External hard-drive shuts down my entire system! Help?!

Question

External hard-drive shuts down my entire system! Help?!

Hi, I have a Western Digital external hard-drive, Model wd1600u017-005, and very strangely, when I plug it into my MBP 2011 model, the entire computer shuts down, I've looked into this and I have found no one else experiencing a similar issue. It's very strange, and its not a formatting issue as it used to work perfectly fine on my mac until one day every time i plugged it in the computer would just switch off.

Any help?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Jun 10, 2011 6:11 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

ds store

Level 7

30,705 points

Jun 10, 2011 6:21 PM in response to daniel.roach27

It's likely a bus powered and drawing too much current, defective?

Talk to WD, don't they have forums?

Good Luck 🙂

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Answer 2

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Jun 10, 2011 6:25 PM in response to daniel.roach27

Does the same thing happen when you connect it to another computer?

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Answer 3

Jun 10, 2011 6:38 PM in response to ds store

Thanks for your reply. Yes, it is bus powered, but I've never had problems with it before, one day all of a sudden it switches off my Mac out of nowhere then continues to do the same thing everytime.

I decided to ask here as I assumed Apple forums would be much more helpful and active than WD's forums.

Cheers

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Answer 4

Jun 10, 2011 6:40 PM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks for your suggestion Linc, I've plugged it into another MBP with the same result. When I plugged it into a PC running WinXp, it wasn't even recognised and had no effect, I'm unsure what this means...

Although I dont think it was formatted in a Mac only state as I remember copying some files onto a PC with no issues in the past.

Cheers,

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Answer 5

ds store

Level 7

30,705 points

Jun 10, 2011 6:42 PM in response to daniel.roach27

I've heard of a issue like this before.

Use the port closest to the power plug and see if that works.

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Answer 6

Jun 10, 2011 6:47 PM in response to ds store

Have just plugged it in, expecting the system to shut down, funnily enough, this time my Mac didn't shut down, but finder is still not recognising it. This entire situation is very weird... 😐

Cheers

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Answer 7

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Jun 10, 2011 6:57 PM in response to daniel.roach27

The bridge chip in the enclosure is probably malfunctioning. The drive mechanism may be OK. Try installing it in another enclosure or dock.

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Answer 8

ds store

Level 7

30,705 points

Jun 10, 2011 7:41 PM in response to daniel.roach27

Get yourself a powered USB hub and see if works, it sounds like it needs more power.

You can also DataRescue to direct access the drive and grab the files off if Disk Utility > Repair Disk fails to work repairing or seeing the disk.

If it comes to surgery like what Linc Davis is suggesting, there is a powered iDE/SATA to USB powered adapter at Newegg for like $20 or something like that if you don't need the costs of a enclosure or dock that costs about twice as much money as it's more like a permanent solution.

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Answer 9

Nov 6, 2013 5:37 PM in response to daniel.roach27

Looks like we have the same problem bro. I just experienced it yesterday and I don't know how to fix it. It's so frustrating. Have you fixed yours? How'd you do it? thanks!

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Answer 10

Jan 12, 2014 8:55 AM in response to daniel.roach27

I'm having the exact same issue with my WD external HD and my 2013 MacBook Air. It was working fine as my time machine backup, and then just today, it shuts down the whole computer when plugged in via USB. Has anyone figured this out?

thanks,

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Answer 11

Jan 21, 2014 12:42 PM in response to smartproof

Ok, i have tried this on several different Macs now, Imac, MacPro. Shuts each computer down. What a piece. Anyone have any info or thoughts on this problem?

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Answer 12

zoot26

Level 1

0 points

May 18, 2014 2:36 PM in response to daniel.roach27

Same issue here. Have you solved this?

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Answer 13

May 18, 2014 2:58 PM in response to zoot26

No. Super annoying. The HD is dead to me I guess. Anyone have a fix? Apple?

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Answer 14

May 23, 2014 12:05 AM in response to daniel.roach27

This thread is really helpful to me. I have had problems with my iMac for around a year and a half - shuts off at randon. When I try to start it up again it shuts off. I usually have to unplug the power cable for a while and then go back to it and try starting up again. Sometines it can last for a couple of hours before it shuts down but it is always certain to happen. I have two WD 1TB external drives connected via USB - one holds my 500gb+ lossless itunes library, the other is the iMacs time machine back up. I talked to a local Apple approved service centre who advised that it was either the power cord or the logic board (expensive repair!). Two days ago I disconnected the external drives and moved the iMac down to the kitchen table, preparing to take it for diagnostic and repairs. I let it run for the evening and overnight - no shut down. My wife powered it up again yesterday evening when I was out and it stayed on. When I got home late last night I powered it up and left it on overnight - it stayed on. I think this forum has provided the answer....and saved me potentially over £600 in repair costs! I think I should now get home network attached storage for iTunes and time machine and keep external drives from direct connection to the iMac. I would appreciate any help or feedback.

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