Q: Randomly ejecting USB hard disks

Western Digital, My Passport Ultra 2TB, Oct 2013

I'm trying this firmware update:

http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/wdsmartwareupdate/firmware.asp?id=wdfMyPassport&os =MAC

I'll post back with results later today.

My two older HDs no problems, but the two newer HDs are problematic (all hooked with the same cables and on the same OS).

HDs with eject issues:

- Fantom FAGF4000QU3 4TB QUAD FIREWIRE 800/400 EXT HARD DRV - FW and USB connection - was bought in Aug. 2013

- G Drive 1TB 7200RPM (Gen4) Class B - Part No: 99300-13103 001

P.S. This original post is great. Let's concentrate on hard drives in general and to avoid individual firmware updates etc. since it does not resolve the issue if you have any othere brand.

I have two external backups (after my one external WD drive died and ate every single copy of movies/tv shows/audiobooks/ebooks).

Seagate 2TB "GoFlex" drive - no issues with it dropping out (so far)

Western Digital 3TB "MyBook 1144" - no issues until today. Spontaneous eject. These unplanned ejections were the first sign of failure of my old drive which makes me mad since this double-set was put in place because of that. I begin to suspect WD drives.

Running a MacMini 2.3 GHz i5, 8GB DDR3, 10.8.5 OSX (did not jump to Mavericks because of WD external drive-eating issues)

I just upgraded to Maverick and now have this problem with TM disconnecting ext hdd. iMac mid-2007 using LaCie Porsche Design 2TB usb 3 purchased 12/2013.

I have reformatted hdd 3x already and problem still exist. TM and hdd was working fine with Snow Leopard before upgrade.

Since upgrading to Mavericks my Seagate Goflex drive will continously disconnect. It also does this when using Boot Camp.  The drive works with other PCs however.

This is my 2nd HD that is having this problem.  It is an HP SimpleSave 1 Tb.  Can't figure out how to open the enclosure to get the rest of the info.  I bought it to replace a Seagate.  Bought both at Costco.  Both have their own power source.  This one worked fine for the first year as my TimeMachine and has just recently started doing the self-ejection.  I typically only connect it to my MBP about once a week just to save on the wear and tear. 

Seagate Backup Plus 2TB connected via thunderbolt using Seagate Desktop Thunberbolt adapter.

Spontaneously disconnects usually when unattended, prompting warning from Mavericks saying: "please eject drive before disconnecting" or something similar.

Haven't lost data but disconnects sometimes hundreds of files of footage that are being used, which could be a hassle.

This is happening to me on both a WD Thunderbolt Duo 4 TB Drive and on a Seagate 1 GB Desktop External Drive connected via USB.

Both disconnect randomly and often!

WD My Passport USB 3.0, 1TB external. On 2.5 GHz core 2 duo MacBook Pro running 10.9.2

Worked for a while now ejects itself as soon as Time Machine backup starts. Might have been coincident with mavericks upgrade; can't remember. Won't stay mounted to even run WD frmware update on it.

Drive data:

R/N 771737

03 May 2011

Can't see any controller chip...

My Book Thunderbolt Duo 4TB on MacBook Pro with Mavericks

I'm having spontaneous dismounting trouble with SanDisk thumb drives as well as a 2 tb WE My Passport. It's vexing and destructive. There's obiviously something wrong with the OS and not the brand of USB that's plugged into it.

iMac27 inch mid 2011 running the horrible 10.9.2 (kicking myself for moving from 10.8, which appears to have been fully functional...). The external drive that is constantly being ejected is a western digital elements 3TB usb3 drive. It has NEVER been able to complete a backup to the drive since I accepted the free downgrade to Mavericks. I'm thoroughly convinced that this is an OS issue, and that Apple is being totally inept in leaving the issue unresolved.