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How to turn on or turn off the FireWire or USB External Storage unit to ensure it is recognized in a Mac system.

Provides procedures for attempting to make MacOS correctly detect external drives.

The following power sequence must be followed for your system to properly detect your USB and/or FireWire External Storage unit:

When the Mac is OFF:

To TURN ON the External Drive and the Mac Computer:

  1. Plug one end of the interface cable into the drive and the other end into your Mac's FireWire or USB Port.
  2. Powering up the External Drive
    • For External Drives WITHOUT a power switch - connect the power cord into the power connector
    • For External Drives WITH a power switch - turn the power switch to the ON position.
    ...please allow 10 seconds for the drive to power up.
  3. Power on the Mac.

To TURN OFF the Mac and External Drive:

  1. Power down the Mac
  2. Powering down the External Drive
    • For External Drives WITHOUT a power switch - disconnect the power cord from the power connector
    • For External Drives WITH a power switch - turn the power switch to the OFF position.
  3. Disconnect the FireWire or USB interface cable from the port on the external drive and from the Mac (optional).

When the Mac is ON:

To TURN ON the External Drive:

  1. Powering up the External Drive
    • For External Drives WITHOUT a power switch - connect the power cord into the Power Connector
    • For External Drives WITH a power switch - turn the power switch to the ON position.
    ...please allow 10 seconds for the drive to power up.
  2. Plug one end of the interface cable into the drive and the other end into your computer's FireWire or USB Port.
  3. Once connected and powered on, the drive will mount on your Mac's Desktop.

    Image

    NOTE: The Icon for a USB External Drive differs from the above image.

To TURN OFF the External Drive:

  1. Drag the External Drive to the Trash.

    Image

    NOTE: The Icon for a USB External Drive differs from the above image.
     
  2. Unplug one end of the cable from the drive, then the computer.
  3. Powering down the External Drive
    • For External Drives WITHOUT a power switch - disconnect the power cord from the power connector
    • For External Drives WITH a power switch - turn the power switch to the OFF position.
  4. Disconnect the FireWire or USB interface cable from the port on the external drive and from the Mac