General Troubleshooting

NVRAM (PRAM) Reset Process

The Apple document linked below provides the official instructions for performing an NVRAM (or PRAM) reset, as well as some useful background information on what the reset actually does inside the computer. NVRAM (or PRAM) resets can be a useful first s...

Data Transfer: Moved Drive to External Enclosure, Files Not Visible

Some hard drives are not formatted properly to work "as is" in an external enclosure. If you have files on the hard you are moving, you need to back up your data before you install the drive into the enclosure. After the backup is complete, we recommend...

RAM: Intel Macs - Pairing RAM Modules

Generally, any iMac, non-Retina MacBook, or non-Retina MacBook Pro, or Mac Mini from the last several years should allow RAM modules of the same spec but different capacities to be installed in any of the RAM slots in the computer. There is no specific or...

ExpressCard/34 Host Adapter: eSATA Cable Stuck

Occasionally eSATA cables can feel like they're stuck in the host adapter they're connected to. Avoid pulling with too much force on the plug when removing it. Instead, try gently rocking it from side to side as you pull the plug out, or add a bit of extr...

OS X: Time Machine Backup Transfer

If you want to transfer your compressed Time Machine backup from one drive to a new drive, please follow Apple's official instructions. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202380...

miniStack (All): Fan Noise

Over time, dust can accumulate inside legacy and current model miniStack fan housings, causing the fan mechanism to become unbalanced. This can create unusual noises coming from the fan area. The problem can often be fixed with careful use of compressed a...

Carbon Copy Cloner: Bootcamp Limitations

NOTICE: this article references a product no longer sold by MacSales. Currently Carbon Copy Cloner cannot make a bootable clone of your Bootcamp Volume. https://bombich.com/kb/ccc4/can-ccc-back-up-my-bootcamp-windows-partition [https://bombich.com/kb/...

eSATA Extender Cable Adapter: Correct PCIe Slot

Article applies to: NWTMPQXES2 The NewerTech eSATA Cable Extender Adapter must be installed into the top PCIe slot in your Mac Pro. It cannot be moved to a different slot because the length of the extender cable would not allow for it....

OS X, macOS: Apple Partition Map vs. GUID Partition Table

There are two types of partition map schemes recommended for Macs; once applied they will determine some of the formatted drive's capabilities. APPLE PARTITION MAP (APM)     1.  Seen and usable on all PowerPC and Intel based Mac machines.     2.  Bo...

eSATA Cables: Maximum Effective Length

The maximum length for an eSATA cable is 2 meters (or slightly more than 6.5 feet). With passive-adapters the maximum cable length is reduced to 1 meter, due to the absence of compliant eSATA signal levels....

How do I find system information in Mac OS 9.2.2 through 10.4.x?

351 To find the System Information for Mac OS 10.4: 1. Click on the blue Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen and select About This Mac. 2. In the window that pops up you will see the Operating System version as well as the Processo...

Legacy Mac: MacBook Pro, USB ExpressCard Speeds

If you are using an ExpressCard/34 adapter with USB ports, please see the list below to get an idea of which legacy MacBook Pro models can (theoretically) support full USB 3.0 speeds. PCIE 1.0 1X (THEORETICAL 250MB/S) EFFECTIVELY HALF-SPEED MacBookPro...

FireWire Enclosures: Sleep Issues with 10.9 and later

External enclosures from OWC and NewerTech that use FireWire chipsets made by Oxford and JMicron may exhibit a behavior whereby the drives do not spin down when the computer sleeps. This behavior exists on Macs running OS X 10.9 or later and does not occu...

NewerTech RAID Manager: Password Reset

To reset the username and/or password for the browser-based NewerTech RAID Manager, these steps will reset the password to the default. As a reminder, the default username and password are both 'admin'. 1. Open the 'Go to Folder...' window. Select the F...

Thunderbolt 2 Dock: Switched Audio Channels

It has been confirmed that the audio channels for the headphone jack (Audio Out) on the OWC Thunderbolt 2 Dock, are flipped. That is, the signal for the left channel will play through the right output and vice-versa. Future shipments will include a fix fo...

My Mac gets stuck during boot in Yosemite

If your Mac is randomly getting stuck during the boot process in Yosemite, it may be from unsigned extensions. This is most common with the Mac mini models. First you will need to get it to boot before we can proceed. GETTING THE MAC TO BOOT: 1) Sta...

SMC Reset Process

Resetting the System Management Controller (or SMC) in a Mac can be a useful way to troubleshoot various kinds of problems that arise, typically related to new hardware that may have been installed recently. The document below describes Apple's official i...

Aura for 2013 Mac Pro: High Fan Speeds

PROBLEM After installing the Aura for 2013 Mac Pro, the fan spins up to maximum RPM and the drive will not mount.   SOLUTION * _Power the Mac Pro off and disconnect the power cable and all peripheral cables._ * _Remove the outer case._ * _...

Rack Pro RAID Manager: Preventing Drive Spin-down / Sleep / Standby

Occasionally problems can arise with the Rack Pro + RAID Manager configuration, if the drives spin down. This happens when the unit goes into Sleep or Standby mode. To avoid drive spin down and potential problems, select "No Standby" in the RAID Manager o...

Thunderbolt 2 Dock: Scratch-resistant Cover & Protective Film

ISSUE:  OWC Docks ship with a thin film of protective plastic on its scratch-resistant cover. The plastic film is there to prevent cosmetic damage during packing and shipment. If left intact the film can become scratched after some use, giving the impress...

Legacy Mac: 2015 MacBook Target Display Support

The 2015 MacBook with the native USB-C port (MacBook8,1) does not support Target Display Mode in our limited testing, including when passed through the USB-C Dock's HDMI port, and when passed through Apple's USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (MJ1K2AM/A)....

Mount Pro: Compatibility

Occasionally we are asked why the Mount Pro will not work in 2006, 2007, or 2008 Mac Pro models. At a glance, the native drive sleds in those models might look the same as those found in the 2009, 2010, and 2012 models. However they are not the same. Th...

NewerTech Batteries: 2010-2014 MacBook Air Models (Fit)

RELEVANT PART NUMBERS: NWTBAP11MBA38 NWTBAP11MBA39 NWTBAP13MBA55   ENSURING PROPER BATTERY FIT Occasionally there may be difficulty achieving a precise fit when installing one of these three batteries. The issue almost always boils down to imprope...

Mercury Elite Pro (U3/FW800): MacPro6,1 and 10.9.5

Some of our 5TB enclosures including one variant of the Mercury Elite Pro (OWCME3QH7T5.0) ship with Toshiba hard drive model MD04ACA500. If you are using a USB-enabled enclosure with this Toshiba drive installed, and you connect the enclosure to the USB 3...

NewerTech Lightning Cables: Charging iPhone 6/6s in the Apple Smart Battery Case

PART NUMBERS AFFECTED: https://eshop.macsales.com/search/Lightning+Cables [https://eshop.macsales.com/search/Lightning+Cables] (All Lightning cables regardless of brand, length, or color are relevant to this article.)   Note that if you are using an i...

USB Enclosures: Limitations when Creating Bootable Partitions

NOTE: if you are running OS X 10.11 or later, your Disk Utility interface will look different than the one shown below. For more information on creating partitions in 10.11, please click here [http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/formatting/Mac_Formattin...

SoftRAID: Uninstalling the Driver and Other Components

Occasionally customers will attempt to uninstall or remove SoftRAID components with third party utilities like AppCleaner. OWC strongly discourages this practice as it can lead to problems. A better way to remove SoftRAID system components is to use the b...

Boot Camp: Installing on High Capacity Disks

PROBLEM Mac owners using disks that exceed 2.2TB may find it difficult to set up a Windows disk using Apple's Boot Camp assistant. The root cause of the problem is that the Boot Camp Assistant uses the FAT32 format when setting up a Windows disk. The en...

Apple: 2013 Mac Pro - CPU Upgrade & Apple Diagnostics

Q: Will my 2013 Mac Pro pass Apple Diagnostics with a new CPU installed? A: Due to changes made in newer revisions of the EFI firmware for the 2013 Mac Pro, not all machines will pass Apple Diagnostics with a processor upgrade installed. However, OWC pe...

USB-C Dock (All): Siri Microphone Input

When you connect the USB-C Dock to a Mac running OS 10.12, Siri's default microphone input may automatically switch from the 'Internal Microphone' setting to 'OWC USB-C Dock.' If you do not have a microphone connected to the dock, you need to switch the M...

Thunderbolt 2 Dock: Siri Microphone Input

When you connect the Thunderbolt 2 Dock to a Mac running OS 10.12, Siri's default microphone input may automatically switch from the 'Internal Microphone' setting to 'USB audio CODEC.' If you do not have a microphone connected to the dock, you need to swi...

USB-C Dock (All): Mac Ethernet Driver

RELEVANT PART NUMBERS: * OWCTCDK10PMDSG * OWCTCDK10PMDSL * OWCTCDK10PMDRG * OWCTCDK10PMDGD * OWCTCDOCK11PSG * OWCTCDOCK11PSL * OWCTCDOCK11PGD * OWCTCDOCK11PRG In order to use the Ethernet port, as of August 1, 2017 all Mac hosts (includ...

Mercury Elite Pro Dual (U3/FW800): FireWire 800 and Yosemite

If a customer has a Mercury Elite Pro Dual [https://www.owcdigital.com/products/external-storage/mercury-elite-pro-dual-overview] (OWCMED3FR---), and the device will not mount when connected to a Mac that is running 10.10 Yosemite, there may not be anythi...

USB-C Dock (All): Host Connection Issues (Apple cables)

RELEVANT PART NUMBERS: * OWCTCDK10PMDSG * OWCTCDK10PMDSL * OWCTCDK10PMDRG * OWCTCDK10PMDGD * OWCTCDOCK11PSG * OWCTCDOCK11PSL * OWCTCDOCK11PGD * OWCTCDOCK11PRG If you have connected a MacBook or MacBook Pro host to the USB-C Dock and are...

Mercury Elite Pro Dual: Seagate Drive Compatibility

Relevant Part Numbers: OWCTB2U3MEDxxx OWCMED3ERxxx DRIVE MODEL: ST8000NM0055 DRIVE PART: 1RM112-102   Currently the OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual (Thunderbolt 2 / USB 3.1 Gen 1) and Elite Pro Dual (USB 3.1 Gen 1 / eSATA) are not compatible with spe...

Sapphire 7950: Mac EFI Firmware Switch

RELEVANT PART NUMBER: SAP100352MAC2   If you are installing a Sapphire 7950 card into a Mac Pro tower for use with OS X or macOS, be sure to set the Mac EFI Firmware switch to the proper setting before using the card. See the image below for reference...

NewerTech AdaptaDrive: Xserve Drive Trays

If you are using the NewerTech AdaptaDrive to seat a 2.5 inch SSD into an Xserve drive bay, please use the drive tray that came with the Xserve to ensure the AdaptaDrive and SSD are properly recognized and available to the system....

Thunderbolt Docks (2 & 3): Driver Location

The Thunderbolt 2 Dock and Thunderbolt 3 Dock now use the same driver. The current driver provides support the same set of devices as the previous Thunderbolt 2 Dock driver. Originally, the driver was named OWCThunderbolt2DockChargingSupport.kext. The n...

Mac: Repackaging Instructions

If you have purchased a custom upgrade or installation service for your Mac from MacSales.com, or if an RMA has been set up and you need to return your computer to us in the supplied box, use the guides below to assist you in re-packaging your Mac for saf...

Mercury Elite Pro (U3/FW800): Seagate Drive Compatibility

RELEVANT PART NUMBERS: OWCME3QHKIT0GB, OWCME3QHKITSW   UPDATE: 08/25/17   Please note that the following drives should now work with the Mercury Elite Pro enclosure, but only after a firmware fix has been applied by OWC. Please contact Customer ...

NewerTech USB 3 to Gigabit Ethernet: Mac Driver

RELEVANT PART: NWTADPU3GIGE Please note that all Mac hosts must use the supplied driver [http://www.newertech.com/downloads/nwtadpu3gigev1.zip] for this device to function as intended. It is designed for Mac operating systems 10.7.5 to 10.12.6. This art...

OWC SSDs (PCIe): Changing the Drive Icon

RELEVANT PART NUMBERS: OWCSSDAB2MB02 OWCSSDAB2MB05 OWCSSDAB2MB10  OWCSSDA13MP1.0 OWCSSDA13MP2.0 OWCSSDA13MP4.0  OWCSSDPHWE2R120 OWCSSDPHWE2R240 OWCSSDPHWE2R480 OWCSSDPHWE2R960 BACKGROUND Please note that when any of the drives listed above are in...

USB-C Dock (HDMI): MacBook & MacBook Pro Sleep Issues

AFFECTED SYSTEMS: MacBook8,1 MacBook9,1 MacBook10,1 MacBookPro13,1 MacBookPro13,2 MacBookPro14,1 MacBookPro14,2 MacBookPro14,3   Some customers may notice when their MacBook or MacBook Pro enters Sleep mode, that the computer loses its connection to ...

Thunderbolt 3 Cables: USB Error Message

When customers plug their Thunderbolt 3 cable (any brand) into a host and device, they may see this error message: "USB Accessories Disabled Unplug the accessory using too much power to re-enable USB devices."   The best resolution is to try another...

macOS (10.13 and later): Unformatted Disks Not Visible

Because of how the Disk Utility is set up in macOS 10.13 and later, by default unformatted drives will not appear in the sidebar list until you choose View > Show All Devices....

Aura Pro X SSDs: 10.13 Requirement

RELEVANT PART NUMBERS: OWCS3DAPB4MB02 OWCS3DAPB4MB05 OWCS3DAPB4MB10 OWCS3DAPB4MB20   OPERATING SYSTEM AND HOST REQUIREMENTS * Please note that the Aura Pro X series of SSDs not only require the use of macOS 10.13 High Sierra (or later) as the in...

Aura SSDs: Firmware Update (beta)

IMPORTANT: * This firmware update process is beta status. Please be aware that no firmware update process is 100% without risk, and that it is important to follow the instructions as they are presented here. If you have questions please contact our awa...

Mercury Accelsior Pro Q: 10.13 Driver Warning

RELEVANT PART NUMBERS: * OWCSSDPHWQ480 * OWCSSDPHWQT1.0 * OWCSSDPHWQT2.0   Occasionally, customers running macOS 10.13 High Sierra may encounter an issue with the Mercury Accelsior Pro Q, where the drive does not appear to mount but is shown in...

NewerTech USB Display Adapters: Driver Notice

LAST UPDATED: November 2, 2020   RELEVANT PART NUMBERS: * NWTVIDU3DVIA * NWTVIDU3MDP AS OF NOVEMBER 2, 2020, if you are using the NewerTech USB 3.0 to DVI Video Adapter [https://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/VIDU3DVIA/] or the NewerTech U...

OWC ThunderBlade: Windows Unmount Behavior

RELEVANT PART NUMBERS: * OWCTB3TBV4T1.0 * OWCTB3TBV4T2.0 * OWCTB3TBV4T4.0 * OWCTB3TBV4T8.0 Please be aware that due to circumstances beyond OWC's control, when the ThunderBlade volume is ejected or unmounted from Windows 10, there can be a subs...

Mercury SSDs (Electra 6G): Synthetic Benchmark Performance

RELEVANT PART NUMBERS: * OWCSSD7E6G060 * OWCSSD7E6G120 * OWCS3D7E6G250 * OWCS3D7E6G500 * OWCS3D7E6GT1.0 * OWCSSD7E6G02S   Occasionally, customers will ask us why they see noticeable drops in write performance when running a data-intensive...

Aura for 2013 Mac Pro: 10.13.4 and Later Install Issue

Last Updated June 27, 2018   RELEVANT PART NUMBERS: * OWCSSDA13MP1.0(K) * OWCSSDA13MP2.0(K) * OWCSSDA13MP4.0(K)   Please note that currently, it is not possible to install macOS 10.13.4 or later onto a new Aura for Mac Pro, using the standa...

OWC Drive Dock (All): Toshiba HDD Sleep Issue

RELEVANT PART NUMBERS: * OWCTB2U3DKR2 * OWCU3DRVDCK2 * OWCTCDRVDCK   Please be aware that if you are booting from certain Toshiba 3.5 inch HDDs you may not be able to use the Mac operating systems' sleep modes as expected. In some cases the sys...

ThunderBay (Thunderbolt 3 Models): Drive Sleep Issue

RELEVANT PART NUMBERS: * OWCTB36LRTxxx * OWCTB36SRTxxx * OWCTB36LRKIT0 * OWCTB36SRKIT0 * OWCTB3SRTxxxx * OWCTB3IVTxxxx * OWCTB3SRKIT0GB * OWCTB3IVKIT0GB   Please note that we have recently verified an issue that may impact your Thunde...

OWC Expansion Docks: Driver Security Warning Mac

RELEVANT PART NUMBERS: OWCTB2DOCK12P OWCTB3DK13PSL OWCTB3DK13PSG OWCTB3DK14PSL OWCTB3DK14PSG  OWCTCDK10PMDSG OWCTCDK10PMDSL OWCTCDK10PMDRG OWCTCDK10PMDGD OWCTCDK10PMHSG OWCTCDK10PMHSL OWCTCDK10PMHRG OWCTCDK10PMHGD OWCTCDOCK11PSG OWCTCDOCK11PSL...

Mac: 10.13 or later - Driver Warning

RELATED ARTICLE: RELEVANT PART NUMBERS: * OWCSSDPHWE2R240 * OWCSSDPHWE2R480 * OWCSSDPHWE2R960 * OWCSSDPHWE2R2UP * NWTADPU3GIGE * NWTMXPCIE6GRS4E * J6GHPCI2E Please note that if you install an OWC-provided driver for the above noted p...

macOS (10.14): Disables AHT, Apple Diagnostics on Select Macs

Current as of April, 2020 AFFECTED MACS (CONFIRMED): * MacBookAir5,1 * Macmini6,2 * MacBookPro9,1 * MacBookPro9,2 * MacBookPro10,1 MAY ALSO BE IMPACTED: * MacBookAir5,2 * Macmini6,1 * MacBookPro10,2 Please be aware that i...

Drive Dock (All): Mac Booting Behavior

PART NUMBERS: * OWCTCDRVDCK (USB-C - 3.1 Gen 2) * OWCTB2U3DKR2 (TB2, USB 3.1 Gen 1) * OWCU3DRVDCKN (USB 3.1 Gen 1 only - Legacy) Please note that depending on the type of Mac you're using, the ability to Option-boot may require a slightly differe...

Mac: 2019 Mac Pro:  Memory Configurations

Relevant Module Types / Base Modules: * 'R DIMMS' * OWC2933D4MP64G * OWC2933D4MP32GB * OWC2933D4MP16GB * OWC2933D4MP8GB * OWC2666D4MPE32G * OWC2666D4MPE8GB * * 'LR DIMMS' * OWC2933D4LR128G * OWC2933D4LR64GB * OWC2666D4LRE64G ...

NVMe SSDs: Standby Mode Issue

DRIVE TYPE: NVMe SSDs running macOS 10.13 or later (as boot volumes) * Aura Pro X * Aura Pro X2 * Aura N * Aura N2 (available Q1 2021) Please note that some customers have reported an issue with our NVMe based SSDs that relates to use of a less...

USB-C, Thunderbolt Explained

The following articles have been posted on the Rocket Yard blog, to help understand the similarities and differences between USB-C and Thunderbolt 3, as well as new Thunderbolt 4 information. * Should You Upgrade to USB-C? [https://blog.macsales.com/5...

OWC Diagnostics: Multi-purpose Windows Utility

As of August 2020, we have expanded our OWC Diagnostics utility. Previously this was available only through our Support Team but going forward will be a publicly available download, as we continue to expand its capabilities. This utility makes it easy t...

RAM (OWC2666DDR4Sxxx): Pairing Modules for 2020 iMacs

Recently we determined that OWC RAM modules that are compatible with the August 2020 iMac (iMac20,1 and iMac 20,2), will report and operate at a lower speed (2133 MHz instead of 2666 MHz) when paired with modules from other manufacturers, including Apple ...

Mac: 2013 Mac CPU Upgrade Installation Video

RELEVANT PART NUMBERS: * OWCDIDMP13X1650 * OWCDIDMP13X1680 * OWCDIDMP13X2690 * OWCDIDMP13X2697 If you plan to purchase and install one of OWC's Intel Xeon CPU upgrades for the 2013 Mac Pro (MacPro6,1) it is very important that you follow the OW...

Envoy Express: SSD Compatibility Notes

RELEVANT PART NUMBER: OWCTB3ENVXP00 For MacSales-purchased enclosures that shipped prior to December 4, 2020, some THIRD PARTY M.2 SSDs may not work properly, even if their specs match the general requirements. Since that time OWC began applying a hardw...

Boot Camp: APFS Conversions

Due to a limitation with Apple's software, if a customer upgrades to macOS 10.13 High Sierra and their system drive is converted from HFS+ or some other format to APFS, afterward they will not be able to create a Boot Camp partition on that drive using th...

iPad Pro (Thunderbolt) & MacBook Pro Mounting Issue

AFFECTED MODEL INFORMATION: * iPad Pro 11” April 2021 (iPad 13,4/ 13,5/ 13,6/ 13,7) * iPad Pro 12.9” April 2021 (iPad 13,8/13,9/13,10/13,11) * MacBook Pro 14” and 16” (MacBookPro 18,1/18,2/18,3/18,4) 2021 Thunderbolt iPad Pros are experienc...

Thunderbolt Daisy Chain

Daisy chaining over Thunderbolt has a six-device maximum per bus. Refer to the manufacture specifications of your host to determine the number of Thunderbolt buses and associated ports.  While Daisy chaining multiple Thunderbolt devices does allow for a...

Power Adapter Troubleshooting

A devices power adapter should be considered for troubleshooting if issues are being experienced. These issues can include, but not limited to, no power to the device or inconsistent recognition of the device by the host. * Troubleshooting expected po...