WD PASSPORT keeps disconnecting only when connected to macbook

I had the same problem and I solved it by disabling the spotlight indexing and it worked fine after that. It probably draws too much power while indexing. Go in to the settings and click on spotlight then integrity protection and add the harddrive to the areas that are not searchable by spotlight.

Modellidentifierare: MacBookPro7,1

Processornamn: Intel Core 2 Duo

Processorhastighet: 2,4 GHz

Antal processorer: 1

Totalt antal kärnor: 2

L2-cache: 3 MB

Minne: 8 GB

Busshastighet: 1,07 GHz

Boot ROM-version: MBP71.0039.B0B

SMC-version (system): 1.62f6

OS X Lion (10.7.2)

I can confirm this worked on a 2015 MBP. 2 tb WD usb 3.0 drive kept randomly disconnecting on its on, then immediately reconnecting. Also would do it when making large file transfers. Turned off Spotlight indexing and it hasn't done it since. Just to update, go in to System Preferences > Spotlight, click the Privacy tab, then add your external drive. Problem solved.

Thanks ! I had the same problem and weird enough only one out of my two totally identical "My Passport" had the problem. It is now solved. So far so good. External-disk ought to be excluded by default according to me...

Hi, i am of course also having this same issue.. they sent me an alternative cable that didnt even have the right input to fit into passport, this is sooo frustrating as i have also been trying to touble shoot this for ever!! NILS... you said.. Go in to the settings and click on spotlight then integrity protection and add the harddrive to the areas that are not searchable by spotlight. but i went into spotlight and ti didnt see anything that said integrity protection unless you mean privacy?? wuld that be right. i also have the macbook pro. so i just did what you said but in privacy.. i added the externam WH icon to the list of dont check for. but it still kicked it off. i just tried it again and thinking maybe i should unplug it and then try.. but no. should i be restarting my comp after something like that. they also told me.. yea get the studio.. it's 70.00 more expensive!!! sooo frustrating!

i would appreciate any help thanks sooo much for you time in advance!!

I solved the problem by having the WD software open ! 🙂

I had same problem, WD support told me

a.) to buy a USB 2.0 cable which did not fix the issue

then

b.) to update the drivers. Same

then

c.) Please note that the USB 3.0 feature of the drive does not work on a Mac computer causing the drive to disconnect. Please note that this is not an issue with the Passport Essential drive, Apple just don't support USB 3.0 on their computers so we recommend you to return the Passport Essential drive to the place of purchase, if possible, and get a Passport Studio or Passport for Mac. (!!!!)

I uninstalled WD software (backup and utilities), and now it works flawlessly.

Sorry to be a complete numpty. But I think I am having the same problem. I use my HD 1T passport to store all my photos (dating back ten years), as well as CDs, Movies, Documents etc and I can't seem to get it to stay connected to my MacBook Pro for more than 5 minutes.

I am not very computer savvy at all when it comes to formating or even changing stuff to settings, I even tried to follow your instructions above about going to the settings but I couldnt even find out where the settings were let alone be able to change the spotlight searches. If you or someone else could guide me just a little bit it would be a big help. Maybe by then I will at least have some hair left from not ripping it out.

Thanks!

To solve the issue, I went to Application on my Macbook Air, looked for WD something (I deleted them, so I do not remember if I found files or a directory, but, in any case I deleted them. Restarted the Mac, and it never disconnected again

No need for a new cable (which I tested) nor everything else. Killing WD software was enough to get the drive working flawlessly in 3.0

I went into Application on my MacBook, but there was absolutely nothing there to do with WD. No files or directory. I also checked in the finder to see if there were any folders, files or directories elsewhere and found nothing again.

Strange thing is, i've had this passport for about a year now as my other one had a really dodgy usb connector (it didnt stay in the harddrive USB slot at all and so would always crash) this one is pretty awesome in design, and have never had any problems before.. I just cant seem to figure out what is wrong! Any other suggestions?

Thank you NilsGustafsson! I've been trying a gazzilion things to make my WD drive work and this did the trick!

I had the same problem too, when connection to my Mac OS X. Your solution fixed the issue.

why is there a check mark next to"solved my problem"???? problem is not solved. and yes, i agree, peice of crap, the one they are selling for macbook pro is 50.00 more.. then can bite me!!!