Disk utility can't find the hard drive

I'm getting the flashing question mark when I try to start up my computer. I tried to use disk utility (starting the machine from the system software CD) to diagnose the problem but it wouldn't even find the hard drive. Any suggestions? Any help greatly appreciated!

Nothing at all, Tony. When I came back to work on my computer after a 30-minute break, one of the applications was frozen. Soon after, everything froze. After restarting, the flashing question mark came up. I was able to boot from CD but when I tried to run disk utility it wouldn't find the hard drive. At this point I'm at a loss and I'm worried about my data, which, as it happens, I hadn't stored elsewhere! Any suggestions?

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Disk utility can't find iMac hard drive

I had to power off my iMac by Pressing the power key and holding it several times over the last few weeks. The last time it wouldn't reboot - I'd just get an apple icon. When I tried a safe boot I'd get the icon and it would change to a no entry sign.
Next I started up from the snow leopard installation disk with the intent of repairing the iMac disk. The installation disk worked but when I opened disk utility it only found the installation disk. It didn't find the iMac disk.
Do I need to make a trip to the Apple store or is there something else to try?

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Oh Gosh, I am having this same problem too. I normally do not shut down ever, I reboot often because I have to due to bad wireless reception. Last month, I did a full shut down and unplug due to a terrible storm coming in. When I went to boot up, it took very long and I had booted from my external bootable drive. My saving grace is that since crashing my emac in 2006, I am a rabid "backerupper" (made up my own word). I have been using lacie’s Silverkeeper to make bootable back ups just in case. So When I tried disk utility, it did not see my drive. I used my third party software "Disk Warrior" by Alsoft, it saw my drive, and then I unplugged my external and then booted again from the Snow Leopard DVD and was able to repair. All was well until this weekend. We had a storm come trough quickly and we lost power, now I have the same problem you do but this time Disk Warrior does not see the disk either. I am going to dig around for a while before I hit the Genius bar. I fear the drive is fried. And for me I am not certain this will be worth the dollar amount to replace since this is a 2006 and not upgradeable, but I will check with an outside vendor for price for the drive so I know what I want to do if in fact the Genius bar cannot see the drive either. I do hope you have a back up version, and would suggest having third party software to take a chance to see if you can find your disk. My imac is an Intel duo core 2 GHZ and from what I can tell model number A1174. To get help from the smart people here it would be useful for you to post the rest of your specs. If you don't know the exact model, you can check everymac.com and plug in your serial number. Under the computer stand you will find the serial number and the emc number and you can find out from everymac.com what exact model you have. If I find anything I will come back to this thread and report in. Good luck to you.

Flashing file folder - can't find the hard drive-imacG3 - 9.1

When I attempted to start up I got a flashing "?" in a folder. I loaded the hardware test CD and everthing tested fine but no hard drive was listed. I loaded the software install CD and got the message"disk is unreadable. Do you want to inintialize". Options were Standard 9.5 GB or extended. Is there anything I can do other than initialize and lose everything? If I do initialize should it be standard or extended? If the hardware test can't find the hard drive how did the software install disk recognize it. Any ideas? Thanks
imac G3 Mac OS 9.1.x ibook G4 OS10.3.9

jalacqua...
Unfortunately both of those must run from a bootable CD or bootable device that isn't the startup volume. And, by the way, both of those applications do cost money.
TechTool Pro comes from Micromat and you would need version 3.0.9 (final for Mac OS9) from them.
DiskWarrior is a bit tricky as the CD is bootable only in Mac OS 10 and can cripple an iMac Slot Loading machine that hasn't had the Firmware update. They include an older Mac OS 9 version on that CD however you would have to install it into something that is bootable.
...Ron

This morning my PB G4 would not get to the password screen after power on. I have rebooted many times and very loud noises (like a HD spinning/rubbing) emits. Tried the Install disk and it cannot find the hard drive. Ran HW test and got a "Mass storage E

this morning my PB G4 would not get to the password screen after power on. I have rebooted many times and very loud noises (like a HD spinning/rubbing) emits. Tried the Install disk and it cannot find the hard drive. Ran HW test and got a "Mass storage Error Code" message.
Did my HD just crash and unrecoverable? Time to replace my notebook?

I believe your hard drive has failed. Hope you have a backup.
Failing Hard Drive Sounds http://datacent.com/hard_drive_sounds.php
Listed by drive manufacturer. Click on the > next to the drive & you will hear the typical failure sound.
How to Tell When Your Hard Drive is Going to Fail
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/how-to-tell-when-your-hard-drive-is- going-to-fail.html
Grinding And Clicking – Symptoms Of A Failing Hard Drive
http://pcperformancetools.com/getdata/grinding-and-clicking-symptoms-of-failing- hard-drive.html
Failing Hard Drives
http://losangelescomputerhelp.com/computer_networking_news/failing-hard-drives.h tml
 Cheers, Tom

Disk utility can't repair external hard drive

A couple months back, I had to get a whole new hard drive case for my external because the power cord broke. Anyway, It's worked fine until now...
The hard drive doesn't show up with the other volumes.
It does show up on Disk Utility. When I try to repair or verify the drive, it works up until the end, but then it automatically quits and it says this:
Verifying volume “FIREWIRE”
** /dev/disk1s1
** Phase 1 - Read FAT
** Phase 2 - Check Cluster Chains
** Phase 3 - Checking Directories
Unable to read directory (Input/output error)
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit
1 non HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair
Anyway, I have 45GB of music as well as movies and photographs that mean a lot to me so I hope I don't have to erase the drive or anything...
Thanks to anyone who helps me out.

Hmm, I can't seem to find anything on Windows (XP) that will fix my exact problem...
Then again, I am the crappiest Windows user ever so, once again, any help would be great.
I searched "disk repair" on the help and support center, and it gave me a bunch of ways to fix the drive depending on the problem. The thing is, none of the problems seemed to match mine...
Your personal data files are missing or have been corrupted, or you want to revert to a previous version of a file.
After updating a device driver, you can log on, but the system is unstable.
After installing a new device, the system is unstable.
Changes made to your system or application settings are causing your computer to run poorly and you do not know how to restore the previous settings.
After installing an application, the system is unstable or an application is not working properly.
Operating system does not start (the logon screen does not appear)
I'm not really sure what the exact problem is, I just know that it isn't working on the Mac, but it is on the PC.

Just done the 'Erase and Install', I can't find the Hard Drive I backed up my files on?

I have just done the 'Erase and Install' process, but before I did, I backed up my files to an External Hard Drive using Time Machine. I have now restored my Mac and gone through the Erase and Install process, but now, when I plug in my external hard drive, I cant find it anywhere? I've tried quite a few things, but no luck! Also, what has happened to iMovie and iPhoto and all those Applications?! They have dissapeared!

GeorgeRollo wrote:
I have just done the 'Erase and Install' process, but before I did, I backed up my files to an External Hard Drive using Time Machine.
That should mean that all of your data on the MBP is backed up to an external HDD.
- Yes, should be. But when I plug it in the Mac, no menu or pop up comes up. Showing what to do next.
I have now restored my Mac and gone through the Erase and Install process, but now, when I plug in my external hard drive,
If you restored your internal drive with Time Machine, did you then ERASE and install? What did you erase and what were you installing? What is on the external HDD that has the Time Machine backup on it?
- I talked to the Customer Support and they said just erase the Startup Disk or something? So I did. Because I basically just wanted to restore my Mac.
I cant find it anywhere?
What is it?
- The External Hard Drive when I plug it in.
I've tried quite a few things, but no luck!
What are 'quite a few things'?
- Things that I have researched like going into 'Finder' then going into 'Preferences', 'General', then ticking 'Hard Drive' under the option of 'Show these items on the desktop:'
what has happened to iMovie and iPhoto and all those Applications?! They have dissapeared!
I would think that they should be on the Time Machine backup (assuming the external HDD has not been erased) if not the internal HDD.
- Hopefully if I can figure out this.

Disc utility can't see the hard drive

Hard drive dies in my mac book. I know it was actually dead 'cuz it wasn't spinning. Took it to the apple store he stuck in a new one for me. I said I could format it myself no sweat. Took it home, booted of up with the install disc. Open up disc utility- no hard drive. I know that this one hasn't eaten it yet, 'cuz I can hear it spinning. Any ideas?

Yeah, that's what I figgered. Already made the appt, but I can't make it back 'till Wednesday. Just hoping for one of those miracle "hold down Z37 when you boot" kinda answers in the mean time. Or else a, "you're totally doing it wrong, you shouldn't even be using Disc Utility!" dress downs before Wednesday rolls around.
Just so you know, the genius was only too happy to get me outta the terribly crowded store without "finishing the job."

Windows 7 Install - Can't find my hard-drive!

Hi guys, i'm hoping someone can help. I've recently bought a brand new Toshiba Satellite pro L650 (PSK1KA-02D01E) running Windows 7 After a few weeks, things started to get really slow. Then I woke up one morning to discover it stuck on the first screen when I turn it on.
I thought I had a virus, so then decided to do a full re-format and re-install windows. After I formatted the correct partition, I went to install Windows 7 again Only for it to say "windows could not detect a disc drive" it asks me to install drivers for the hard-drive, which I can't seem to find.
it's a sata hard-drive (TOSHIBA MK6465GSX) I think is the model number. I can not find the hard-drive drivers anywhere. The other strange thing, is every now and then, it finds the hard-drive, but states that windows can not install onto that drive (even when I format it, try to add a partition and so forth) I have been into bios, I don't really know a great deal of what I am looking at, but it sometimes states my hard-drive is there, and other times it does not.
I am so desperate to get this fixed. Does anyone have any ideas? I live pretty remotely so taking it back and getting it fixed is not ideal.. but maybe necessary.
Thanks in anticipation..
- Gavin.

It sounds like the hard drive is dying. The Win7 install shouldn't need a driver for the drive.

Can't find the hard disk

Hi Everyone, My iMac G5 20" (not iSight) is about 18 months old and I never had any problem with it until a week ago, when it started booting up with white blank screen. I tried to start it up by Tiger, but wouldn't have it, so I went to change the PRAM battery, but broke the clip, now put a new battery and fixed the problem somehow, BUT regardless how often and how hard I tried, the computer can not find the hard disk when it reaches the installation stage. Not by the system DVD or by it's disk utility. I tried the hard disk in my PowerMac, it works fine. I tried another hard disk, just the same. The three lights on the motherboard come on just fine. I have also tried it with the original DVDs (10.3.9) but just the same. Any ideas please? Many thanks

Hi,
Ref: iMac 20" (not iSight) model.
Well, I started it by holding down the option key, like usual it only show the flashing icon the the center of the white screen toggling the small square with question mark, looking for the hard drive.
I boot the iMac by system CD, it takes me through first 5/6 stages and finally does not find any hard drive to install. During this process, when I use the Apple Hardware, it does not find anything.
The hard drive works fine on other machines and other working machine hard drive will not be detected on the iMac.
All three logicboard light come on, showing it works fine, according to Apple manual.
The iMac was working fine, then after started to miss detecting the hard drive a few times during it last two weeks of being used, now it will not detect the hard drive.
Looking from logical point of view, it leads to one of the two cables connecting the hard drive to the logicboarde being faulty, but they have never been touched before as well as look fine.
Would it be caused by backup battery (PRAM)?
Thanks

Can I use Disk Utility to erase Apple TV hard drive?

Can I use Disk Utility to erase Apple TV hard drive?

I don't know, but I doubt it can be done using Disk Utility. I suggest you consult the user manual for it or see if there is a Reset option in the onscreen menues. If you don't have a manual, then you will find one at http://support.apple.com/manuals.

Im trying to install snow leopard but when I go to the utility disk I can't find the Macintosh HD

Im trying to install snow leopard but when I go to the utility disk I can't find the Macintosh HD

I'm trying to reinstall it because about six months ago a friend at the time crashed it and it has been stuck in white screen of death since then. and I'm trying to get my computer to work again.

How can i add the hard drive to my desktop

how can i add the hard drive to my desktop

bobbyruff,
open the Preferences in Finder and click on the General tab. Look for a checkbox entitled “Show these items on the desktop: Hard disks”. Check it and close Preferences.

Disk utility Failure/Unable to open Hard drive with a double click

After trying to use Disk Warrior for maintanance last week my entire hard drive crashed.
I've spent the last week rebuilding only to encounter a new problem..i can not open the hard drive with a double click.
I attempted to run Disk utility to diagnose the problem and was told that the "program had lost connection and was unable to verify/repair disk permissions...and was told to shut down disk utility, which i ran from the install disk...
Any suggestions aside from erasing and rebuilding the hard drive?
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Victoria

Hi Ana,
Try this link Disc Utility lost connection ......
Hope that this will help you to solve the problem.
When this was help full ore solved your problem Why award ponits?
Dimaxum

My iMac can't find its hard drive

Background: I had a series of kernel panic issues over the past few weeks. Despite my best efforts with fixing disk permissions and the like, it got progressively worse.
Today it hit another level -- I turned on the machine and the fan immediately went into overdrive, followed by the gray screen of death. This repeated through about 20 restarts.
So I put in the System disk and tried to run the disk utility. But it couldn't find the hard drive -- it told me the only drive I had was the CD. Same thing happened when I tried to change the startup disk. Same thing happened when I tried to run fskc.
So here's my question -- how do I get my machine to acknowledge that it does, indeed, have a hard drive? Anyone know of any fixes?
Thanks in advance

If the installed disk won't recognize that there's a hard drive, then it's most probably a hardware failure that will require servicing; my guess is that the hard drive has failed.

Disk utility can't repair the Macintosh HD, asking toback up all files as possible? and how to reformat the disk?

disk utility can't repair the Macintosh HD, asking toback up all files as possible? and how to reformat the disk?

Some problems can indeed be fixed this way. But working from Recovery_HD or Disk Warrior DVDs and working in the restricted environment those provide can be difficult. You can literally spend days working on this problem (while your regular work is unavailable) only to discover the old drive is unsalvageable.
There is no way to know up front whether you are facing a major Hardware failure or a minor software glitch, or something in between. Often you are forced to work from the drive you no longer trust. I continue to recommend you do this work from a different, fully functioning Mac OS X booted from a different drive.
If you have had the foresight to (as The hatter often recommends) clone your virgin install onto another drive for use in such situations, you will be able to recover from such problems in record time. If not, my previous recommendations stands:
Buy a new Drive. Or two. Install Mac OS X from scratch on a new drive, and get your Mac running again. Later, you can use the full power of Mac OS X to attempt to rescue your data, if needed. Then Zero the old drive, to see if it can hold data again reliably.
If the old drive eventually provides some needed data, and is salvageable, Merry Christmas.

Disk utility can't find the hard drive

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