Harddrive in disk utility, but not showing up on desktop.

Discussion in 'Mac Basics and Help' started by SarahShutze, Feb 8, 2009.

Most Liked Posts
  1. SarahShutze, Feb 8, 2009

    SarahShutze macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2009
    #1
    Hello,

    I'm new to this forum, but need help with my external harddrives (WD Pasport 250GB). I can find it in my disk utility, but not on my desktop. I had WD send me a new drive, but now I do not know how to transfer the info from the old drive. Its not a dead drive- its obviously turned on and connected, but I can't mount it to my desktop. Any advice??

    I have a iBook G4 (if that matters).

    Sarah
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  2. Trip.Tucker, Feb 8, 2009

    Trip.Tucker Guest

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2008
    #2
    Have you setup a partition on the new drive in Drive Utility as well as format it?
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  3. spinnerlys, Feb 8, 2009

    spinnerlys Guest

    spinnerlys

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2008
    Location:
    forlod bygningen
    #3
    Do you mean, you can't mount the drive via the Disk Utility?

    Is it formatted?

    Maybe you can try a PMU reset.
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  4. rdowns, Feb 8, 2009

    rdowns macrumors Penryn

    rdowns

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2003
    #4
    Sounds like the drive needs to be formatted. In Disc Utility, select the drive from the left hand pane and then click the Erase tab. If you are only using the drive with a Mac, select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and it will then format the drive. After that, it should appear on your desktop.
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  5. SarahShutze, Feb 8, 2009

    SarahShutze thread starter macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2009
    #5
    It is formatted for a Mac. It previously showed up, but will not show up now. I don't want to erase it b/c it has all my back-ups. I'm hoping to pull the info off and transfer it to a new drive. Any advice?
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  6. Trip.Tucker, Feb 8, 2009

    Trip.Tucker Guest

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2008
    #6
    You'll need to provide more detail. You said in your original post that WD sent you a replacment drive. That replacement drive would be unformatted. That drive will also need to be partitioned and formatted.

    Where is the original drive? Still in your iBook? Where is the new drive connected? In Disk Util, when you click on the old drive, can you mount it from there?
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Share This Page