Connect my old hard drive to iMac?

Hi, my hard drive gave up on me and had to be replaced, and now I want to try connect the old hard drive to my iMac to try access files from it. I have connected it to my iMac via a SATA to USB cable, the light on the SATA cable comes on (which indicates it is connecting), yet it doesn't appear on my desktop as an external or in Disk Utility.
Does anyone know how i get it to appear so I can attempt to access it?
The hard drive was damaged, but I was told by the repair specialist it still should connect in this way (he had it connected in his iMac).
I have ensured hard and external disks are shown on the desktop in Finder preferences. I'm on an iMac late 2009, OS Lion 10.7.4.
Thanks

I'm unfamiliar with the cable  you mention. If the shop said it would work and you got it from them I would recommend a trip (or at least a call) to the shop for clarification.
If you look at the specs for the cable I linked to (and look at the user manual)  you'll see there is a power supply to power the drive. I really don't see how a cable that simply plugs into the drive and the USB port could power the drive.
If you look at the OWC site you'll see in addition to the cable drive enclosures. They have fairly good information at the site so it might be a good idea to poke around there to get a feel of the different solutions to your problem
If you're only looking to try to get data off the drive and once you get the data off you'll discard the drive then the cable is a good solution. If you're thinking of keeping the drive then an enclosure would be the way to go.
But keep in mind if the drive needed to be changed there is a possibility that it is just dead or that the data won't be readable. If you  do manage to get access to the drive make sure you copy off any data that is important to you and that you are looking to keep.
regards

Similar Messages

  • What is the exact name of the cable I need to connect my old hard drive from my macbook pro (it has been taken out of the computer) to my new macbook pro?  I need to transfer files from the old hard drive to the new computer.

    What is the exact name of the cable I need to connect my old hard drive from my macbook pro, which has been removed from the computer, to my new macbook pro?  I need to transfere files from the old hard drive to the new computer.

    No eSATA to USB. Just a SATA/IDE to USB adapter. Google SATA/IDE to USB adapter and you will get tons of links to buy them. Most likely your local computer electronics store has them, although they might be more expensive buying locally than online.
    I have several. You can get either USB 2, which what I recommend, or USB 3. USB is backward compatible so a USB 3 adapter will work on a USB 2 port and a USB 2 adapter will work on a USB 3 port. Backward compatible in both directions.
    I suggest a USB 2 type because there have been some problems with certain USB 3 devices, the USB 3 interface used isn't all that good in those certain devices. USB 3 is still fairly new where as USB 2 has been around for over 10 years.
    synghem wrote:
    Thank you LowLuster,
    At the apple store they said I needed an esata to usb wire.  But looking at wires on line has been confusing.  Is sata the same as esata?  How do I know if I need a usb 3 or usb 2?

  • Connecting an external hard drive to iMac

    Can I connect an external hard drive RAID 0 to my late 2009 iMac via the eSATA connection?
    Is there any way to get the speed of the eSATA by connecting it to my iMac with an adapter?

    Unfortunately not. 2010 iMacs have a spare SATA port on the motherboard, which OWC takes advantage of in their upgrade program (if you live in the US), but not on the earlier models.
    Your fastest available connection is Firewire 800, which typically gives you around 60-70MB/s.
    Matt

  • My old computer crashed. I was able to connect its old hard drive as an external drive to my new computer. I would like to recover all my old bookmarks (there was no prior backup on the old drive).

    Is there a file in which bookmarks are stored which I may copy from the old drive to the new one to restore the old bookmarks? Thanks!
    (I still have the original Firefox files on the old hard drive, including the one I presume contains all my old bookmarks.)

    You're welcome.

  • Accessing data from old hard drive connected to HP Pavillion 500-242ea

    Recently i purchased HP Pavillion 500-242ea ( OS Windows 8.1) as my old pc died.I connected the old hard drive via Usb adaptor kit.The old drive shows up in device manager and file explorer and disk management as F drive but does not show volume. I know the old drive is not full and the drive is working as i can put discs in and they load up.When i click on the old drive-F drive- in file explorer 'Please insert disc' message pops up.Any one know how to access data from old drive which has IDE cable.
    Please help need to copy imporatant files from old drive.
    Thank you
    This question was solved.
    View Solution.

    Just had to ask, do you know the difference between hard drive and CD/DVD drive?  Don't get angry, read this.
    You said " I know the old drive .......... is working as i can put discs in and they load up.When i click on the old drive-F drive- in file explorer 'Please insert disc' message pops up.'
    All that implies a CD/DVD drive. You can not put a disc into a hard drive.
    I am a volunteer. I am not an HP employee.
    To say THANK YOU, press the "thumbs up symbol" to render a KUDO. Please click Accept as Solution, if your problem is solved. You can render both Solution and KUDO.
    The Law of Effect states that positive reinforcement increases the probability of a behavior being repeated. (B.F.Skinner). You toss me KUDO and/or Solution, and I perform better.
    (2) HP DV7t i7 3160QM 2.3Ghz 8GB
    HP m9200t E8400,Win7 Pro 32 bit. 4GB RAM, ASUS 550Ti 2GB, Rosewill 630W. 1T HD SATA 3Gb/s
    Custom Asus P8P67, I7-2600k, 16GB RAM, WIN7 Pro 64bit, EVGA GTX660 2GB, 750W OCZ, 1T HD SATA 6Gb/s
    Custom Asus P8Z77, I7-3770k, 16GB RAM, WIN7 Pro 64bit, EVGA GTX670 2GB, 750W OCZ, 1T HD SATA 6Gb/s
    Both Customs use Rosewill Blackhawk case.
    Printer -- HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 Plus

  • I have new hard drive in macbook pro(08) and have SATA cable with external power source to old hard drive (10.5.8)via. USB port and newer drive(10.6.8) will not recognize older drive..Do I need to partition newer drive with older disk to recover data?

    I have new HD 750GB Hybrid in 2008 Macbook Pro 17" w/ Snow Leopard 10.6.8  connected to old Hard drive(250GB that had 10.5.8 on it at time of failure) via SATA cable to USB port with external power source.. Computer not acknowledging old HD at all in Disk Utility or otherwise (that I'm aware of)..Do I need to partition New HD and load old(10.5.8) onto partition to recognize older drive for data recovery? Thanks Wayno08

    You do not need to load 10.5.8 onto your new drive in order for a 10.6.8 system to see the contents of a 10.5.8 system.
    You might want to check out the hard drive troubleshooting bootk in the downloads section of this web site:
    http://scsc-online.com
    They also sell a product named Phoenix that can do OS extraction  and volume copying/cloning, but to be honest I don't know if it's appropriate in this case.
    I would suggest the following:
    Open up Terminal.app (under utilities) and type "diskutil list" without the quotes. This is the command line version of Disk Utility. If the external drive doesn't show up at all, then it's likely not connected properly, not getting power, or just plain dead. If it shows up with only a devce name like disk0s16 but no volume it means the drive is seen, the OS just can't make sense of it.
    Assuming the drive shows up, I would try to boot off the original installl disks for the system and run Disk Utility from that. I'm assuming the drive will show up. You'll want to select the option to repair the drive and then perform the option to repair the permissions.
    If the unit isn't showing up, as per step 1, try a different USB port. More importantly with your unit, try it on another side of the unit if possible. If you read the book I referenced above, some of those units have I/O boards that are separated from the logic board. If the cable from the logic board to the I/O card goes bad or has problems, which isn't all that uncommon, some or all of the ports on the I/O card may appear to be bad as well. If you use a USB port on another side, it would be routing out of a completely different I/O path, so that's a potential problem.
    If the drive is only seen with a device name such as disk0s16, it's likely either the index files are corrupt beyond Disk Utility's ability to see them. The  only thing that I think would help would be a product named DIsk Warrior, but I can't guarantee that.
    Disk Warrior can be found at:
    http://www.alsoft.com/diskwarrior/
    The company that I linked in the first link above also makes a product named Scannerz that does HD and system testing. The Scannerz/Disk Warrior combination make a good pair because the complement each other....Scannerz does what Disk Warriror can't and Disk Warrior does what Scannerz can't. However, at this point I'm not too sure getting a tool like Scannerz would be of much use because it sounds like the  damage has already been done.
    Let us know what happens.

  • Macbook screen cracked. How to transfer files from old hard drive to new computer?

    I had a 13" white macbook, but the screen cracked, and the computer wouldn't work anymore. I took it to be fixed, but they weren't able to fix it, so they gave me a macbook pro. I asked them to try and transfer the files from my old macbook to the old one, but they said that they couldn't, and gave my the hard drive and said I could have someone else try to fix it for me. How do I connect the old hard drive to my new macbook to see if I can get the files off of it? I don't have the old computer anymore, just the hard drive itself. Thanks!

    Sorry, I don't understand all of this stuff. Do I have to buy a certain one for Mac? Or will any enclosure work?  Would this one do what I need? http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/startech-startech-external-hard-drive-enclos ure-with-integrated-usb-cable-sat2510scb-sat2510scb/10192449.aspx?path=9e9804b6f 287edbfe4f83d36c2a6aa71en02

  • Got a new external hard drive. Transferred all files from old hard drive to new hard drive. Connected hard drive to macbook. How do I get all my files to be recognized by iTunes and my already made playlists??

    Got a new external hard drive. Transferred all files from old hard drive to new hard drive. Connected hard drive to macbook. How do I get all my files to be recognized by iTunes and my already made playlists??

    Trying to download photos from IPHONE, IPAD to IPHOTO in IMAC after installing new hard drive.
    How did you import the photos to iPad and iPhone?
    If the photos have been synced to the iPhone and iPad using iTunes, you cannot sync them back.
    See this document:  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4236
    You can't reimport pictures synced from your computer to your device back to your computer. You can only import pictures in the Camera Roll or Saved Photos from your device to your computer. If you need to retrieve synced photos from your device:
    If your photos are not in the Camera Roll on your devices, save them to the Camera Roll, share them to the Photo Stream, mail the photos, or, if you have iPhoto on the devices, use iTunes Photo Sharing.
    http://help.apple.com/iphoto/iphone/2.0/?handbuch#blnkee26bc1
    Save photos to your computer using iTunes
    Connect your iOS device to your computer.
    Tap a photo, album, event, web journal, or slideshow and tap Share> iTunes.
    Tap Selected, or change the photos you want to save (if you are saving a slideshow skip to step 4):
    Select different photos: Tap Choose Photos, tap one or more photos, and tap Next.
    Select a range of photos: Tap Choose Photos, tap Range, tap the first and last photos in the range, and tap Next.
    Select all the photos in an album or event: Tap All.
    In iTunes, click the button for your device and click Apps at the top of the window.
    Below File Sharing, select iPhoto (in Apps).
    Select the Shared Photos folder under iPhoto Documents.
    Click Save To and select the location on your computer where you want to save the items.
    To view your photos, go to the Finder and look in the location you selected above.

  • Connecting to an old hard drive

    I spilt a cup of tea over my 7 year old IMac 17" G4. the tea slopped in the cd drive and I left it for 2 weeks to dry out when I went on hols.On my return, it started with a bong but I have nothing on the screen.Just a bit of whirring and the fan works. It was about time for a new Mac anyway so I have bought one but would very much like to access my old hard drive to just retrieve a few things that hadn't been backed up externally.
    Can I take the old hard drive out and access it with the new iMac somehow?
    I also have an iBook if that is likely to be useful.
    I am quite competent and have replaced memory etc and I've got nothing to lose except a folder of images and last years accounts! Would be great if I could get at them.

    If you have another Mac to hand and a Firewire cable it would be worth trying Target Disk Mode. Connect the two Macs with the Firewire cable the switch on the "dead" iMac and hold down the T key. The hard drive from the iMac G4 may mount on the other Mac. 
    If not, just disassemble as suggested (guide) and here are a couple of UK links for the product suggested:
    http://www.expansys.com/newertech-usb-2-0-universal-drive-adapter-uk-185760/
    http://www.thebookyard.com/product.php?products_id=1856
    Costs the same on pounds as it does in dollars of course... :-/
    mrtotes

  • Old hard drive into new iMac

    My old iMac (G5, no iSight) recently died. Of course, it had been a long time since I had backed up any of my data. The genius at the Apple store looked at it and said the motherboard burned out, but the hard drive was probably still good. While there I purchased a new iMac (iMac 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 24" display).
    My question is... What is the simplest way, if any, to transfer data from my old hard drive onto my new iMac? The genius told me there was something I could buy to turn it into an external hard drive with a USB or Firewire connection, but he did not know the specifics.
    Thanks in advance for any ideas!
    JCG

    Hi JCG
    Stuffing the old HD in an External Drive Enclosure is probably the best way to go, because you have a choice of USB/400/800 combination's and it protects the drive. A slightly less expensive NewerTech USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter could also be used to transfer data between the old drive and new iMac.
    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/U2NV2SPATA/
    Dennis

  • Have Old Hard drive and want to move old data onto new hard drive in imac.

    I am trying to get my files off of an old hard drive. I have it hooked up through a sata drive. I am able to access all the programs but for whatever reason I am unable to access any of the files, i.e- 1,00's of pictures, videos, music, and documents. Is there something else I need to do in order to get the files, or is it possible that all the programs could still be on it but the files are just missing? In the current Sata it only has two plugs but on my hard drive it looks like there is another place to plug something in.

    Hello again Shadow,
    The way I do this is to:
    1) Install your new hard drive into your iBook
    2) Get your iBook reassembeled
    3) Place your old hard drive in your firewire enclosure
    4) Insert your install DVD into your iBook and restart with the C key held down. When the installer launches, select your language in the first pane, click 'continue' and in the upper dropdown menu in the next page select Utilities > Disk Utility. After DU is open, select your hard drive from the list of volumes on the left (the very top one), and then click the 'Partition' tab to the right. Then select 1 partition (normal) and make sure that you have 'Mac OS Extended (journled)' selected in the lower section. Then click 'partition'
    5)Quit disc utility, which brings you back to the installer. continue with your installation of OS X. In one of the first steps you will see a button on the lower left which says 'options' click on that and make sure that the option 'Installs OS X for the first time' is selected. It will normally be selected by default with a new drive.
    6) After the installation, the Migration Assistant will ask if you would like to transfer your information from another mac. click yes then follow the instructions. but instead of using another mac, connect a firewire cable from your enclosure with your old hard drive installed. The installer will think that this is another mac and will transfer all of your account information and user files (everything!)from your old drive to your iBook's new drive. Just diconnect when it says to and complete the installation sequence.
    You're done!
    Check back again if anything is unclear.
    Randy
    Message was edited by: DesertSage

  • I have an imac 20 in. The old hard drive crapped out on me. i put a new harddrive in and am now trying to install linux. But the imac doesnt recognise any keyboards

    I have an imac 20 in. The old hard drive crapped out on me. i put a new harddrive in and am now trying to install linux. But the imac doesnt recognise any keyboards

    Without a bootable backup/clone or a Time Machine backup of your previous Snow Leopard installation or a saved copy of Lion's install app, you'll have to upgrade your Leopard volume to Snow Leopard (10.6.6+) so you can waste another hour or more DLing the Lion thing again.

  • I connected my external hard drive to my new imac to put all of the information from my macbook onto it. i have been working on the macbook now and want to reconnect the external hard drive so my imac is updated with the work. How is that done?

    I connected my external hard drive to my new imac to put all of the information from my macbook onto it. I have been working on the macbook now and want to reconnect the external hard drive so my imac is updated with the work. How is that done? or is it possible?

    As I said, I don't use Time Machine, so it'd be best to wait for an "expert" answer, but, with my very limited knowledge, I'd say: probably not - so, for now, I'd suggest you read up on Time Machine:
    http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/Home.html
    http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=search&src=support_site.home.search&local e=en_US&q=time%20machine
    And, you might be attracting more knowledgeable answers if you were to post this question in the Time Machine Forum (part of the Snow Leopard forums).

  • I have a new hard drive on my imac  I want to sync my ipad(which has the files I lost when my old hard drive died), which holds the files I lost when my old hard drive died.  How can I sync my ipad with my new hard drive?

    My hard drive on my IMac died, so I have a new hard drive.  I want to sync my Ipad(which has the files I lost when my old hard drive died) back with my IMac. How can I sync my Ipad with my new IMac hard drive without erasing my legacy files on the Ipad at the same time?

    Copy everything from your backup copy of your cpomputer to your new hard drive.

  • My old hard-drive has corrupted and i have lost my library. i lost my back up too. I have restored all my purchased stuff but had 5000 songs uploaded from my CD collection. Is there anyway of transferring the CD tracks from my ipod or ipod to my iMac?

    My old hard-drive has corrupted and i have lost my library. i lost my back up too. I have restored all my purchased stuff but had 5000 songs uploaded from my CD collection. Is there anyway of transferring the CD tracks from my ipod or ipod to my iMac? Or do I have to manually upload the CDs again?

    Hi,
    See if this doc helps https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3991
    Jim

Maybe you are looking for