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I have a 15-inch Macbook Pro with Retina Display that doesn't work with my USB 2 hard disk. It doesn't mount, doesn't show up in Disk Utility, and doesn't even show up in System Information in the USB section.

This hard disk works fine on my Ubuntu desktop, and it worked fine on my previous Macbook Pro (2009 model). It doesn't work on my new Macbook Pro, but another disk does.

This is a bus-powered drive. I tried rebooting my Mac, and plugging into a different USB port. The LED comes on when I plug it in, but that's it. If I put my ear to the disk, I hear mild clicking sounds (but I am not worried about data loss since the disk works great on my other machines, every time, without the clicking sound).

Any idea what I can try? Use an AC power adapter? Thanks.

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  • And you're using a normal USB2 cable (as opposed to a USB2-compatible cable that shipped with a USB3 device)?
    – username
    Commented Nov 24, 2012 at 22:15
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    I've experienced the same problem with a Western Digital Passport drive. It works fine in other computers but not in my mbp. The port doesn't deliver enough power for it. What you could try is a AC powered USB hub.
    – user27073
    Commented Nov 24, 2012 at 22:59
  • Sorry for the late answer, @username, but I tried multiple USB 2 cables (there wasn't one that shipped with the disc as far as I remember), and the problem occurs no matter what cable I use. Two of my external hard discs also support a Firewire interface in addition to USB, so I purchased a Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter to get them to work. Firewire and Thunderbolt supply enough power, as I understand.
    – Kartick Vaddadi
    Commented Aug 23, 2014 at 4:06

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It definitely sounds like its not getting enough power. Not all USB ports on all machines deliver the same power.

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Try using a USB - Y Cable! As the others have said... It appears the drive is not getting enough power.

Example, http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/USB3AYMBPB/

I realize that is microusb but they make y cables with USB on all the ends.

Goodluck! :)

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  • I purchased one, but it didn't work. Thanks for the tip, anyway.
    – Kartick Vaddadi
    Commented Aug 23, 2014 at 4:03

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