my hard drive won't be recognized after os x lion update!!!

These drives are mass storage devices and shouldn't require special drivers per se. It is certainly possible that WD did something clever that causes an incompatibility, or that there is a Lion issue mounting some drives, but I'd suspect something simpler first.

William's first question was good: does it appear in Disk Utility?

• If so, then the computer saw the disk and recognized it. In Disk Utility, control-click or right-click on the disk and select "Reveal in Finder" -- see if it appears. It would also be interesting to see what is displayed in the Console when the disk is attached.
• If you are comfortable with the terminal, unplug the drive and type (without the quotes) "ls -l /Volumes" With the drive unplugged, do you see anything with the drive's name in that directory? If so, this might be preventing it from appearing.
• If you have another computer available, plug in the problematic drive and rename it (don't reformat, just give it a different name). Then try mouting it on the mac that is giving you problems.

I'm not sure what the issue is, but it would be interesting to see if any of these has an effect.

It does not appear in Disk Utility...

Maybe this was posted in this thread before, but here is a link with info regarding this problem from WD...

http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/7081/session/L2F2LzMvc25vLzEvdGl tZS8xMzEyNjc2MDAxL3NpZC9uNkVTb1VBaw==

The link refers to a WD NAS; most users experiencing this have WD hard drives they're attempting to connect directly to their machines.

This should be a plug and play operation, but unfortunately WD has released multiple hard drives that install drivers or other software in order for them to operate properly on Macs; examples include several of the "My Book" series, especially those that have an LCD display.

The only truly plug and play WD hard drive is the WD Essentials series, and if those don't work it points squarely to the firmware of the WD drive enclosures.

Please follow these instructions:

Lion: Connecting to legacy (pre-Lion) AFP services - and Mac OS X (server):

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3258472

gufetto wrote:

The same for me with a WD My Book Studio Edition 1TB. The disk mounts and unmounts non stop. Firewire or UBS is the same. Also with a new firmware of the disk and after a formatting. My hardware is an iMac early 2009 24".

What's happen with Lion, Apple?

the problem could be solved with Mac OS X 10.7.1 (that notoriously it's not a fix by WD).

infact, if you open the installer with pacifist, you find many changes about utility disk, diskmanagement, imagemounter and related frameworks.

I hope.

Still having problemes with the recognition of 2 of my LaCie 2d Quadra 1TD in Os X Lion. One LaCie harddisk (2d Quadra 500GB) is recognized as Back Up for Time Machine. The other 2 (1TD) are visible when I use LaCie Shortcut Button, but no way to open as Back Up and not possible to get to my documents on these hard disks. Someone already found a solution! No answer yet from LaCie ...

Got an answer from LaCie: Copy your harddisk and format the disk with Mac Os X Lion. Will this solve the problem!!!

It means I have to buy a new external harddisk of 2 TB for the storages of my files. In this way the change to Mac Os X lion is getting quiet expensive.

I always loved the Apple computer, always working in the right way, but now ..... not pleased at all.

I hope Apple will bring an update on Os X Lion to solve this problem.

By the way: both 2 x 1 TB LaCie 2d Quadra doesn't work anymore with Snow Leopard ...

Is there anyone out there who knows a better solution to this problem!

LaCie is quite incorrect here.

In fact, I have two LaCie Quadra FW800 drives that are working perfectly fine with Lion.

I've been told this is because my Quadras are "v2" rather than the newer "v3" model; I'm not sure what LaCie broke since then.

Some have reported success using USB2 rather than FW to connect to their LaCie drives, so that might be worth a shot.

Thanks for your help.

I've already tried USB2 connection with both of the LaCie harddisks (by the way no.1 = Quadra d2 Next of 1TB, the other LaCie Quadra v2 of 1TB both FW800 & designed by Neil Poulton).

The strange thing is that the third one - LaCie d2 Quadra of 500GB (the oldest of the three) - is working perfectly with Time Machine, and also the portable LaCie by S+arck of 500GB works fine as Back Up with Os X Lion. They both show up on the screen. The two 1TB harddisks just doesn't show up!

Could the problem be caused by the missing of some software!!! Or could it be a problem of the hardware!

I asked d2recovery (linked to LaCie) how much it will cost to repair the disks (even though I don't think there could be a diskfaillure, because both the harddisks failed at the same time after installing Os X Lion) .... such incredible high costs .... this is never an option for me.

Hope there are other solutions to this problem!

harddisk2011 wrote:

...

Hope there are other solutions to this problem!

I haven't carefully read this whole thread, sorry, and I am not using Lion, but I have been in contact with LaCie over other issues I'm having.

Have you seen this for your v3 LaCie - the firmware update listed August 26 2011? I don't think it's for any other d2's besides the v3.

http://www.lacie.com/support/drivers/driver.htm?id=10248

There also is a list of software updates for Lion for LaCie software but I'm assuming you are using DU and not LaCie's software.

Here's that link if it's of any use:

http://www.lacie.com/us/more/?id=10121

Mrs H

harddisk2011 wrote:

Thanks for your help.

I've already tried USB2 connection with both of the LaCie hard disks (by the way no.1 = Quadra d2 Next of 1TB, the other LaCie Quadra v2 of 1TB both FW800 & designed by Neil Poulton).

The chances of changing the input port connection type having any effect on the way OS X Lion addresses the removable HDD is highly unlikely.

I use LaCie 2TB and WD 500GB,1&2TB drives, I stay with FW800, it works best with Apple desktops.

Your Lacie d2 1TB HDD should work fine, mine does-it might be an newer HDD though, what age are both of yourLaCie 1TB d2&v2 HDD? Your LaCie v2 1TB HDD should work in the same way as the base data transfer protocols are very similar if not the same as they are close devices and in age for data transfer protocols. Your best bet is to try again with FW800 follow the repair systems in Disk Utility. This should clear any problems you have. FW800 is more likely to recognise your HDDs as it processes the data slightly differently giving you a better response to a device.

harddisk2011 wrote:

The strange thing is that the third one - LaCie d2 Quadra of 500GB (the oldest of the three) - is working perfectly with Time Machine, and also the portable LaCie by S+arck of 500GB works fine as Back Up with Os X Lion. They both show up on the screen. The two 1TB harddisks just doesn't show up!

This will be because these HDDs use a basic or base data transfer protocol to communicate with the Mac. This will again be different for FW800 and USB 2.0, but both will have a different data transfer protocol to the newLaCie HDDs.

Programs move on, making data larger, this means the data transfer protocols have to keep up with them.

Your LaCie d2 500GB and LaCie STARCK 500GB HDDs will work no problem due to this. OS X Lion has no troubles as these HDDs have an older, still quick and stable, data transfer protocol; this will be in all of the Mac OS Xs.

harddisk2011 wrote:

Could the problem be caused by the missing of some software!!! Or could it be a problem of the hardware!

The problem with the newer LaCie Quadra d2&v2 HDDs may well be a shortage of the right data transfer protocol.

This would not only mean that you cannot write to your HDDs, but you will not be able to see them as the data transfer protocol, usually, contains the wake up connectivity coding. This program informs the Mac that a FW800 / USB2.0 device has been connected, the Mac will instantly know what port it is connected and will begin talking to the HDD.

If this data transfer protocol is not correct or the Mac tries to use an older data transfer protocl then the chances of the HDD working with a Mac, or any PC for that matter, are very slim.

I would talk to LaCie see what they are trying to do with the problems. If they come back to you with nothing, I am affraid you have two options: 1) sit tight and wait for Apple to fix it; 2) buy a newer LaCie device that is said to work with OS X Lion and then you have a device that you can back up tp even if you cannot get to your data but you will be able to do all the other things that you need an external HDD for.

There is always a chance that there is a problem with the hardware or the software on the device and it is nothing to do with your Mac. This could be something that you can do nothing about or it may be due to keeping conditions, how much care you show to your HDDs. This should be highly unlikely as LaCie has a good / great reputation similarly to WD HDDs. These are the two to buy if anyone want to buy a HDD or external HDD.

harddisk2011 wrote:

I asked d2recovery (linked to LaCie) how much it will cost to repair the disks (even though I don't think there could be a diskfaillure, because both the harddisks failed at the same time after installing Os X Lion) .... such incredible high costs .... this is never an option for me.

Hope there are other solutions to this problem!

So LaCie jave told you that there is a problem with the hardware / software on your HDD; surely this is a pretty large indicationt hat it has nothing to do with OS X Lion and is a system / hardware / software issue that needs to be cleared up directly with LaCie.

The best solution which I would suggest very strongly is to buy a cheaper WD 500GB My Passport or LaCie equivilent for now and start using that up as it works greatly with its faster USB2.0 protocols and takes over the USB prot and gives it new instructions; speeds are increased, this is a great little drive. This would only be a temperary solution because at some point in the near future Apple / LaCie will launch a data transfer protocol that will work propperly with OS X Lion.

My final piece of advice is to get a NAS device with an Apple Airport Extreme or get the Apple Time Machine with AE built in as this makes life a great deal easier and you can have the added bonus of 5GHz Wi-Fi and 4 port powered USB devices such as four USB HDDs and / or four USB printers. This makes life very easy. Does get very complicated when you have 6 wireless networks though; all good fun though!

I hope this clears things up and helps you with your unlucky problems.

Best of luck to all with similar problems. 🙂

Thank you all so very much for your help and input ... I hope there finally will be a solution so I get it done to get to my photos and other back ups.

Well, this problem is all over the place. I am running Snow Leopard, (I usually wait for these 'kinks' to work out before upgrading to the latest OS!), and after the latest security update, My WD 2tb quit being regognized. The drive Icon poped up briefly for a few minutes but it was look but don't touch! I have been all over the internet to include Western Digital and Apple Support suffering through moronic answers like "Is it plugged in?" I've not found any solution and have tried them all. None of them work! I am convinced that this proplem is related to the last update however there have been similar problems going back to 2007.

One reason I bought the Western Digital was their recent reputation and with the expanded capacities, I thought it was important. One of the reasons I switched to Mac was that I was tired of doing stuff like this on a daily basis with windows. Now, here I am again, instead of using my computer to get things done, I'm spending all my time fixing my computer!

If someone has a fix for this, please let me knoww. I will do likewise! Oh, and yes! It is plugged in.

I am sorry to say this but you will just have to keep updating your drivers to see wether it is supported. It shouldn't be too long to wait until your device is communicating properly with your Apple Desktop! 🙂

I have the WD elements 2TB(WDBAAU0020HBK) external hard drive. I upgraded to OS X Lion yesterday. i successfully backed it up today on the same WD hard drive. Have you tried backing it up with OS X 10.7.2? it might work. i'm not sure myself, i thought it wouldn't back up but it did.

I didn't use Disk Utility or anything. 🙂