External drive always connected, unmounts itself at log off/on

[MacMike81]

I have a 4TB ext HD partitioned into 2 drives. One for TimeMachine and a second for basic file storage and to easily share files across multiple users. Ive noticed with the past two osx releases when I log off and log back in the ext drive doesn't mount. I have to physically unplug USB and replug. I don't think I remember this being a problem in 10.14 and 10.15 (Mojave and Cat)

I am using a 2017 4.2 i7, 27" iMac on Monterey 12.1

 

[Fishrrman]

Some questions:

- do you connect the external drive to a USBc port, or to a USBa port?
- does the drive have an on/off switch? (many these days don't)
- does the drive's connecting cable have (on the Mac end) a USBc or USBa plug?

If the drive has an on/off switch, you could try "cycling that" and see if the drive mounts again.

Another way -- unplug the drive from the wall outlet and re-connect it.

Another way (that minimizes "wear and tear" on the Mac's ports):
- get a USB3 "extension cable". What kind of extension you buy depends on which port you're using on the Mac, and what kind of plug the drive has.
- position the end of the extension cable in an easy-to-reach spot, and connect the drive to it.
- when the drive gets dismounted, just "break", then "re-make" the connection to the extension cable.

These are all "workarounds", of course.
But sometimes one has to do, what one has to do...

 

[MacMike81]

Some questions:

- do you connect the external drive to a USBc port, or to a USBa port?
- does the drive have an on/off switch? (many these days don't)
- does the drive's connecting cable have (on the Mac end) a USBc or USBa plug?

If the drive has an on/off switch, you could try "cycling that" and see if the drive mounts again.

Another way -- unplug the drive from the wall outlet and re-connect it.

Another way (that minimizes "wear and tear" on the Mac's ports):
- get a USB3 "extension cable". What kind of extension you buy depends on which port you're using on the Mac, and what kind of plug the drive has.
- position the end of the extension cable in an easy-to-reach spot, and connect the drive to it.
- when the drive gets dismounted, just "break", then "re-make" the connection to the extension cable.

These are all "workarounds", of course.
But sometimes one has to do, what one has to do...

It is USB A to a proprietary connecter ( https://www.seagate.com/products/external-hard-drives/expansion-external-drives/ )

I installed their software app to see if maybe that will help.