Mac Mini USB problems

[Obxboy]

Hello-

I'm having an issue that appears to be common, but what the hey, I'll throw in my two cents. About two weeks ago, I bought a Mac Mini (i5) and a Thunderbolt display to replace an aging iMac. I have a lot of audio files and decided to buy an external drive to use with iTunes. I bought a WD 3TB My Book and also have a Toshiba Canvio USB 3.0 drive. Using the Mini's USB ports, I get the drives on the desktop, but neither will mount. Same for a WD Passport USB 2.0 drive! I can add files to all the drives on the desktop, but cannot designate any of them as the destination for iTunes stuff.

When I initially set up the Mini, I had a Time Machine backup on the Toshiba. It performed the transfer without a problem. Once the Mini was set up, however, the Canvio could not successfully perform another Time Machine backup. Said from returning the My Book drive and buying a Firewire device, I don't know what to do. Any solutions?

 

[Fishrrman]

If there is nothing on the drives that is "un-replaceable", my suggestion:

Re-initialize both drives using Disk Utility.
Make sure you use HFS+, GUID partition table.

Also -- did the drives come with any "proprietary software" on them?
If so, my suggestion would be to REMOVE that software and simply trash it.

Do the problems happen with both drives connected at once?
What happens if you disconnect either of them -- still there with only one connected?

 

[fa8362]

If the drives show on the desktop, they're mounted.

 

[Obxboy]

Thanks for both replies. I am at my office so can't try the first suggestion till I get home.

Regarding the drives and mounting: I guess I misspoke. When I attempt to switch the itunes target drive, the USB 3 drives are not listed under 'Devices' and are nowhere to be found as options for the iTunes files.

 

[hudson1]

Thanks for both replies. I am at my office so can't try the first suggestion till I get home.

Regarding the drives and mounting: I guess I misspoke. When I attempt to switch the itunes target drive, the USB 3 drives are not listed under 'Devices' and are nowhere to be found as options for the iTunes files.

That they aren't listed under Devices in the Finder is a bit weird. Definitely want to run Disk Utility to see if they show up.