Mac desktops forum: Can't find My External Hard Drive

Hi,
I have a similar problem.
I run a MacBook Pro Mac OS X 10.6.8 v1.1
Seagate 500Gb External HD partitioned 1/2 Time Machine, 1/2 important data.
I plugged it into my new TV and now I can't see the data part on my laptop anymore...only the time machine part shows up on the desktop.
Tried the reboot option as per suggestions here...
I have run Disk Utility and it says the disk needs repairing (only the data part - time machine tests ok)
What options do I have left and have I lost this data forever?

Cheers.

Are both partitions formatted as OS X Extended (Journaled)?

If so, then when you plugged it into your TV, for whatever reason, the important data partition got corrupted.

If Disk Utility says that the disk needs repair, go ahead and do it. You can only lose what you didn't back up and, given that this is important data, you must have either a backup or the original data somewhere.

You may just have a defective index on that partition which you may be able to fix, if Disk Utility can't, with a piece of software called Disk Warrior. It is not free.

Hopefully you are not going to tell us that even though you use Time Machine to backup your MacBook Pro, the data on the important data partition was never included in the Time Machine backup.

Oh yes, what was the purpose of connecting the HD to the TV?

Let us know how you get on


P

Thanks for the quick feedback...much appreciated.

In answer to your questions:

Are both partitions formatted as OS X Extended (Journaled)? Yes.

Hopefully you are not going to tell us that even though you use Time
Machine to backup your MacBook Pro, the data on the important data
partition was never included in the Time Machine backup. *cough* Erm...well...it's like this...I just got into the habit of storing stuff on the HD...without backup. My bad.

Oh yes, what was the purpose of connecting the HD to the TV? I've become addicted to "The Walking Dead". Season 2 was stored on my HD. Seemed like a good idea at the time...

Thanks very much and I'll get back to you after I've tried to repair it.

Cheers,

D.

Interestingly, the data part of the partitioned drive is now MS-DOS (FAT) instead of OS X Extended.

Does this make a difference to my options?

Utilities > Disk Utility can't fix it. Says to back up (sigh) and restore.

I don't care about the cost of Disk Warrior, but would it help in this situation?

Thanks again.

(I should point out that the data part has lots of work stuff that I need...not just B-grade American horror series )

Hi all,
I have a similar problem.
I am a new Mac user.
I have an Imation Apollo external hard drive that I have been using as a backup and I would like to transfer files from it onto my new MacBook Pro.
The external HD works fine in my Toshiba laptop but won't show up on my Mac at all.
I can't find it in the finder or the disk utility.
Any ideas why not?
Do I need to format the disk for Mac?
Thanks for your help in advance.

Here is a suggestion.
COPY all the files that are on that drive into a new folder on the Toshiba laptop. (Using Copy here to avoid any possible problems)
Once all have been transferred, use the Toshiba to format the drive as FAT32. This will remove all data from the drive. This includes any proprietary software that may have come with it.
Once formatted, connect it to the Mac and see if it appears on the Desktop. If it does, disconnect and go back to the Toshiba.
Copy all the files that you want to transfer to the Mac, back onto the drive.
Connect the drive to the Mac and copy the files off the drive onto the Mac.

If you intend on using that drive exclusively on the Mac, then have Disk Utility format the drive as Mac OS X Extended(journaled).

P

Thanks for your help.
I will try this and get back to you.

re. my double post - I was not looking for a faster answer. I am new to this forum and posted in this thread. Later I was not sure if this was the right place for my question as I realized this was the desktop forum.
I also had trouble finding my original post as I hadn't subscribed to this thread. I have done so now.
It was an honest mistake. I am not a regular forum user and apologize if I have offended anyone.

Something else you might want to check before you go formatting.

Click on an empty space on your desktop so that the word next to the Apple, at the top left of the screen, says Finder.
Click on the word Finder and select Preferences.
Under General, make sure that there is a check mark next to External Disks.
Under Sidebar, repeat the above.

P

Hi.
Problem solved,
I threw away the Imation and bought a Western Digital.
All good now.
Thanks for your help.

I have a similar problem. Finder can see and open my 4GB external disc, but Mail doesn't see it when I want to attach a file. I have to copy that file to eg desktop and then attach in to the email. Disc utility doesn't see the external disc although I can open its files with finder.

quite well.
Could it be that you are not pointing Mail to the correct location when you try to attach a file to your email.

The attach function relies on the user to navigate to the location of the file by means of the standard navigation dialog box.

What, exactly, do you do when you try to attach a file?

P

Hi there i have a issue with my hard drive.... It wont appear on the desktop but it is in disk utility If ido what you suggested above will i still keep my data just have all my photos on this drive

look forward to your answer

Peadair

do only the following.

With the drive connected, turn off the drive, wait for 5 seconds or so and then turn it back on again.

It should appear on the desktop.

If it doesn't;
Does the drive make any noise?
Can you hear the disk start to spin up?
Is there a rhythmic clicking?

P

Hi!

My Powerbook G4 (Mac OS X 10.5.8) can't see portable USB HDD (formatted in NTFS) ADATA Superior SH93 (500 GB). Although it's visible on PC (Windows Vista) and another Mac (Intel iMac). What's the problem?

However, when the USB HDD is plugged to Mac, it's powered by the Mac, blue light (signal light) is switched on, and the HDD's constantly rhythmically clicking.

I tried different kinds of Paragons, but nothing helped.

Can anyone help me with this problem?

ps I can't format this disc now (to Fat32 for e.g.), cos there are a lot of needful data for me.

Clicking usually means that it doesn't have enough power.
Using an Y-data cable (two USB-ends) might help, And/or a powered hub between the Powerbook and the disk.

Kees

Hi!

Thanks for your reply!

Sorry for some silly questions, but what does it mean - Y-data cable (2 USB-ends)?

Can you please clear up about powered hub?

Where can I find and what does it look like?

Thanks in advance!

http://www.google.com/search?q=usb+y-cable
http://www.google.com/search?q=usb+powered+hub

Gives examples, pictures and shops. But if you just visit your local computer shop and tell about the problem and what you have been told about a possible solution they will know also.
If you take your laptop with you, they can try if it works before you buy it.

Kees

Thnx you helped me a lot !

Hey !

I have a 500gb freeagent go. i was setting up time machine on it for the first time and before it cud back up al the data it got ejected and now when i try to connect it , the HD keeps blinking and doesn't get detected on my macbook pro.
Please help me solve this problem . I have very important data on it. If its not possible anymore then can you tell me how to recover data from it ?

http://forums.cnet.com/7723-7588_102-354911/lost-and-found-or-the-storage-forum-sticky/?tag=contentBody;threadListing

That covers the usual titles and recovery houses but if this sounds like a painful way to learn this lesson about using these to store your only copy.

-> The blinking sounds like a power issue. If this is USB powered, be sure to use the supplied cable and another Y cable where they pick up power from 2 USB ports.
Bob

Hey !

Thanks for the reply. I have tried using Y cable but still keeps on blinking. Any idea what cud be the problem and what can i do to get my HD detected in disk utility?

But all I know is what is presented here. At this point I'd have to try the drive in a new enclosure or in a desktop so I know there is no power issue.

Some owners will not try a new enclosure and end up sending such to places (this is a fine one) http://www.drivesavers.com
Bob

Hi, I have a new MacBook Pro 13'

My Toshiba HD appears on Disk Utility, but not on Finder. I try doing what you suggested above, but nothing worked. The Drive is formated as OS X Extended (Journaled) and was used before on my boss's Mac. I'm working from home and I can't access my HD. BTW, I can't turn off my USB drive
When I connect the drive, its light turns on and sounds like processing, like running, but I still can't see it on Finder.
Any idea?
Thank you

If it still is formatted, you should be able to see it. The most likely cause that you don't see it is that it isn't formatted any more. Such things to happen.

I'd first try it on your boss's Mac. That will probably show it needs reformatting (and possibly repartioning).

Kees

I have absolutely the same problem, HDD shown in diskutility but does not appear in finder. If I repartion it will I lose my data? I have lots of data I don't want to lose