Ext drive problems with Monterey?

[Snuffy77]

Have a late 2015 27" iMac w/ Monterey 12.6.3. Normally use an OWC 5T ext HD (USB 3.1 connection) with Time Machine for backups. Turned on Ext Hard Drive and did not mount. Tried Disk First Aid, different cables, etc. etc. Reloaded Monterey. In System Report it appears the computer recognizes that the drive is connected, but get nothing else. Also tried a thumb drive. It doesn't either, but yet appears as 'flash memory device' in System Report. I have a Mac Studio and guess what... drive works just fine. Ok... let's try my old 17" MacBookPro laptop. Works just fine.

So... I can back up some files by creating a shared folder on the Mac Studio... and maybe do a Time Machine backup if I share out the ext hard drive, but that is only a stop gap solution.

I'm thinking there is a problem with Monterey. Anybody else have such situation?
Thanks,

 

[Bigwaff]

Have you tried mounting the drive using Disk Utility?

 

[Snuffy77]

Yes... Disk Utility does not see the drive. Let me try to explain ... I've been an Apple user since the IIe, no expert, but not a newbie either. Printers, keyboard still work connected to ports, but no type of external storage device ... HD, thumb drive (flash memory) is mounted by icon on the desktop or listed in the Finder... If I select System Report (About this Mac) and then select the USB bus, it lists the Mercury Elite Ext HD along with a Flash memory device, Multicard reader, etc. but none of those appear as icons or are listed in the Finder. I can not use any kind of external storage device. I'm going to see if I can attach a picture of that segment of the System Report with 'call outs' pointing out sections (PDF) file. Either there is a problem with Monterey or there is some sort of failure in the hardware (for ports). I'm thinking software. As I noted before... all of those devices work just fine on the Mac Studio and on a 17" MacBookPro... and you know how that is.

 

[Fishrrman]

Something to try. Sometimes it helps. Sometimes it doesn't.

Do this:
1. Power down the iMac and disconnect the backup (if it's connected).
2. Power on the iMac and get to the finder
3. Connect the backup
4. Doesn't mount right up? OK, then just... wait a while.
5. Give it 30 minutes or so.
See if this makes a difference.

WHY I asked you to do this:
Sometimes if there's a problem with a drive when you connect it, the finder appears to do some things to resolve the problem (in the background).
That's why we need to give the finder some time.

Again, this might help, or... may make no difference.

Have you tried connecting the drive to the Studio, opening disk utility, and then applying the "first aid" feature against the drive?

 

[Brian33]

I'm thinking there is a problem with Monterey

In my opinion, there is, sadly. I've been troubleshooting an external drive issue for over a year (ever since I moved from Mojave to Monterey).

I think many in this thread would agree:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...with-mounting-external-drives-images.2331283/

I've seen quite a few similar threads.

Many have swapped cables and enclosures. It's a jumble, but it seems like, for some people, "the problem" shows up for some enclosures and not for others. I could figure out no rhyme or reason. It's not just old ones or new ones, or USB vs. Thunderbolt. Some people have issues with Monterey, some Ventura, IIRC.

 

[Snuffy77]

I spoke with an Apple Tech person today. In trying to determine if it is software or hardware he asked about booting in safe mode. I had forgotten that test. So... I did. Had Ext HD's, Flash memory (thumb drive), SD card reader all connected. None of them showed in the Finder or desktop. They are, however, listed at the top of the System Report (USB 3.0 bus) when you select 'USB' under hardware. So the system says they are there... but can't access them. Still could be software, but I suppose some chip set got corrupted by a surge or who knows what. Don't know if a motherboard replacement would fix if hardware. Quick search on the internet listed some for $250 or less. Reasonable fix to me... other than ext storage devices, the iMac works really well. Plan to follow up with the Apple Tech guy. Thx for everyone's suggestions/comments.