Finder Crashes When External Hard Drive Attached (see 1390772 also)

Chris Johnson started this thread under a different question and I wanted to make the problem more obvious in the title. Not sure the ettiquete of the board and if I should paste the prior thread into this one.
Here is the link:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1390772&tstart=0
Thanks!
B

hi RSB--
i would try a few things for this. go to utilities > disk utility and then select the macintosh hd. click on "repair disk permissions". also i would boot to the install disk for your current operating system and run disk repair. http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214. another thing to try is to select any of the drives (just highlight, don't double click) and then press the apple and the i keys on the keyboard to bring up an information window. at the bottom portion of the window you will find your read/write/execute privileges. try to make sure everything is owned by you if possible and that you have full privileges. you may have to unlock the window to make changes. let me know if any of that helps the situation. [ 8 ) ]

Similar Messages

Finder crashes when accessing hard drive

Everything was working fine until I installed Font Doctor and started using it to examine my fonts. It would crashed when I hit this one folder. I tried it again and identified the exact font folder that was causing the problem (or so I thought). I restarted the computer and decided to get rid of that font folder, but all my fonts are on my main hard drive, and everytime I click on the hard drive the finder crashes and comes up with a default window, so I can't access it. I can access files/programs through applications or user, and I can access specific files on the main hard drive through the programs but can't get into the hard drive directory.
I did a search on this site and found this link:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=964617&tstart=90
I thought it was the answer, especially since I had an old version of Stuffit on my system so I deleted Stuffit using the link enclosed. But when I did a search afterwards (after emptying the trash and restarting) it still showed stuffit things on my hard drive, not in the user or library folders which I can access, but on my main hard drive which I can't access.
I looked at the code and it showed some of the same things that the previous poster mentioned.
Here is some of the latest code after I restarted yet again:
Mac OS X Version 10.4.10 (Build 8R2232)
2007-07-24 18:31:50 -0700
dyld: Library not loaded: @executable_path/../Frameworks/StuffIt.framework/Versions/A/StuffIt
Referenced from: /Library/PreferencePanes/StuffIt AVR.prefPane/Contents/Resources/StuffItAVRDaemon.app/Contents/MacOS/StuffItAVRD aemon
Reason: image not found
2007-07-24 18:31:52.143 UniversalAccess[216] * -[NSBundle load]: Error loading code /Library/InputManagers/MagicMenuEnabler/MagicMenuEnabler.bundle/Contents/MacOS/ MagicMenuEnabler for bundle /Library/InputManagers/MagicMenuEnabler/MagicMenuEnabler.bundle, error code 2 (link edit error code 0, error number 0 ())
2007-07-24 18:31:52.492 SystemUIServer[203] lang is:en
2007-07-24 18:31:55.902 iCalAlarmScheduler[219] * -[NSBundle load]: Error loading code /Library/InputManagers/MagicMenuEnabler/MagicMenuEnabler.bundle/Contents/MacOS/ MagicMenuEnabler for bundle /Library/InputManagers/MagicMenuEnabler/MagicMenuEnabler.bundle, error code 2 (link edit error code 0, error number 0 ())
terminate called after throwing an instance of 'IAException'
terminate called after throwing an instance of 'IAException'
terminate called after throwing an instance of 'IAException'
2007-07-24 18:33:29.150 Safari[226] * -[NSBundle load]: Error loading code /Library/InputManagers/MagicMenuEnabler/MagicMenuEnabler.bundle/Contents/MacOS/ MagicMenuEnabler for bundle /Library/InputManagers/MagicMenuEnabler/MagicMenuEnabler.bundle, error code 2 (link edit error code 0, error number 0 ())
2007-07-24 18:34:32.556 Mail[228] * -[NSBundle load]: Error loading code /Library/InputManagers/MagicMenuEnabler/MagicMenuEnabler.bundle/Contents/MacOS/ MagicMenuEnabler for bundle /Library/InputManagers/MagicMenuEnabler/MagicMenuEnabler.bundle, error code 2 (link edit error code 0, error number 0 ())
2007-07-24 19:05:57.994 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:57.998 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:57.999 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.000 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.001 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.001 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.002 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.003 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.004 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.005 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.006 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.006 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.007 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.008 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.009 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.010 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.011 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.011 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.012 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.013 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.014 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.015 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.015 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.016 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.017 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:05:58.018 SyndicationAgent[276] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: 'Tue 24 Jul 2007 17:35:46 -800'
2007-07-24 19:07:55.169 Console[281] * -[NSBundle load]: Error loading code /Library/InputManagers/MagicMenuEnabler/MagicMenuEnabler.bundle/Contents/MacOS/ MagicMenuEnabler for bundle /Library/InputManagers/MagicMenuEnabler/MagicMenuEnabler.bundle, error code 2 (link edit error code 0, error number 0 ())
Any ideas?
Thanks so much!

Hi Barry,
Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately I did buy diskwarrior on my way home, ran it a few times. No success. It did identify problems it couldn't fix with a lot of the files that were in my suspect folder (a font folder) but since I can't access the files directly on my hard drive I can't get rid of them.
I did follow your suggestion, but all that it did that I can see was scatter my folders on the desktop.
Yet, while typing this, I just found a creative way to solve the problem!!! I was able to access the font folder in Bridge even though I couldn't access it otherwise. I deleted it in bridge and now things are working as normal!!! Thank God for Bridge. Amazing. Especially since that font folder has been on this machine for months, and the previous machine for years without ever causing a problem...

G5 crashes when External Hard drive is mounted

Hi, I hope somebody can help me. I have a 500G lacie portable external HD that I use to back up my files regularly. It worked until today, I plug it in, I was able to save some files, and then the computer shut down. I restarted it and it did the same thing. Black screen. nothing. I have another External HD with its own power supply connected to the same computer and that one works. I tried plugging the Portable HD to the back of the one with Power supply and it shut down as well. Then I plugged it in the back of my 19" LCD, same thing. So I though that the portable HD was bad, I went and bought another drive, a verbatim, and same thing happen. I then plugged my lacie drive to another computer, a G4, and it works which leads me to think that the problem is in the G5, any suggestions would be appreciated.
< Edited by Host >

I would stay away from LaCie. And their units can damage FW ports, or require what they call "resetting FW ports." To me it sounds like LaCie is shorting out.
Power adapters are also an issue.
Unplug Mac and all cables and power off for a few minutes is support to reset the ports, though in 6 yrs of using OWC Mercury cases I've never once run into trouble.
And consider adding native SATA - case, controller - though not as portable.

How do I access an external hard drive attached to an Airport Extreme using the Finder's "Go to the folder" feature?

How do I access an external hard drive attached to an Airport Extreme using the Finder's "Go to the folder" feature?
I have an external hard drive attached to my Airport Extreme and I can access it just fine through Finder. I would like to be able to keyboard navigate to it in an efficient manner. I tried to use the "Go to the folder" feature but was unable to.
I had tried dragging the drive to the Network folder but the shortcut it created does not lead to the drive's contents...it seems to lead right back to the parent directory:
I hope I explained the question well. Thank you for all of your help and time in tending to my inquiry.

Cant you set up "back to my mac" then go to finder preferences and put a check mark under everything under the shared location. Also set up back to my mac on your airport extreme.

I have a tesco router and an external hard drive attached to it as a network drive (shared) for my macbook and MB-Air. Have no problems with my MB accessing it, but with MB-AIR it says - 'the version of the server you are trying to connect to is not supp

I have a tesco router and an external hard drive attached to it as a network drive (shared) for my macbook and MB-Air. Have no problems with my MB accessing it, but with MB-AIR it says - 'the version of the server you are trying to connect to is not supported. pls contact your system administrator to resolve the problem'. MB-Air uses maverick downloaded yesterday - upgrade from mountain lion. MB uses snow leopard still, as i am quite used to it and am thinking of upgrade if mavericks work fine on air. Also have parallel on snow leopard but it is no longer supported according to mac website - if i upgrade am i going to lose my parallel and will have to buy a new one!!!

Yes, the Old Master file has a folder for each year where I find all photos from that specific year. I am attaching a screen shot of the file.
In the meantime i have managed to download all photos (it did not download any video files though in mpg, avi, 3gp, m4v,mp4 and mov format) to a new iphoto library. Unfortunately the photos are quite mixed and often doubled up. I ma considering to purchase iphoto library which checks all duplicates in iphoto. this will save me a lot of time. What do you think?

Why can't I drag my files in finder to an external hard drive?

I'm trying to drag my files from finder to an external hard drive--I just get the universal "do not" symbol. How do I do this?

1.youd need a program like PARAGON to write to a NTFS drive from your Mac.
2. IF you can offload that data onto your PC or other computer, THEN format same in Mac OSX extended journaled, you can just drag and drop files to it.
3. To show the HD on desktop go to Finder > preferences > General > check on "external disks" and "hard disks"
4. The "EASY" option really is to get another HD for use with your Mac, unless of course you need specific files off that drive ON your Mac.
$70 for a good cheap quality 1TB external USB HD.
5. FAT32 and (better option>) EXFAT can read/write to BOTH Mac and PC (however time machine will not use either)
6. See mac format below, HFS+ i.e. "mac osx extended journaled"
FORMAT TYPES
FAT32 (File Allocation Table)
Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
Maximum file size: 4GB.
Maximum volume size: 2TB
You can use this format if you share the drive between Mac OS X and Windows computers and have no files larger than 4GB.
NTFS (Windows NT File System)
Read/Write NTFS from native Windows.
Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X
To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X, here are some alternatives:
For Mac OS X 10.4 or later (32 or 64-bit), install Paragon (approx $20) (Best Choice for Lion)
Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and Lion, but is not advisable, due to instability.
AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS
Maximum file size: 16 TB
Maximum volume size: 256TB
You can use this format if you routinely share a drive with multiple Windows systems.
HFS+ ((((MAC FORMAT)))) (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Don't use case-sensitive)
Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X
Required for Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper! backups of Mac internal hard drive.
To Read HFS+ (but not Write) from Windows, Install HFSExplorer
Maximum file size: 8EiB
Maximum volume size: 8EiB
You can use this format if you only use the drive with Mac OS X, or use it for backups of your Mac OS X internal drive, or if you only share it with one Windows PC (with MacDrive installed on the PC)
EXFAT (FAT64)
Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
Not all Windows versions support exFAT.
exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support exFAT
Maximum file size: 16 EiB
Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB
You can use this format if it is supported by all computers with which you intend to share the drive. See "disadvantages" for details.

IPhoto on External Hard Drive Attached to Time Capsule

Hi,
I can't seem to find the answer to this question on any of the forums.
I currently have a Mac Mini, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. I have two iPhoto libraries, one on my MacBook Pro and one on my Mac Mini. I use the Pro as my primary library for editing the photo's and then using a USB stick transfer the photo's to my Mac Mini which is attached to my television as I use it as a media centre.
What I want to do is have just the one library which can be displayed on my Mac Mini and editied using my two laptops.
I am thinking of using an External Hard Drive attached to my Time Capsule and then use this to store one iPhoto library that I can access on the network on all three of my computers.
Is this possible to do?

I read your question a while ago and since nobody has jumped in .. let me have a go..
Yes, I should say it is possible to have your iphoto library on the TC.
It is older post but still should work.
http://gigaom.com/apple/using-time-capsule-as-a-media-drive/
Second point... don't do it.
Here is why..
1. Extremely slow. http://www.anandtech.com/show/4577/airport-extreme-5th-gen-and-time-capsule-4th- gen-review-faster-wifi-/7
Much worse than the internal drive.
2. More importantly .. there is zero backup. If you do want to backup, you have to drag the files off the USB disk, across the network and back onto a drive connected to your computer.. Net gain.. zero.. you still have to have a disk connected to a computer.
Use the Mac Mini, a drive connected by firewire is hugely faster. Even usb drive direct from the computer over the network is faster.
And you can set it to backup via Time Machine. Remember all files on single hard disk will one day be lost.. get ready for that day.

Can time capsule back up an external hard drive attached to my imac and the iMac internal Harddrive

Can time capsule back up an external hard drive attached to my imac and the iMac internal Harddrive

In addition to Kappy's comments, the external drive must be formatted in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) in order for Time Machine to be able to back it up.

Format for external hard drive attached to Time Capsule

What format should I used for an external hard drive attached to my Time Capsule that will allow both my Mac and PCs to read and write to it?

It should be HFS+.. it may work with fat32 but that is a lousy format.
The actual format of the drive is irrelevant to the PC.. the TC offers SMB connection.. so it is a true file sharing device.. the format used to store the files cannot be directly read by windows but is "interpreted, translated" via the firmware of the TC.
BTW this is true of all network storage.. A NAS can store files in whatever format its OS requires.. freebsd like freenas might use XFS.. or linux use EXT2 or REISFS.. it makes no difference as long as it offers that store to the windows (and apple) network as SMB.. then windows can handle it.

Boot Camp: Windows stuck on startup when external hard drive is attached

Hi all,
I have Windows XP installed with Boot Camp. All was working fine (even though I installed Service Pack 3 and THEN the Boot Camp update), but today I received an external hard drive I ordered for use with Time Machine. It's a Western Digital My Book (500GB) connected via Firewire 800. This was working fine in Leopard (of course) but when I restart and go into Windows, the startup process freezes at the Windows XP logo (the animation continues though).
I've spend hours scouring the internet and I understand that the external drive is being mistaken for the boot drive, and Windows being WIndows doesn't think to try my internal hard drive after the external clearly has no boot information on it! I don't appear to be able to change the boot order in BIOS as that apparently isn't available.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I'm just trying to avoid unplugging the hard drive on every restart into Windows.
Thanks in advance!
Ed

happens to my firewire 400 drives too (although it didnt used to until SP3 upgrade...). My 2 cents: the fix is not worth it; just unplug it during startup of windows and plug in when it's booted.

Cannot Find Photos on External Hard Drive Using iPhoto and Time Machine

Hi everyone,
This is my first time posting on this forum and am really hoping for some help! I have a 2006 PowerBook G4 that is running iPhoto and Time Machine, and I've used an external hard drive to backup everything on the computer via Time Machine. When I plug the external hard drive into my newer 2010 MacBook Pro, I follow this path to try to access the photos:
     External Hard Drive > Backups.backupd > PowerBook G4 12" > Latest > Macintosh HD > Users > Me > Pictures > iPhoto Library
When I click "iPhoto Library", I get the following message:
     "The iPhoto Library is a Time Machine backup, and so cannot be used as the main library. Relaunch iPhoto with <option> key held down to choose another   library."
So, I do as the error message says and I hold down the "option" key and iPhoto launches and says:
     What Photo Library do you want iPhoto to use?
In this case, I choose "Other Library..." and again follow this path:
     External Hard Drive > Backups.backupd > PowerBook G4 12" > Latest > Macintosh HD > Users > Me > Pictures > iPhoto Library
When I choose this, I again get the following message:
     The iPhoto Library is a Time Machine backup, and so cannot be used as the main library. Relaunch iPhoto with <option> key held down to choose another   library.
So as you can see, I'm feeling a bit like I'm chasing my tail in trying to open these photos. I did follow another user's advice and confirm that all photos are infact on the hard drive by using the "control" button and clicking "iPhoto Library" under the pictures folder, and choosing "Show Package Contents". All looks to be in tact in the "originals" folder when showing package contents, however, I just can't find a way to actually view the photos in iPhoto. I really don't want to import all the photos to my current MacBook Pro, because I'd like them to live on the external hard drive (which is formatted for Macs) so that I can browse the photos on the external drive, rather than housing it on my computer.
One other thing I tried was opening iPhoto on my MacBook Pro and going to File > Browse Backups... which essentially opens Time Machine and shows me the photos on my MacBook Pro but gives me no option to view them from my External Hard Drive.
Any super users out there willing to lend me some help?
Thanks!

The iPhoto Library is a Time Machine backup, and so cannot be used as the main library. Relaunch iPhoto with <option> key held down to choose another   library.
You can have an iPhoto library on an external drive and use it from different machines
and you can have a Time Machine backup
The two can not be on the same volume - and iPhoto can not access the TM backup - it must be restored to use it
LN

Time machine, finder save to external hard drive problems

I have a new 2.26 GHz mini and I wanted to get bootcamp going and install windows xp. The instructions suggested to backup the hard drive and I thought this is a great time to try the time machine. I plugged in a external hard drive, opened time machine (Time machine said it needed 29 GB for full backup and the drive had 32 GB free), selected the drive, and let the "backup count down(I think it was a minute and a half)" run down to zero. Time machine started backing up the my main drive to the external drive no problem. It was running good (100MB in 5-10 seconds) for a little while when I noticed that it had reached 2.3 GB and was not going any higher. I let it stay like that for about 5 minutes thinking that maybe it would start going again. No luck. I shut down time machine and saw a finder window with the progress bar behind it saying 2.3 GB. I push the stop button and it said stopping, but it would not stop and disappear like it should. I relaunch the finder and the icons on the desktop disappeared and would not come back. I relaunched repeatedly but they would not come back. Since the bar at the top of the screen would not come back I had to hold in the power button to shut down the computer.
Upon restart everything seemed to work fine until I tried time machine again and it would not work. So I tried to manually backup the files to the external drive. When I copied some files the little finder window popped up and said, zero KB of 290 MB, and would not change. I left it running while opened a browser and did a search for an answer to my problems. After about a half an hour I went back and saw that some files had been transferred. When I looked in the Activity monitor, I saw it was saving the files very slowly. I went to the finder progress bar and when I hit the stop button, it would say stopping but it wouldn't. I would have to relaunch the finder to make it stop. Then I tried to copy the files to a shared drive on my network and the same thing happens.
Before using the time machine both these drives worked no problems. I went to the shared drive computer and used that machine to copy the files from the mini. All files transferred no problems. So now I'm trying to find out what is wrong with my mini. It seems that it has to do with the finder since it effects both the usb and ethernet hard drives. All other functions work as they should. I don't know if anyone has had this problem after using time machine but any help would be appreciated.
Also I tried deleting my com.apple.finder.plist and relaunch the finder. No change.
Scott

Batlo wrote:
(Time machine said it needed 29 GB for full backup and the drive had 32 GB free)
That's much too small for your backups. Time Machine usually needs 2-3 times the space of the data it's backing-up (see #1 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip,* also at the top of this forum).
I noticed that it had reached 2.3 GB and was not going any higher. I let it stay like that for about 5 minutes thinking that maybe it would start going again. No luck. I shut down time machine and saw a finder window with the progress bar behind it saying 2.3 GB.
That sounds like the drive is not formatted properly. See #C1 in the Start with the Time Machine - Troubleshooting *User Tip,* also at the top of this forum.
The other problems may have the same cause.
Most likely, it's set up for Windoze and not suitable for Time Machine. With only 32 GB free, you must have other data on the drive, so you probably can't erase it and reformat it for Time Machine.
Report back with your findings for the *Partition Map Scheme* and Format of the drive (per #C1), and we can figure out what to do next.

I cannot find my WD external hard drive. It has worked perfectly until today. I checked the cords but still no luck. Help!

I have a WD external hard drive that I have used for some time with no problems. There is plenty of space left on it. It is dividied in two with Time Machine and a personal section. I backed it up yesterday after adding to it. Today, when I plugged it into my computer, it is not listed as one of my devices and does not appear on my Desktop as usual. The USB cord is firmly attached and lights up the drive box but I even changed to a new cord and it still does not work. What can I do? I am working on a project and need those files to continue!!!!

likely a dead SATA bridge card, very common
verify on another Mac however
Never again be in a position of a single backup of vital data. Ever.
see about your likely fault here:
Your dead external hard drive is likely fine! Great hope for your 'faulty' external HD

Searching external hard drive attached to Time Capsule

I have a 1 TB Time Capsule which I use for backing up my 2011 MacBook Pro and for providing my WiFi. I also have a 1 TB external hard drive plugged into my Time Capsule which I can access via WiFi. I can go to Finder on my laptop and browse the folders/files on my external hard drive. It appears under Shared in the sidebar of the Finder window. I can open files from it and I can save files to the drive, so it appears to be working fine. I have hundreds of gigs of files on the drive. But when I was recently hunting for a specific file, I noticed that my Spotlight wasn't doing a very good job at finding files on my external hard drive. I tried many different searches - by name, by type, by date - and had no luck. But as I was searching, I realized that I had more files of certain file types than Spotlight was showing me. So I tried searching for files I first confirmed were actually on the external drive. And again Spotlight failed to find them. If I used a partial filename search, it would find some files that matched but not the ones I was looking for.
So, this led me to think the index is corrupt. I'm not sure if this problem is related to my recently upgrading to Lion or not, since I haven't had to search the drive in awhile. I tried to force Spotlight to recreate the index on the drive by using the Privacy panel trick (of the Spotlight Preferences) but that didn't work. I then tried to get Spotlight to recreate its entire index and I think all that did was recreate the index for my internal harddrive.
So, are there things I need to know about attaching an external hard drive to a Time Capsule that I perhaps forgot to do? Should I be able to search the drive with Spotlight? Do I have to somehow force Spotlight to look in external drive when doing a search or is it supposed to search everything it can?
I should mention I have been having a little trouble with my Time Capsule as well. I recently had to erase the drive and set up a whole new backup since the backup was failing - not sure what happened to it, but it seems to be working again now. But I did notice yesterday that my Time Machine hadn't backed up all day but it was not giving me a warning message. It was just sitting there not backing up. I had tried resetting my PRAM and after doing so, my Time Machine was back to backing up. I'm not sure if the PRAM reset helped with that or if it was just the restart of the laptiop.
One more thing - I feel like since upgrading to Lion I have had to restart my laptop more than ever. Things just start acting funny, especially when I am using Safari and I find myself resetting Safari and then restarting my laptop all the time. Odd.

It should be HFS+.. it may work with fat32 but that is a lousy format.
The actual format of the drive is irrelevant to the PC.. the TC offers SMB connection.. so it is a true file sharing device.. the format used to store the files cannot be directly read by windows but is "interpreted, translated" via the firmware of the TC.
BTW this is true of all network storage.. A NAS can store files in whatever format its OS requires.. freebsd like freenas might use XFS.. or linux use EXT2 or REISFS.. it makes no difference as long as it offers that store to the windows (and apple) network as SMB.. then windows can handle it.

Won't boot up with external hard drive attached

Pavillion HPE h8-1360t, AMI 7.15 Bios, Windows 7 Home Premium x64 bit, consistently fails to boot with external USB hard drive attached (WD 500GB MyBook) attached. Have tried disabling the device in BIOS, htting f10 to apply the change and then selecting "save changes and exit", but after shutdown/powerup the BIOS returns to the old setting. Read the posting that states a BIOS upgrade will solve the problem but Support web page shows no BIOS update available. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

2Suntech,
Open up command prompt and run the following command SFC /scannow.
This will scan the system files and correct any errors that it can.
Here is a link to command prompt.
When you go to open command prompt, right click and run as administrator.
If it has not been to long since the problem started, you can run a system restore.
This will take the system back to when everything was working correctly without affecting your personal files.
Here is a link on how to do a restore.
Let me know how everything goes.

Finder Crashes When External Hard Drive Attached (see 1390772 also)

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for