External HDD not showing

[colourfastt]

This has been an issue since HS but since I'm running Mojave I decided to post here. My iMac won't show any external HDDs (it would be nice to get access again as my backup is on one of them) BUT thumb drives DO show up when I insert them. Thoughts?

 

[Fishrrman]

I don't want to insult you, but...
Have you done this?
1. click on desktop to bring the finder forward
2. go to finder/preferences/general
3. put a checkmark into "show hard disks"
???

 

[colourfastt]

I don't want to insult you, but...
Have you done this?
1. click on desktop to bring the finder forward
2. go to finder/preferences/general
3. put a checkmark into "show hard disks"
???

Yep; I always show hard disks, external disks, CDs, and connected servers