External Seagate 2TB Drive Not Showing

[Christopher11]

I have a 2 TB Seagate USB external drive. It's worked like a champ for years. Unfortunately for the first time ever, i plugged it into my MB Pro today and though the light comes on and I can hear it spinning, it won't show up. I tried launching Disk Utility but it doesn't show up there either.

Is there another method I can use to see this drive if it's still possible? Or another application? Thank you for any suggestions.

 

[Fishrrman]

It helps when you tell us WHICH MBP you have, and what version of the OS.

This may sound funny, but...
Do have an OLD USB1/USB2 connecting cable around?
If so, have you tried connecting the drive with it?
Try it ... and let us know.

 

[Rainman1915]

Check the format of your hard drive.

 

[Christopher11]

It helps when you tell us WHICH MBP you have, and what version of the OS.

This may sound funny, but...
Do have an OLD USB1/USB2 connecting cable around?
If so, have you tried connecting the drive with it?
Try it ... and let us know.

Thank you for responding. It's a 2015 MB Pro 15 2.8 GHz Intel core i7. I'm running Mojave 10.14.6

I'm still using the old cable that came with the drive. is that old enough? I have an identical drive at the house I'm going to tonight; good idea to try that cable.

 

[Christopher11]

I tried the alternate cable. Still didn't work. However, the identical 2TB Seagate drive works perfectly, with both cables. So I guess this one is going to be hard to save.

 

[justashooter]

It is possible the enclosure has failed, even if the drive spins up. I would try the drive in a different enclosure or with a drive adapter cable such as this:

USB 3.0 to SATA, IDE Hard Drive | Eaton

Connects a 2.5, 3.5 or 5.25 in. SATA or IDE hard drive to your laptop or computer’s USB port for extra storage, quick disk formatting & fast data transfer.

www.tripplite.com

 

[Fishrrman]

Is the drive "open-able"?
Many "store-bought" drives are not -- at least you can't open them without breaking the case.

Even if you do get it open, SOME Seagate and WD store-bought drives may not have standard drive connections inside, making it difficult or impossible to use the "core drive" with a dock, another enclosure, etc.

Can you try the problem drive on a DIFFERENT Mac?
What happens?

 

[Christopher11]

Is the drive "open-able"?
Many "store-bought" drives are not -- at least you can't open them without breaking the case.

Even if you do get it open, SOME Seagate and WD store-bought drives may not have standard drive connections inside, making it difficult or impossible to use the "core drive" with a dock, another enclosure, etc.

Can you try the problem drive on a DIFFERENT Mac?
What happens?

It's a great idea!, trying it on a different Mac. I can do that this weekend. Thank you. By the way, Fishrrman, how do you like the WD Passport 2? I was thinking of quickly picking up a refurbished one to replace this.

I still have other external HD's of course, but I like to have double or triple redundancy for my projects.

 

[Fishrrman]

I wouldn't buy a Seagate or WD drive.
(I do have some that were given to me).

 

[MarkC426]

I wouldn't buy a Seagate or WD drive.
(I do have some that were given to me).

Any particular reason why not, or just personal preference......?
My original MacPro HDD was WD, and I bought another one way back.
My current iTunes drive is Seagate Barracuda.

Never had any issues, but these are all internal drives....