codewrangler
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Seagate hybrid drive (ST1000LM014)...error -50

I have the Seagate hybrid drive (ST1000LM014). After letting the computer sit for a while, I get this error: "the operation can't be completed" and "error code -50"

 

If I reboot the computer, the issue is cleared. Is there a fix for this?

MacBook Pro (Late 2008), Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Sep 27, 2016 9:45 AM

Close
codewrangler

Q: Seagate hybrid drive (ST1000LM014)...error -50

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by JimmyCMPIT,

    JimmyCMPIT JimmyCMPIT Sep 27, 2016 9:52 AM in response to codewrangler
    Level 5 (7,834 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 27, 2016 9:52 AM in response to codewrangler

    a negative error code can indicate a problem with the drive media

    contact seagate and see if the device us under warranty.

    if not the drive could be showing signs it is breaking down.

  • by codewrangler,

    codewrangler codewrangler Sep 27, 2016 9:55 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 27, 2016 9:55 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

    Thank you for the reply. I have already contacted Seagate about my NEW drive and received a replacement drive. The replacement drive has the same issue. So, I was asking the question here, hoping that someone else has had this issue as well and may have a solution.

  • by JimmyCMPIT,

    JimmyCMPIT JimmyCMPIT Sep 27, 2016 12:09 PM in response to codewrangler
    Level 5 (7,834 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 27, 2016 12:09 PM in response to codewrangler

    boot into safe mode, if the problem stops you have a software conflict.

    Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up - Apple Support

    it also helps when you've done some troubleshooting already to state what you've done for next time.

  • by codewrangler,

    codewrangler codewrangler Sep 28, 2016 11:58 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 11:58 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

    You're right, I should have provided more information about what I did already....

     

    I completely forgot about 'Safe Mode'....I just tried that and the problem still returned, after leaving it in safe mode for a while. So, probably not a software issue.

     

    I assume the SATA connector hardware is ok. This issue only happened after installing the hybrid drive. So, I'm at a loss. It seems unlikely that 2 drives, from different lots would have the same issue. But, I'm running out of ideas.

     

    Any more ideas?

     

    Thanks! :-)

  • by Mac_Cat,

    Mac_Cat Mac_Cat Sep 28, 2016 1:53 PM in response to codewrangler
    Level 1 (54 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 1:53 PM in response to codewrangler

    Actually, it's not unusual to have two or more drives from the same lot fail.

    You might want to get a refund and buy the same item from another vendor.

     

    I've had similar problems with a 2, 3, and 4 GB G-Drive.

    I bought them to backup my system, before moving to a newer computer.

    Each time, the drive was stable for only a few days, then started giving I/O errors.

    TechTool 9 confirmed it, as well.


    The vendor kept sending me a new replacement drive (complete external Thunderbolt),

    but each one failed, even faster than the last one.

     

    I could also see the drive responded slowly, and then the Finder couldn't show major directories.

     

    I changed cables, as well (not cheap).

     

    (I'm not singling out G-Drive, because I use their G-RAID for TimeMachine backups and it's very reliable)

  • by JimmyCMPIT,

    JimmyCMPIT JimmyCMPIT Sep 28, 2016 1:55 PM in response to Mac_Cat
    Level 5 (7,834 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 1:55 PM in response to Mac_Cat

    I've had LaCie, GRAID, Green, WDC and Seagate ship dead or close to it so yes, it's not uncommon.

  • by codewrangler,

    codewrangler codewrangler Sep 29, 2016 7:15 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 29, 2016 7:15 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

    Ok...riddle me this. This morning I turned on my MBP and got the -50 error again (can't write to disk).

     

    However, I also have a VM running Windows 10 (VMWare) and I am able to write to the virtual without error. The VM is located on the same drive that I can't write to from macOS. So, I guess a software issue is still possible. This is so strange.

     

    Any specific ideas, based on this new information?

     

    Thanks for any suggestions! :-)

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 29, 2016 7:19 AM in response to codewrangler
    Level 9 (50,746 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 29, 2016 7:19 AM in response to codewrangler

    How do you know the connection is good.

  • by codewrangler,

    codewrangler codewrangler Sep 29, 2016 7:28 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 29, 2016 7:28 AM in response to Csound1

    How do you know the connection is good.

    I can always 'see' the drive and read contents. It's just that at some point, I can no longer write to the drive, unless I am doing it from the VM or I reboot the computer (to clear the issue on the Mac file system.

  • by codewrangler,

    codewrangler codewrangler Sep 29, 2016 7:33 AM in response to codewrangler
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 29, 2016 7:33 AM in response to codewrangler

    Some more information...after a little more time, my Windows 10 VM had the same kind of error. I had to force quit VMWare.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 29, 2016 7:36 AM in response to codewrangler
    Level 9 (50,746 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 29, 2016 7:36 AM in response to codewrangler

    Changing the cable is easy and cheap, why not do it?

  • by codewrangler,

    codewrangler codewrangler Sep 29, 2016 8:05 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 29, 2016 8:05 AM in response to Csound1

    I'm sure the cable is ok. If I use the old drive (regular hard drive), I NEVER have this issue. It's only with the Hybrid drive.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 29, 2016 8:10 AM in response to codewrangler
    Level 9 (50,746 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 29, 2016 8:10 AM in response to codewrangler

    Have it your way then, and Good Luck