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Today I connected my WD 'My Passport for MAC' external 2TB drive to my MacBook Air and got the message that my WD device "was no longer supported." So my question is what is the best way to backup my hard drive? To the internet (iCloud) or to a newer external hard drive? What are the advantages / drawbacks of either? And if hard drive, is there a recommended brand name or model?
Thanks for the help.
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 14.1
You should not be getting any messages from Western Digital because you should not be using any Western Digital software. Uninstall whatever it might be in accordance with Western Digital's instructions.
The first thing anyone should do with any external storage device is to format it with Disk Utility: Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support. That serves two purposes:
You should not be getting any messages from Western Digital because you should not be using any Western Digital software. Uninstall whatever it might be in accordance with Western Digital's instructions.
The first thing anyone should do with any external storage device is to format it with Disk Utility: Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support. That serves two purposes:
That is strange because hard drives are basically empty platters you can write to and "park" files on.
How old is the drive? make and,model? Did you erase and format it when you got it?
And what is the model/year of your MBA? Which mac OS are you running?
And was the message from the OS or WD?
By the way, iCloud is not a backup for computers, it is a syncing ervice. External hard drives are a preferred method.
The message came from WD. This is not a new drive; I’ve been using it for several years. The WD message simply said the device “was no longer supported.” And it seemed as though I could not get “Time Machine” to access it (but I got frustrated and stop trying, too.)
So does it have the original WD software still installed? I will avoid WD, their drives are ok, but their software is worthless.
Unless someone has a better idea, I'd either get different drive or, if you feel adventurous and can do without the files currently on it, you can try to delete that entire drive and then attempt a new backup on an empty drive.
An external drive does not need any software or drivers to function.
I,like these
Mercury Elite Pro or Envoy from macsales.com
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/external-storage
Thanks John, I will try this. I must not have set it up properly when I first got it. I know I was always a bit confused about the difference between the WD connection that came with the device and using "Time Machine" to back up the data. And next time up to a store, I'll probably get a new backup device.
I found this answer on Western Digital's website:
https://support-en.wd.com/app/answers/detailweb/a_id/51137
... but if their own software is "not supported" I wouldn't know what else to do. Perhaps it might install or function on a different Mac with an earlier macOS version, if you have access to one whose owner lets you borrow it.
As for why WD and other manufacturers are fond of reinventing the wheel with their own "disk management" software is anyone's guess.
Well that didn't work. There is something on the WD disk called the "unlocker" and the disk utility said it could not erase it. Frustrating to say the least.
Contact WD support and ask them to tell you how to erase it.
And, as I said, an external drive does not need any software to function so it is good practice to erase and format when you get it.
can do! thanks.
External Backup Methods
