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Hooligran Author

Level 1

0 points

Lacie External Hard Drive disappeared!

Updated my G5 and iBook last night to 10.4.9. This morning noticed my Lacie HD, connected via firewire to my G5, wasn't showing on the desktop. At first I thought it might be connected to the update, so I plugged it into my old G3, running 10.4.8, but there was no sign of it there either. I have searched for it using Disk Utility, System Profiler and Tech Tool Deluxe, to no avail. The HD itself looks and sounds as though its working normally, light on, sound of spinning etc. I unplugged everything on the G5, ran repair permissions, restarted, turned off and left for 20 min, restarted and plugged the Lacie back in. Nothing. I swapped cables, no cigar, and then tested my Firewire scanner on the same ports, it showed up immediately. Lastly I plugged the Lacie into a friend's G4, who also uses Lacie HD's, again, it failed to show.
Does this mean it's definitely the Lacie that's the problem, or is there anything else I need to tinker with on the computer?
Thanks very much!

iMac G5 iSight 2.1GHz, iBook G4 1.42GHz, iMac G3 Snow 700MHz, 2x iSight Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Mar 14, 2007 4:26 PM

80 replies

Redarm

Level 4

2,593 points

Mar 26, 2007 12:29 PM in response to web-betty

"I did an archive and install back to 10.4.8, so I no longer am "updated" to 10.4.9 and I still can't see my LaCie"

Yes, I gathered that. Did you start up from your Installer DVD yet?

"Where would I look on my PB for the drivers? There is a folder on the LaCie DVD that says "Drives"."

You shouldn't need any drivers for it. Did you have a look in this folder? As it says "Drives" and not "Drivers", I assume it more likely has some icons of the drives in it (mine did anyway).

Mar 26, 2007 12:31 PM in response to Redarm

Please forgive my lack of knowledge. I really am stumbling through this--I thought Macs were supposed to be easier than PCs 🙂

How do I start up from my Installer DVD? I've inserted it...now what?

And yes, you are correct, nice little icons. One might come in handy if I could actually get this to work.

Redarm

Level 4

2,593 points

Mar 26, 2007 12:45 PM in response to web-betty

"I thought Macs were supposed to be easier than PCs 🙂"

Yes, that's why you don't need drivers 😉

"How do I start up from my Installer DVD? I've inserted it...now what?"

Restart your computer with your DVD in and straight after the startup chime press and hold the "c" key of your keyboard until the apple symbol comes up. This will get you to the installer, where you first select your language, then go to "Utilities" on the top menu and select "DiskUtility".
But may I ask, how you did an Archive and Install, if you don't know how to start up from the DVD?

JeffX

Level 1

85 points

Mar 26, 2007 12:59 PM in response to jthomasfl

Where the F##k did my hard drive go!!!!! Hopefully Apple is listening and will respond VERY soon.

Mar 26, 2007 1:08 PM in response to Redarm

Restart your computer with your DVD in and straight after the startup chime press and hold the "c" key of your keyboard until the apple symbol comes up. This will get you to the installer, where you first select your language, then go to "Utilities" on the top menu and select "DiskUtility".

Ok, now what? I have Disk Utility up. It shows my internal HD and the install DVD. This is probably a stupid question...was I supposed to have the external HDD hooked up?

how you did an Archive and Install, if you don't know how to start up from the DVD?

I installed the DVD and double-clicked the 'Install' icon and followed the instructions for archive and install. Then I went to Apple and downloaded the combo update to 10.4.8.

PowerBook G4 PowerPC Mac OS X (10.4.9) iPod 30G, Lacie d2 Extreme (won't mount)

Redarm

Level 4

2,593 points

Mar 26, 2007 1:25 PM in response to web-betty

"...was I supposed to have the external HDD hooked up?"

Yes.

"I installed the DVD and double-clicked the 'Install' icon and followed the instructions for archive and install"

Ah, ok I got it, that also tells you to restart your computer and automatically boots from the DVD. Strange, I never tried that before.

Mar 26, 2007 2:29 PM in response to Redarm

Ok, external HDD hooked up. Booted from install DVD. All that's showing in Disk Utility is still my internal HD and the CD/DVD. System Profiler shows Unknown Device. This is the same as if I just booted normally.

What next?

Redarm

Level 4

2,593 points

Mar 26, 2007 2:48 PM in response to web-betty

Well, that's bad. It seems less and less likely to be the 10.4.9 update and more like your drive. Next would be to get a different cable. I seem to remember that I had troubles with the cable the LaCie came with in the beginning (didn't show up at all, but I never looked in System Profiler). I just used another firewire cable I had and it worked. Although now it even works with the cable it came with for some reason.
Next try and test the drive on one or even better more different computers, even a Windows machine would do. If it doesn't show there either, try and return it.

Redarm

Level 4

2,593 points

Mar 26, 2007 2:59 PM in response to Redarm

But don't take my word for it. I just didn't think the 10.4.9 upgrade changed something so fundamental (like firmware, etc.) that even after downgrading it lingers on, but I could be wrong.

Edit: but you should find out anyway, once you find another computer to connect to.

Mar 26, 2007 2:58 PM in response to Redarm

Well, my PC doesn't want to recognize it either. Can't use FW400 since my PC doesn't have that so used the USB. I'm getting the error message: "USB Device Not Recognized." and it shows the USB ports:

USB Root Hub 2 Ports
-->USB Composite Device
-->Unknown Device

The Composite Device is the connection for my wireless mouse and keyboard. Obviously, the Unknown Device if my peice-of-you-know-what LaCie HDD.

So, I think we can rule out the cables, since the FW isn't working with the PB and the USB isn't working with the PC. Note: the HDD does power on when connected.

Redarm

Level 4

2,593 points

Mar 26, 2007 3:08 PM in response to web-betty

I can't find my LaCie's disk it came with, but if you've got yours at hand, does the PC need a driver for it? Or is it meant to be just plug and play there too? If it's meant to work without driver, I'd give them a call and ask them to replace it.

Edit: or do you get the option on the PC to format the drive?

Redarm

Level 4

2,593 points

Mar 26, 2007 3:14 PM in response to web-betty

Sorry, but it's getting late, where I am. I'll have a look for the disk that came with my drive tomorrow and let you know, if I think of something else.

Mar 26, 2007 3:53 PM in response to Redarm

Thanks for all of your assistance. This issue is really upsetting. According to the user manual, when I pop the disc into my PC:

After the first connection of a USB-based peripheral, Windows detects the drive, and will install it automatically as a new peripheral, even if you have previously installed it on another port on the same USB bus. Let Windows install the USB drivers of your LaCie drive.

I take this to mean that it should be plug-n-play as well? I'm at my wits end here. If I get a chance, I'm going to see about a new HDD this evening.

I'll keep you posted.

Melissa

PowerBook G4 PowerPC Mac OS X (10.4.9) iPod 30G, Lacie d2 Extreme (won't mount)

Mar 26, 2007 5:48 PM in response to Hooligran

Upgraded my three macs to 10.4.9. now...

Lacie D2 Extreme 250Gb started to duplicate file name entries in the directory listings (some up to 4 times). After a verify/repair it has now trashed both of it's superblocks and complains of bad indexes. Drive won't mount in OSX, but can be seen in Disk Util & Sys Profiler - no data though. This drive had been utterly reliable for the last 18 months.

USB 2.0 external hard drive has started to require repairs every day or so, again after being reliable for the last 2 years.

However some files can be read on my Linux machine (as the Lacie D2 had OS9 compatability drivers installed) as HFS drives. Though some data (about 20% of the capacity) is trashed. Files are found and linked to but with no content or all 128kB in size.

Something amiss with 10.4.9 I think!

G4 Sawtooth, iBook600,1.42Mini Mac OS X (10.4.9) Athlon64 Linux

G4 Sawtooth, iBook600,1.42Mini Mac OS X (10.4.9) Athlon64 Linux

Mar 26, 2007 6:59 PM in response to SMJ-audio

Yes, something is definitely wrong. I can't access the HDD even after reverting back to 10.4.8.

Apple does appear to be aware of the problem. After joining the Apple Developer Connection (ADC--it's free) and posting the problem (along with links to 17 other posts with the same problem), I received this response from Apple today:

This is a follow up... After further investigation it has been determined that this is a known issue, which is currently being investigated by engineering. This issue has been filed in our bug database under the original Bug ID#

So they appear to know about it.

If anyone else wants to bug Apple (pardon the pun) about this, become a member of the ADC at ADC Member Site. Then go to the Bug Reporter to report your problem. You'll get an email response with a bug number so you can track the issue.

Maybe if Apple gets enough bug reports on this problem, engineering will be quick to come up with a solution.

PowerBook G4 PowerPC Mac OS X (10.4.9) iPod 30G, Lacie d2 Extreme (won't mount)

Lacie External Hard Drive disappeared!