Computer cannot see hard disk -- Brain teaser

Okay, long story short, I use bootcamp 1.3 (I believe 2.1 is for Leopard only, as it is listed in the requirements of the Apple downloads website), to partition the drive and install Windows.
My first disk was the stock SeaGate 120 GB that came with my MacBook running OS X 10.4.9 (updated to 10.4.11 through Software Update) and Windows SP3. I ran into a problem where the disk could not be recognized, even after a Hardware Test proved "no troubles", though a System Profiler scan of the SATA drive showed "errors on scan" so it could not profile it. Took the MacBook to an Apple repair service, they found the Hard Disk corrupted and could not access it either through their own computers after it was taken out. So I bought another disk as a replacement...
500 GB Western Digital, installed it, and erased and installed OSX. Updated it to the later 10.4.11 with all security updates. Then again, BootCamp 1.3, installed Windows Home SP2. Installed Mac/Window drivers, and then started to update Windows to SP3, and things seemed okay but only for another 10 minutes while it was "downloading" the update during the installation process, then Windows bailed out. I booted into OSX, was running slower than usual, then jammed and rebooted, folder with a question mark. Couldn't find hard disk. Couldn't even erase and install as it did not give any options for a hard disk to install in. Same when booting into Windows disk, could not find a hard disk to format or install into. Hardware test same as last time: no troubles, can't scan SATA. I actually managed to take the disk and the receipt to the store, who couldn't get the disk accessed, and they gave me another as replacement on the basis that it was at fault.
Now, I erased and installed OS X 10.4.9, it's working great. Haven't downloaded any updates yet, nor have I downloaded BootCamp, for fear of running into the same situation a third time. Using it right now to type this out for any thoughts from interested parties...
Think it's the OS X updates, or the Windows SP3 download, or what? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, I unfortunately need to access Windows this month for a portfolio submission, and all of my expensive programs had been bought for Windows until I got this MacBook in '07.

When was the BootCamp beta set to expire?
Depending on the version and time-line, some early
BootCamp users had some issue with it and there
was some discussion. Maybe you should look into
this item separate of the OS X 10.4.x install & up-
date issue. BootCamp's created installer disc and
the need for it to partition the hard drive in order to
install Windows on its own drive space, add up to
a source of trouble; especially if BootCamp is the
cause behind the OS X problems.
If these are somehow connected, the BootCamp
issue may be better addressed in that specific
forum Discussion; or it already was discussed there.
Have you over-written the entire drive using Disk
Utility (zero it out) then reformat, and start afresh?
What format regime did you use? Sometimes, it is
the little things; & I wonder about Beta BootCamp.
And if there is some corruption or failed cable in
the computer that could be aiding & abetting.
Good luck & happy computing!

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HT1923 Hi, my Ipod classic is not reflecting in Itunes (latest version) but I can see it in Computer as a hard disk. Kindly assist

Hi,
My Ipod classic is not reflecting in Itunes which I have recently downloaded but it reflects in my computer as a hard disk.
Please give me a solution.
Thanks

Try Resetting Your iPod while it's connected to the computer.
Hold down the Menu and Select buttons until you see the Apple logo (or Menu & Play/Pause in older models).
This will often get it recognized. It may take several attempts.
Also see these (if you haven't found them already):
Your Windows PC doesn't recognize iPod
iPod does not appear in iTunes or on the desktop
iPod appears in Windows Explorer but does not appear in iTunes

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I cannot drag folders onto my 1 tb hard-disk. Do you know why? I can transfer things to my computer but I cannot drag them from my computer to the hard-disk..

You can reformat the drive but that will wipe all the data on it. Move everything to your Mac. Reformat the drive using Disk Utility. If you need both Mac and Windows access, I suggest ExFAT. Then move it all back

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Recently I cannot see hard drives on the network that are connected through Airport Extreme . The airport Extreme can see the drives, but the network cannot. I have not changed any settings that I know of. Only a reset of my macbook pro running Mavericks allows me to gives me access to the drives. Airport utility 6.3.2

+I will check when I get home. How do I do that?+
Connect the drive directly to a USB port on your Mac.
Then open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility
Click on the drive in left hand panel and look for information at the bottom of the window about the disk
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When you are ready, click the Erase tab and then select MS-DOS (FAT) as the format so both PCs and Macs will be able to read the files.
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AEBS cannot see both disks in 2 disk enclosure set to JBOD

I have a MacPro 3.1 and AEBS, the computer runs 10.6.8 and Win 7. All most recent updates installed on both OSes and the AEBS. I have a generic (bought at Fry's) HORNETTER, 2 disk external USB enclosure containing two (2) 500GB hard drives, both formatted to FAT32 for easy sharing purposes with win, which is connected to the AEBS via its USB port.The enclosure is set to JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks), so I can see each one individually. The enclosure is externally powered. I have had problems in the past with this set-up off and on. Now it is VERY tempermental, sometimes it works, most times not and now over the last couple months it has stopped working for all intents and purposes.
The problem I get is that the AEBS does not see both drives, only one. This happens in OS x and Win 7.
I get an error saying there is a problem with the disk, connect it to the computer directly and run Disk Utility to check for errors. So I do this every time and it returns no errors. Both disks can be mounted no problem if connected directly to the computer. But if I unplug it from the computer and plug it back into into the AEBS it stops working again.
I have this same problem with my HTPC Mac Mini 2.1 (C2D 2/0Ghz). I tried connection it with the same config and got the same problem, only one disk shows of the two in the enclosure.
Is there anything I could do to resolve this? I have searched high and low for a direct answer, but only see confusing responses and nothing direct on point. I apologize if this is a common issue.
I am not trying to do any Tim Machine backups, just using it one drive to store my media (music, video) and the other drive as a extra storage/share volume/hand backup of important files. I like having it available off the AEBS so I can access the music and video from my HTPC Mac Mini and my DVR Windows machine, as well as using them both as a easy swap for mac files I drop there for when I'm booted into Windows.
Any help would be appreciated.

UPDATE: I read some tips on other related issues, and so I tried connecting a POWERED USB HUB (a Targus brand 4 port AC powered USB hub I had lying around) to the AEBS and then the external enclosure to the hub.
No success, and two different problems.
In OS X I can now SEE both disks (where before only saw one disk), but the problem now is even though I can see both disks I can only access one (the one I could NOT access before). The disk I could access before is not visible but when I try to double click on it to mount it, i get a spinning blue circle and eventually the request times out with an error which makes no sense, but says:
"There was an error connecting to the server “Lou's AirPort Extreme”. Check the server name or IP address, and then try again.
If you are unable to resolve the problem contact your system administrator."
When dismissed this is followed byt eh additional error message:
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On Win 7, I now cannot see the AEBS at all, and neither disk is visible.
*sigh*
Back to square one......
SECOND UPDATE: Connected a USB thumb drive to the Powered HUB and it shows up fine. So now I am just totally confused.

Turning laptop on computer will give - Hard Disk 301 error

Hey,
This was the last checkpoint for me with my problem.
Firstly I would like to tell what is my problem:
I'm getting hard disk 301 error everytime when I open my computer. I will get error occured in hard disk while using windows.
I checked from samsunghdd.com and there was application called seatoolsDOS, just cannot run it because I cannot access Boot Advance Option. I asked one forum what to do and answer was hard disk drive is dying and Im agreeing that too now.
Okay my HDD is: Samsung HM500JJ 500GB
OS Windows 7 Home Premium
Laptop model: HP DV6 3050so
Problem: Hard disk 301
Im just wondering how long my hard drive can run? I dont have anything to backup. Just want to get resolution to this.
If you want know more just ask. I'm sure I missed something so just ask
Regards Mika Marjomaa
This question was solved.
View Solution.

Hi Mika
The Hard drive can work for 1 day or for 1 year this cannot be guessed. This is a Smart Failure ID which is captured by the unit itself. It is always better to get the part replaced.
Let us know how it goes!
"I work for HP."
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****Please mark Accept As Solution if it solves your problem****
Regards
Manjunath

Movie song files from my computer to external hard disk

I want to move all of the songs from my computer's hard disk to an external hard disk. Can you please tell me all the steps I need to follow to do this. Once the switch is made, I want to delete all song files from my computer to free up disk space. How can I do this? Finally...if I transfer songs from my computer to an external hard disk and then to another computer, is any of the song quality lost with the two switches?? Thanks!

1. Click here and follow the instructions.
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I created an encrypted disk image (password protected folder) through Disk Utility in Snow Leopard. However, now that I have upgraded to Mountain Lion, that folder appears to have vanished or is invisible. All my other file are intact but I just cannot see this encrypted folder anymore.
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Thanks,
Peter

There would be no reason for Mountain Lion to hide it. That's not normal behavior. Mountain Lion follows the same rules in this regard that Snow Leopard did. But, you can certainly check to see if it has somehow become accidentally hidden by entering the following command into the Terminal (but don't press return yet):
ls -al
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I have an airport extreme hooked to a cable modem. I have a Seagate 160 gig hard disk attached to the airport extreme. My Mac Book Pro can see the hard disk and all its folders, but my PC that is wired with an ethernet cord cannot see the folders on the hard disk. It sees the drive as a Z drive but no folders show up. My husbands Sony Vaio laptop only sees the hard disk and not the folders either.
Any suggestions????

bigdialtone wrote:
Is there a way to just convert file or even partition of the half I have left?
Safely? No. You'll have to find another place to transfer the data to.
And last is the best format not HFS+?
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Leopard cannot see hard drive on any Mac running Tiger.

Running Leopard 10.5.2 on a Mac Pro 3GHz 4-core w/6GB RAM. I cannot connect to any hard drive / root directory on any Mac on my network running Tiger (10.4.9, .10 or .11) or OS9. Yes I have an Avid Meridian in the edit suite runing OS 9.2.2. No laughing please...
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The reverse works as usual. Any Mac running Tiger can see any hard drive on any networked Mac including Macs running Leopard.
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TIA for replies.

I suggest that you repeat the external boot process with your MBP. If it boots the MBP, the internal SATA cable probably is faulty and should be replaced.
Ciao.

Leopard Mac cannot see hard drives on Tiger Macs

Running Leopard 10.5.2 on a Mac Pro 3GHz 4-core w/6GB RAM. I cannot connect to any hard drive / root directory on any Mac on my network running Tiger (10.4.9, .10 or .11) or Panther or OS9. I have 4 Macs on the network but only one running Leopard.
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The reverse works as usual. Any Mac running Tiger can see any hard drive on any networked Mac including Macs running Leopard.
Has anyone else encountered this issue &/or found a workaround? After 2 hours with Apple Tech Support including a system specialist, they confirmed this behavior in Leopard Macs networked to Tiger OS Macs. (Hard drives can be seen between all Macs running Leopard) It was theorized by one of the Apple techs that the behavior was engineered to encourage upgrading all Macs to Leopard. BAD idea! I requested this be reported to Apple engineering.
Any ideas?
TIA!

Download and read the documentation for Carbon Copy Cloner which is handy and what a lot of us have used over the years to clone, migrate and backup or manage drives and storage.
I think 500GB is overkill for boot drive as most of your apps and OS only need less than 150GB, and all of your data and media and home folders can be anywhere you want and not on the boot drive. Also, Apple way over charges for 2TB drives and no reason or value to do so. That is history now but fwiw.
You could I guess setup one 2TB as boot drive easy enough. Then migrate etc. Make that a backup of everything. Then manually or with CCC or other you can clone just what you want to SSD and to the other 2TB drive.
Apps should always go to the boot drive, the SSD in this case, and not to other locations. No benefit putting them elsewhere.
When you migrate are your files on TimeMachine or just standard files and folders? and can't selectively copy? Honestly never found need to use M.A. more than once probably.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4889
http://www.apple.com/support/timemachine/

Time machine cannot see external disks

Hi,
Time machine is not seeing my external hard disk (an iomega Storcenter network hard drive). However, I can see and access files from this external disk as usual on my network.
I want to use Time machine to back up to this disk. Can anyone help me please?
Greg

gr3len wrote:
Hi,
Time machine is not seeing my external hard disk (an iomega Storcenter network hard drive). However, I can see and access files from this external disk as usual on my network.
I want to use Time machine to back up to this disk. Can anyone help me please?
No, sorry. Time Machine does not back up to network drives, except Time Capsules or a drive on another Mac on the network that's running Leopard. It will back-up to a USB drive connected to an Airport Extreme, but even that is, technically, unsupported, and requires a running a Terminal command to make it work.
Here's the official word: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1733
You may find some "hacks" that might make it work, in some cases, to a degree. But use them at your own risk.
First, since this is *unsupported by Apple,* there's nowhere to go when there's trouble.
Second, you're risking a future update preventing it from working, and perhaps rendering your backups useless.

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In the diagnostic, memory test works fine, but hard disk check gives error "SMART Check: NOT INSTALLED; short DST: NOT INSTALLED".
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This question was solved.
View Solution.

Assuming the hard disks are actually showing good on another PC, then the SATA cable may be bad, the power connections may have failed, or the contoller is bad. I would start with verifing that those first several items - hard drive, SATA cable, power connections, ETC are good. If it is the controller, it is not easy to repair on a laptop. Probably need a new motherboard. I used something similar to THIS to verify the drive is good or not.
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Please click "Accept As Solution" if my help has solved your problem. ----------}
This is a user supported forum. I am a volunteer and I do not work for HP.

Replacing tunes in iTunes in computer with new hard disk

I recently had to replace my hard disk. I have authorized my computer (same as old one, but with new hard disk). Can't unauthorize the previous one. But want to transfer the music (from my CDs) currently on my iPod to iTunes on my computer. Having problems doing this. Any way to do so? Thanks.

Connect your iPod to your computer. If it is set to update automatically you'll get a message that it is linked to a different library and asking if you want to link to this one and replace all your songs etc, press "Cancel". Pressing "Erase and Sync" will irretrievably remove all the songs from your iPod. When your iPod appears in the iTunes source list change the update setting to manual, that will let you use our iPod without the risk of accidentally erasing it. Check the "manually manage music and videos" box in Summary then press the Apply button. Also when using most of the utilities listed below your iPod needs to be enabled for disc use, changing to manual update will do this by default: Managing content manually on iPod and iPhone
Once you are safely connected there are a few things you can do to restore your iTunes from the iPod. If you have any iTunes Music Store purchases the transfer of purchased content from the iPod to authorised computers was introduced with iTunes 7. You'll find details in this article: Copying iTunes Store purchases from your iPod or iPhone to a computer
The transfer of content from sources such as songs imported from CD is designed by default to be one way from iTunes to iPod. However there are a number of third party utilities that you can use to retrieve the music files and playlists from your iPod. You'll find that they have varying degrees of functionality and some will transfer movies, videos, photos, podcasts and games as well. Have a look at the web pages and documentation, this is just a small selection of what's available, they are generally quite straightforward. You can read reviews and comparisons of some of them here:
Wired News - Rescue Your Stranded Tunes
Comparison of iPod managers
TuneJack Windows Only (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iPod2PC Windows Only
iDump Windows Only
SharePod Windows Only
iPodRip Mac & Windows
YamiPod Mac and Windows
Music Rescue Mac & Windows
iPod Music Liberator Mac & Windows
Floola Mac & Windows
iGadget Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iRepo Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iPod Access Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
TouchCopy Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
There's also a manual method of copying songs from your iPod to a Mac or PC. The procedure is a bit involved and won't recover playlists but if you're interested it's available on page 2 at this link: Copying Content from your iPod to your Computer - The Definitive Guide
Whichever of these retrieval methods you choose, keep your iPod in manual mode until you have reloaded your iTunes and you are happy with your playlists etc then it will be safe to return it auto-sync. I would also advise that you get yourself an external hard drive and back your stuff up, relying on an iPod as your sole backup is not a good idea and external drives are comparatively inexpensive these days, you can get loads of storage for a reasonable outlay.
Message was edited by: Zevoneer

Cannot locate hard disk during reinstallation

Hi. There was a question mark icon when I started my MacBook. So I tried to reinstall with a cd. Now during the installation, at the point where I am asked to 'select a destination', there is no hard disk appearing.
1. What does this mean?
2. Will I be able to retrieve my files?

Hi tengkygan, and a warm welcome to the forums!
1. Almost always means the Hard Disk has died.
2. Maybe, tough to tell at this point, but you need another Drive to install to & boot from, then try using Data Rescue...
http://www.prosofteng.com/products/data_rescue.php
(Has a Free Demo to see if it could or not, but you'll need another drive to recover to).
Or professional Data Recovery Services.
You won't even get to keep your old drive, but see this...
http://www.apple.com/support/macbook/hd/repairextension/

Computer cannot see hard disk -- Brain teaser

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