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View Full Version : External Hard drives not showing on a Mac


twentythreeD
12-04-2012, 08:22
Does anyone know why my external harddrives wont work on my mac computer... they dont even show up?!
bainzy
12-04-2012, 09:48
They should just plug and play through USB, occasionally it happens to me but if you go to finder and check devices you can usually find them, if the problem persists then check your cable or bluetooth connection, or make sure your drivers are up to date by going to the devices website and upgrading, failing that your on your own, thats where you may have to get an expert in...Good luck !
TenerifeTeddy
12-04-2012, 10:45
If your hard drive is formatted with NTFS ( A Windows format) it will not be recognised.

I am not an expert on Macs but I believe they have to be formatted with either FAT32, or MAC OS Standard Format (HFS) or MAC OS Extented Format HFS+ to be read by a Mac. I am quite happy to be corrected on this if I am wrong.
Redevo
15-04-2012, 13:19
Sorry i'm no expert on Mac's either but have a read of link might give a ideahttp://www.mac-forums.com/forums/other-hardware-peripherals/100823-my-external-hard-drive-wont-show-desktop.html
Marc Weinberg
16-04-2012, 22:18
if i am correct a NTFS drive will be read only on a MAC O/S. on this site gives details on how to make the drive viewable on both O/S's.
http://superuser.com/questions/263581/how-to-use-external-hard-disk-in-both-windows-and-mac-os-x
TenerifeTeddy
17-04-2012, 10:57
if i am correct a NTFS drive will be read only on a MAC O/S. on this site gives details on how to make the drive viewable on both O/S's.
http://superuser.com/questions/263581/how-to-use-external-hard-disk-in-both-windows-and-mac-os-x

Sorry Mark, Itīs probably just the way you worded this, but NTFS is the primary Windows format so is definitely readable on all current versions of Windows.

Sorry, I have just re- read your post. English is a funny old language. I took what you were saying as NTFS can only be seen on a MAC OS (only readable on a MAC) not as Read Only (not writeable) :o
Marc Weinberg
20-04-2012, 13:18
Sorry Mark, Itīs probably just the way you worded this, but NTFS is the primary Windows format so is definitely readable on all current versions of Windows.

Sorry, I have just re- read your post. English is a funny old language. I took what you were saying as NTFS can only be seen on a MAC OS (only readable on a MAC) not as Read Only (not writeable) :o
Its OK. I think its more along the lines that my english is not the best in the world anyway. :laugh::laugh::laugh: