I have got a 60GB external HD this week. However, when I connect the HD to my computer( PowerMac G4, AGP Graphic, 400MHz with OS 9.2 and OS X.2), there is not disk image on my desktop. But the Apple System Profiler read the this USB device as USB 2.0 storge device. So what should I do? This is a 2.5" external HD. Is it only can use for notebook?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
USB External HD won't mount on desktop
- Thread starter xiaoxu5101
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
jsw said:
It seems my computer do no support USB 2.0? Is there any way I can do except upgrade my USB to 2.0?
A USB 2.0 drive should still be seen and mount on a PowerBook with only USB 1.0, it'll just be REALLLLLLLY slow. You can add a PCMCIA card (if your powerbook has a slot for that) to get USB 2.0, or you could get a Firewire drive instead, which is probably a better idea since it's built in.
What brand is the drive and what powerbook do you have exactly? I've had problems with an Iomega 80 GB Usb 2.0 external drive not mounting, but only after 8 months of using it. It came formatted as an MS-DOS drive and the Mac saw it fine. It was better to format it to Mac OS Extended drive in Disk Utility to be able to mount it across the network however.
Eventually the drive controller or something went bad on this drive and now it won't mount on anything, USB 2.0 or not.
What brand is the drive and what powerbook do you have exactly? I've had problems with an Iomega 80 GB Usb 2.0 external drive not mounting, but only after 8 months of using it. It came formatted as an MS-DOS drive and the Mac saw it fine. It was better to format it to Mac OS Extended drive in Disk Utility to be able to mount it across the network however.
Eventually the drive controller or something went bad on this drive and now it won't mount on anything, USB 2.0 or not.
My computer is not a powerbook, it is a powermac. I guess the only why to use my hard drive is to upgrade my USB pci card. Can anyone suggest any USB 2.0 PCI Card is good for powerbook AGP G4?
Do someone know that how long does the disk utility take to format a external hard drive?
In the Disk Utility, it says "Unmounting old volume", is this mean the hard drive is being formatting?
Help, please help! Thank you.
In the Disk Utility, it says "Unmounting old volume", is this mean the hard drive is being formatting?
Help, please help! Thank you.
LeeTom
macrumors 68000
Okay, back it up for a second.
1) USB2 is backwards compatible, so your drive will work, but it will be slow
2) The reason its not mounting is you haven't formatted it yet. That message you got is not a message saying that it's formatting. Select the disk in disk utility and choose the Erase button.
3) To get the full speed out of it, you will want to buy a mac-compatible USB2 PCI card. (or return it and buy a firewire drive.)
EDIT: Formatting with USB1 may take a VERY long time.
Lee Tom
1) USB2 is backwards compatible, so your drive will work, but it will be slow
2) The reason its not mounting is you haven't formatted it yet. That message you got is not a message saying that it's formatting. Select the disk in disk utility and choose the Erase button.
3) To get the full speed out of it, you will want to buy a mac-compatible USB2 PCI card. (or return it and buy a firewire drive.)
EDIT: Formatting with USB1 may take a VERY long time.
Lee Tom
2) The reason its not mounting is you haven't formatted it yet. That message you got is not a message saying that it's formatting. Select the disk in disk utility and choose the Erase button. [/QUOTE said: