tgasc

Q: External SSD issue after 10.11.4 update

Old bugs not gone, but new bugs keep coming, I'm really scared now whenever Apple delivers an update.

 

So after the most recent OS X update (10.11.4) yesterday, I just noticed that I can no longer keep my external SSD plugged while trying to shutdown or restart my iMac -- it will not be recognized next time when the system reboots. I have to unplug the SSD and replug it back every time the system reboots. I usually keep one of my SSDs plugged 24x7 which contains data for the Photos app, and this new bug is driving me nuts!

 

I've tested 2 different SSDs I have, 3 different external HDD enclosures, same problem. I tested them on my PC no problem, tested non-SSDs no problem.

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012), OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on Mar 22, 2016 12:00 PM

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Q: External SSD issue after 10.11.4 update

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  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Mar 22, 2016 12:29 PM in response to tgasc
    Level 6 (10,477 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 22, 2016 12:29 PM in response to tgasc

    How exactly are the SSDs formatted?

    Are they bootable?

    Do you have Trim installed or do you have an Apple SSD inside?

  • by tgasc,

    tgasc tgasc Mar 22, 2016 2:13 PM in response to Lexiepex
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mar 22, 2016 2:13 PM in response to Lexiepex

    It was formatted using OS X's default settings, in other words "OS X Extended". Thanks for your reply but I don't think this has anything to do with the issue since these SSDs have been working fine since... forever... The problem started to occur after the update yesterday.

     

    No they are not bootable, the one which is plugged 24x7 contains data for the Photos app. But now none of my SSD's can be automatically recognized / mounted after system reboot. Regular external HDDs are working fine.

  • by tgasc,

    tgasc tgasc Mar 22, 2016 6:10 PM in response to tgasc
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mar 22, 2016 6:10 PM in response to tgasc

    One more issue, I can't boot into the safe mode. Thank you Apple.

     

    I consider myself one of the most "conservative" users out there -- I don't install lots of software and I haven't been installing any new software for a very long time, I always think again before I change any settings and I do research to make sure I know what I'm doing. But hitting that "Update" button yesterday was such a hasty and bad decision.

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Mar 23, 2016 1:12 AM in response to tgasc
    Level 6 (10,477 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 23, 2016 1:12 AM in response to tgasc

    There are only users here like you, not Apple.

    I suppose that either re-installing OSX with the Recovery Partition (CMD+R), or downloading the ElCapitan ComboUpdate 10.11.4 and running that will help but I am not sure.

    Do you have connected the SSDs with USB?

    Do you have any "help" or "assistive" software installed to handle the SSDs?

    I assume inside you have an HDD not SSD, you did not answer that.

    Do you have Trim installed, you did not answer that.

    How old is the 24x7 SSD? and how much free space on it?

    What is the setting in SystemPreferences->EnergySaver: the harddisks should not be allowed "to sleep when possible".

  • by tgasc,

    tgasc tgasc Mar 23, 2016 8:20 AM in response to Lexiepex
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mar 23, 2016 8:20 AM in response to Lexiepex

    Hi, I have reversed back to 10.11.3 from time machine yesterday, and all problems mentioned above are now gone.

     

    To answer your questions:

    - Yes the SSDs are connected with USB.

    - No I don't have any "help" or "assistive" software installed as I know in most cases they do more harm than good.

    - I have Fusion Drive inside my iMac and SSDs in side external enclosures.

    - No I don't have Trim installed.

    - I have 50%+ (100G+) free space in the 24x7 SSD

    - I have that HDD energy saver option selected but should that be the cause for the SSD not being recognized / mounted on startup?

     

    I spent my whole afternoon and evening yesterday searching and trying to fix the issue, tried all sorts of "solutions" I found online including resetting PRAM, SMC, entering safe mode, etc. but I was without any luck. A little more information about this: after the system reboot not only the SSD was not recognized but also it could not be found in Disk Utility. If I unplug the USB and plug it back again, the disk was back.

     

    Thanks for your help, but since I've already rolled back to 10.11.3, I'll wait to see if newer updates would fix the issue but I really doubt. Since the above problems don't exist in 10.11.3, clearly it's the problem caused by the most recent update (10.11.4).

     

    I've done a bug report to Apple, HOPEFULLY that will help. Rolling back to older system is not always the optimized solution, but I've been doing so more and more often with today's Apple. I'm not the only one complaining about this and that bugs each time Apple , I say it because I have 2 Macs, 4 iOS devices, they all have similar issues.

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Mar 23, 2016 3:10 PM in response to tgasc
    Level 6 (10,477 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 23, 2016 3:10 PM in response to tgasc

    OK, OK, it is all by the FusionDrive (old hat system). I am an antagonist of FusionDrive, already for years there are threads discussing this. You solved it for now. I am not the right person to help you with this, not technically, not psychologically.

    Good that you can work again. Good work.

    Lex

  • by llodi,

    llodi llodi Mar 29, 2016 4:42 AM in response to tgasc
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 29, 2016 4:42 AM in response to tgasc

    I think the cause of problem is update. Because I have the same problem OSX 10.11.4 External usb drive isn't mounted

     

    Now Apple updates become similar to Linux update (( It's better not to install them immediately than do it

  • by Ravenholm,

    Ravenholm Ravenholm Apr 13, 2016 7:20 AM in response to tgasc
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 13, 2016 7:20 AM in response to tgasc

    Upgrading to 10.11.5 beta seem to solve this problem for me. Not sure what other bugs are here so far:)

  • by tgasc,

    tgasc tgasc Apr 13, 2016 4:03 PM in response to Ravenholm
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 13, 2016 4:03 PM in response to Ravenholm

    This sounds great! Thanks for letting us know.

    Now while this issue seems to be fixed I wish there won't be more new issues.

  • by firdauskop_3010,

    firdauskop_3010 firdauskop_3010 May 16, 2016 5:45 PM in response to tgasc
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 16, 2016 5:45 PM in response to tgasc

    Please update your Macbook 12 now! Apple just released a new OS X El-Capitan 10.11.5 update and it works like charm again!

  • by tgasc,

    tgasc tgasc May 18, 2016 12:10 PM in response to firdauskop_3010
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 18, 2016 12:10 PM in response to firdauskop_3010

    Didn't work for me! I just updated to 10.11.5, still can't see the SSD when restarted.

  • by llodi,

    llodi llodi May 20, 2016 9:08 PM in response to tgasc
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 20, 2016 9:08 PM in response to tgasc

    the same! New update didn't solve our problem (((