Accessing Your Data, One Disk at a Time
It was a late night, and I was in the middle of an important project when disaster struck. My trusty external hard drive, the one I had been using for years, suddenly stopped working. I panicked, fearing I had lost all my precious files and memories. After a few deep breaths, I knew I had to take action.
As a seasoned computer repair technician, I’ve seen my fair share of external drive issues. But this time, it hit a little closer to home. I knew I had to put on my problem-solving hat and figure out what was going on.
Investigating the Culprit: macOS Sonoma
After some digging, I discovered that the issue I was facing was not an isolated incident. Turns out, many Mac users have been experiencing similar problems with their external drives since upgrading to the latest macOS, Sonoma. [1]
The symptoms were all too familiar: Drives that were once accessible became unresponsive, Disk Utility refused to cooperate, and folder icons were mysteriously missing. It was a mess, to say the least.
Navigating the Disk Arbitrator
One user on the Apple Discussions forum shared a potential solution that caught my attention. They mentioned using the Disk Arbitrator app to prevent their drives from mounting, which then allowed them to run Disk Utility’s “First Aid” and regain access to their external storage. [1]
I decided to give it a try, and sure enough, the Disk Arbitrator app worked like a charm. With the drives temporarily unmounted, I was able to run the First Aid tool and get my external disks back in working order. [1]
Reformatting: A Last Resort
However, not everyone was as lucky. Some users reported that even after using Disk Arbitrator and running First Aid, they were still unable to access their external drives. [2] In these cases, the only solution seemed to be reformatting the drives, which meant saying goodbye to all their precious data.
I cringed at the thought of losing someone’s important files, but sometimes, desperate times call for desperate measures. Reformatting can be a viable option, but it should always be a last resort. [3]
Avoiding the Sonoma Shuffle
To prevent future issues, I recommended that my clients take a few proactive steps. First and foremost, always remember to safely eject your external drives before shutting down or restarting your Mac. [4] This can help mitigate the risk of the Sonoma update corrupting your data.
Additionally, considering alternative file systems, such as NTFS or even using a Windows PC to access your drives, can be a workaround for those experiencing persistent problems with ExFAT. [5]
The Apple Enigma
As I wrapped up the repairs, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of frustration towards Apple. While they are known for producing high-quality products, the issues surrounding external drive compatibility with Sonoma were just unacceptable. [6]
I’ve heard stories of users forking out thousands of pounds for their Macs, only to face a slew of storage-related problems. [3] It’s a bitter pill to swallow, especially when you expect your devices to just work seamlessly.
A Glimmer of Hope
But even in the darkest of times, there’s always a glimmer of hope. I’m hopeful that Apple will eventually address this issue and provide a proper solution. After all, they pride themselves on delivering a seamless user experience. [7]
Until then, I’ll continue to be the knight in shining armor, rescuing my clients’ data and guiding them through the maze of external drive woes. With a bit of know-how and a lot of patience, we can conquer even the toughest of tech challenges.
So, the next time you find yourself staring at a non-responsive external drive, don’t panic. Take a deep breath, and remember: I’ve got your back.
[1] https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255188289
[2] https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/lightroom-issues-using-external-hard-drives/td-p/9408310
[3] https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255159360
[4] https://www.reddit.com/r/MacOS/comments/16um2co/all_external_drives_disconnecting_after_updating/
[5] https://forums.developer.apple.com/forums/thread/666915
[6] https://www.easeus.com/storage-media-recovery/external-hard-drive-not-responding.html
[7] https://www.driversupport.com/knowledge-article/what-to-do-when-your-external-drives-are-not-working/
