings: Double-check your Time Machine settings to make sure the correct external drive is selected for backups. Also, verify that Time Machine is not encountering any errors during backups.
7. Check Console App: The Console app can provide system logs that might shed light on what's causing the issue. Open the Console app, look for logs around the time you experienced the problem, and see if there are any error messages related to your external hard drive.
8. Contact Apple Support: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it might be worth reaching out to Apple Support for more personalized assistance.
Given the specific nature of the problem you're facing, it might be beneficial to check Apple's support forums or relevant online communities to see if other users are experiencing similar issues after updating to macOS Ventura 13.5. Additionally, contacting Western Digital's support for any potential compatibility issues could provide insights.
Remember to back up your important data before attempting any troubleshooting steps that might involve changes to your system settings or hardware connections.
