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Macbook can't mount external HD, help please!

M

momofrenzie

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 29, 2009
8
0
Hi all!

I've tried searching the net and this forum about this. I have a Macbook on OS X and I have a Seagate USB external hard drive which is about less than a year old. It's been working fine all this while until about a week ago when my friend unplugged it without ejecting. Usually when this happens, I'll still be able to see it on my desktop after plugging it in again. But this time it doesn't!

I've reseted my PRAM, shut down my Macbook, unplugged everything and then plugging it again but nothing works. I can hear the HD spinning and the light glows but it just doesn't show up on my desktop.

It shows up on Disk Utility, when I run repairs it just says that it's ok. But when I click the mount button it says to run First Aide when First Aide already says it's verified ok. I tried using Terminal to mount it but it still doesn't work.

I've also tried using my friend's Macbook with my external HD but same results.

Someone please help. I have files in it that I don't want to lose :( Thank you.
 
Will try those 2 out. But how do I get them? Sorry if this question sounds stupid. :(
 
I've installed Techtool. However, my external HD does not appear on it? The only volume that appears under 'Volume' is my 'Macintosh HD'. Does that mean that Techtool has failed to detect my external HD?

Thank you so much for your help!:eek:
 
You have to unmount a drive prior to formatting. There's no problem with formatting a drive that won't mount, so long as it's readable/writeable. A drive that won't unmount presents a challenge, but it's not the issue here.
 
BlueRevolution said:
You have to unmount a drive prior to formatting. There's no problem with formatting a drive that won't mount, so long as it's readable/writeable. A drive that won't unmount presents a challenge, but it's not the issue here.
Click to expand...

Actually in the process of this thread I forgot that Disk Utility recognizes it :( So I am wrong/a moron- your drive probably isn't dead, and reformatting shouldn't be that much of an issue. Data recovery is a different story though.
 
miles01110 said:
Actually in the process of this thread I forgot that Disk Utility recognizes it :( So I am wrong/a moron- your drive probably isn't dead, and reformatting shouldn't be that much of an issue. Data recovery is a different story though.
Click to expand...

BlueRevolution said:
Actually, it probably doesn't. What it may well mean is that the partition has been corrupted. You may have to format it. Do you have anything important on the drive?
Click to expand...

So that means I can't do anything to recover what I have on the drive? I have lots of pictures that I store on the drive that I'll really feel sad to see it go if I have to reformat it.

I've email Seagate about the problem and they've suggested that I mail them my drive to their nearest facility. And they've estimated that it'll cost USD$700 - $1700 for them to recover my files! That is A LOT of money! :(
 
Data recovery is expensive, no matter who you ask. Seagate's price tag sounds about right. You could try buying a recovery app, which are pricey themselves but may help you out.

And next time... backup? ;)
 
BlueRevolution said:
Data recovery is expensive, no matter who you ask. Seagate's price tag sounds about right. You could try buying a recovery app, which are pricey themselves but may help you out.

And next time... backup? ;)
Click to expand...

Ah, I see. That's sad to hear. Is DW a recovery app?
 
Alright, I just got Data Rescue and it's in the process of recovering my stuff. Seems to be working great at the moment! Thanks for all the help!;)
 
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