Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit with Lacie External Hard Drive

**TuckerdogAVL** · September 4th, 2009, 04:21 PM

Hi. Don't know if anyone can help, as this is really a LACIE external problem, more so than a Mac issue, but the lacie external hard drive I have suddenly stopped appearing. I had a power outage the other day...and it actually seemed to be acting a little squirrelly since (I'd have to push the on button a couple times to get it to come on, sometimes I'd hold the button awhile to get it to stop)...then, today, I had a freeze and stupidly disconnected it....it had appeared prior to that....now it doesn't.

I attempted to see if I could figure out something with disk utility and get the message:

Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit and Invaid Node structure.
when attempting to verify or repair the disk "lacie" (the external).

Will diskwarrior help possibly?

**djackmac** · September 5th, 2009, 12:20 AM

Originally Posted by TuckerdogAVL

Will diskwarrior help possibly?

I've seen DW correct many errors that disk utility couldn't correct. Sounds like its something for disk warrior do to the fact that the most common cause of a corrupted directory structure is usually sudden power loses/powering down in the middle of writing to the disk.

**pjbrubak** · September 26th, 2009, 04:59 PM

My LaCie icon suddenly disappeared from my Mac desktop and isn't coming back. When I power the drive on, it makes a "warming-up" noise but nothing happens. Then it makes the same noise a few times and then silence. The blue light comes on and another drive that I daisy chain through it manages to show up on my desktop.
I'm using 10.4.11. The LaCie drive is not recognized in Disk Utility either.
HELP!

**ex2bot** · September 26th, 2009, 05:32 PM

I would go first to a disk recovery tool such as DiskWarrior, TechTool Deluxe (comes with Applecare) or Pro, etc. I don't even use Disk Utility anymore. I don't trust it to repair because sometimes it can make things worse.

Bot

**pjbrubak** · September 27th, 2009, 04:23 PM

DW didn't recognize my LaCie either. Neither did TechTool. It's blue light is flashing continuously. What is the next step?

Philip

**ex2bot** · September 27th, 2009, 07:11 PM

pjbrubak,

Just checking: Have you unplugged the hard drive, waited 30 seconds, and plugged it back in? At the same time, unplug the USB cable from your Mac. Plug it back in after you plug the power back into the drive. See if you can get it to mount (show up on the Desktop).

Next step: Is it still under warranty from LaCie? Call or email them. See if they can help you get it to mount. If you can get it to mount, then run DiskWarrior on it. You can also email Alsoft (makers of DW) and ask them for assistance. Tell them DW doesn't recognize the drive.

I don't know if you mentioned whether the drive is attached to your Mac via Firewire or USB. If you have an external drive that can be connected via Firewire OR USB, try switching from one to the other (only have one cable hooked up at once). For example, if it's connected with a Firewire cable, unplug the Firewire cable and connect it to your Mac with USB. See if that will allow it to mount.

** These next two suggestions would not be the first things I'd try**
I don't think you're having problems because of a hardware failure, but if your LaCie is not under warranty, you could take the hard drive out of the enclosure (take precautions for static electricity) and put it into another enclosure. This will test to see if the LaCie enclosure hardware failed. It's not too hard to remove the drive. You'll need a screwdriver and notice how the connectors connect before you disconnect them. That way, you'll understand how to hook it up in the other enclosure. This assumes you have another enclosre.

Failing that, Prosoft Engineering's Data Rescue is highly rated for recovering data off drives whose format is damaged. But then you'd have to shell out mucho $$ to purchase it, and there's no guarantee that it will recover your data.

Does anyone else have a remedy for an external hard drive that fails to mount?

Bot

**ElDiabloConCaca** · September 27th, 2009, 09:34 PM

LaCie's power supplies are notorious for simply "going out" unexpectedly.

I would contact LaCie directly about a replacement power supply, even if the device is out of warranty.

**TuckerdogAVL** · September 28th, 2009, 10:47 AM

I ordered the newest Diskwarrior and it arrived today. I'll make an attempt. BTW, in regards to unplugging, plugging in: I did think of that the other day when I realized it had been unplugged for over two weeks; and thought, "maybe this is all I needed to do..." No luck. And I tried to mount using an old iBOOK that I thought would also run my old diskwarrior (before shelling out the $50)...but, no luck either because I'd upgraded the OSX and Diskwarrior wasn't happy about that....so, I've got the newest version and will run on the new MacBookPro....and hopefully the Lacie will show up again.

What happens is that it appears in the disk utility, but not on the hard drive...and it sounds like it is warming up....everything appears to work after the first "click" but attempting to run the disk utility on it gives me the message. And it did show up just before the power outage.....

So, maybe diskwarrior will help. Will let you know.
Thanks for the input.