External Hard Drive Can't Be Formatted?

Hi,
I've been up all night on my iBook G4 trying to reformat my new, 60g SimpleTech external hard drive. Here is my situation:
-The external hard drive IS Mac OSX compatible.
-Currently it's read-only so I can't actually store anything on it.
-The icon appears on my desktop, so it recognizes that it's plugged in, and Disk Utility also recognizes it, too.
-In Disk Utility, when I highlight its icon and click on the "Erase" tab to reformat it, the "Volume Format" menu is grey, it won't let me click on it, and so I can't change it to a FAT file system format.
-The external hard drive is currently a Windows NT File System.
-My permissions are on, and I verified and repaired my disk permissions, but it's still a no go.
I can't erase the drive! The external hard drive remains read-only. What the heck? Any insight? Thanks.
iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.3.3)

Hi,
I just bought a 120GB SimpleTech drive yesterday and I am having the same problem:
"in Disk Utility, when I highlight its icon and click on the "Erase" tab to reformat it, the "Volume Format" menu is grey, it won't let me click on it"
Have either of you figured out how to format the drive?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks

Similar Messages

Can I backup to an external hard drive that has been formatted with windows?

Hi, I am fairly new to mac. I was wondering if I can backup my mac book pro using time machine to an external hard drive that has been formatted with windows. Time machine is saying it must erase to the hard drive in order to do a backup? Please help.

No it has to be formatted for OS X. Mac Extended (Journaled).

I use My Time Capsule as a external hard drive, can I transfer files other than wirelessly?

I use My Time Capsule as a external hard drive, can I transfer files other than wirelessly?

will TC appear on My desk top?
It will, if you do the following:
Open Macintosh HD and locate the Time Capsule icon under the SHARED heading on the left side of he window.
Click on the Time Capsule icon and a folder representing the drive will appear to the right
Double click the folder and the drive icon will appear on the desktop

HT1751 if I move my iTunes library to an external hard drive can my computer access these files in iTunes or do I need to move them back to play music, watch movies, etc.???

If I move my iTunes library to an external hard drive, can my MacBookPro access these files in iTunes or do I need to move them backto my MacBookPro to play music, watch movies, etc.???
Trying to alleviate some disc space on my Mac!!!

Yes, it can. Launch iTunes with the Option key held down and navigate to that instance of the library.
(86939)

If I donwload e-books from various e-book retailers and want to back them up on an external hard drive without losing the format, do I need a special hard drive?

If I download e-books from various e-book retailers and want to back them up on an external hard drive without losing the format, do I need to know anything special?

I just looked into this as I was moving my iPad to a new computer for synching. With no thanks to Kobo for any really useful information on their help site (this discussion was the most useful info I found), I think the following may address your issue with respect to Kobo.
1. There is not easy or official way to back up Kobo books from your iPad.
2. Kobo keep track of your personal library. Go to the Kobo website (Kobo.com) and sign in to your account. On the very top line is "My Library". That contains (or at least Kobo says it does) everything you have ever bought from Kobo. Kobo say that you may download any of this content to other devices you own at no charge.
3. I synched my iPad to the new computer. According to Apple, that will delete all my data as the apps are re-installed from the new compute. While all my apps got moved around from the order I previously had (many thanks Apple), all my books are still there together with my bookmarks etc. Looks like this did nothing to change any Kobo data.
While I do not like the idea that I cannot create a backup on my main computer, it is probably safer in the long run that there is a backup at Kobo. After all, I could lose all my equipment in a fire or something, and then personal backups would be of little use.

In which folder of my Seagate 3TB external hard drive, can I find my iPhoto photos from my iMac (iOS X Maverick)?

In which folder of my Seagate 3TB external hard drive, can I find my iPhoto photos from my iMac (iOS X Maverick)?

tlah wrote:
The Seagate 3TB external hard drive backs up the entire internal hard drive of the iMac.
Is this external drive a Time Machine backup?
Then find what you want using Time Machine (or whatever application you used to make the backup).
Your iPhoto pictures are in the iPhoto library in Users/Pictures.

I have an external hard drive, can I set a password on this? The drive is already populated with data

I have an external hard drive, can I set a password on this? The drive is already populated with data

ITs an old Iomega 100gb external HD that has about 90gb of music on it. The Macbook has a 500gb HD. I would like to put the iTunes library on the internal HD so I have room to expand.
Phil0124 wrote:
You can copy it to the internal hard drive as long as it fits on it. How big is your library, and how big is your internal HD?
The only thing you do not want to do is over-stuff the internal hard drive. The OS needs some space to operate correctly, so if your iTunes library uses up more than say 80 to 85% of the internal HD's available space it may not be a good idea to transfer it over.
With that said, the internal HD will provide slightly faster access to the library than the external would, but other than that, you can point iTunes to the external drive just fine.

HP SimpleSave External Hard Drive - Can't Access Files, Says to Re-Format

I have had a SimpleSave External Hard Drive for over a year now, and have never had any problems with it.
Recently, I am unable to access my files on the hard drive when it is attached to my computer. It tries to load, and then gives me the error message "You need to format the disk in drive H: before you can use it. Do you want to format it?". I don't want to format it because I don't want to lose all of the files that I have stored. When I press "Cancel" i also get the error message "H:\ is not accessible. Data error (cyclic redundancy check).
I have not changed anything recently so I do not understand why it has all of a sudden stopped working.
I am using an HP notebook (G62 Notebook PC) and Windows 7 Home Premium operating system.
I am connected to the hard drive via USB. I have tried turning off my computer and turning it back on, and unplugging the drive. I have tried using other USB outlets.
My SimpleSave information: model no hp md1000h
P/N HPBAAD0010HBK-00
The blue light is still blinking on the front of the hard drive.
I would like to access my files and get the external hard drive working properly again. Please help!
Thanks in advance!

I too have the exact same problem on my HP SimpleSave (sd500a) external hard drive. I got through to WDC, and they apparently support these devices now. They asked me to send them a copy of my purchase receipt in order to extend my warranty in their system in order to help me (ridiculous!!). I sent the scanned copy of the receipt to [email protected], and got an auto-reply that they will get back to me within 1 day. I also went on their website, and they refer to the device in their system as 'ED Caviar Blue EIDE Hard Drive'. It has the same serial number as my product from HP, so I guess they have acquired these products or at least support of them (?). In any case, I'm freaking out because I have tons of family pictures, video and my entire iTunes library on the device. If any one is able to get help for this, please respond. I am desperate to get this resolved.

Can i make (for example) 3 partitions on my external Hard Drive, and make different formatations for each, so i can share files of one of them in a pc and mac?

Hello ...
My name is Rui, i'm from Portugal ... (so please be patiente with my english, it can get a bit confusing)
so... first of all ... i have to say ... i'm still a pc user ... i don't have a Mac ... yet ... they are sold out right now in the shops near me ... i am waitting for them to arrive so i can pick up mine ... (i wish in a couple of days i will be entering the Mac world ....) ... i'll be picking the "entery" iMac model, the 21,5'', i5 with 500gb hard disk ... well .. i know it's the cheapest one (i hope it is a good machine tho) ... but it's my entering Mac world too (my only apple products till know were the ipod ...) ... one of my concerns are being the 500gb hard drive ... that for my pc experience is a little bit short ... that makes me a little scared (but paying 300e for the next model to have a 1tb disk, it's not a good option for me right now) ...
so..
I've been reading a lot about iMac's ans OS X so i can get familiar with this all new world ...
and i couldn't get any answer for some of my doubts... so i decided to ask you Mac Users ..
My idea is to have an external HD to store files (and not to fill the 500gb of the iMac) ... and i am wondering if it would be possible to make this ...
- make three partitions on the external Hard Drive and
- the first be formatted in Mac OS extended (journaled) mode
- the second on fat 32 - so i can store and share files with a mac or pc
- third be reserved for Time Machine
i wonder would that be possible... or would make sort of incompabilities ... would it work all well ?
hummm ...
I hope someone can help me with this ...
... if it is a silly question ... sorry ... but please remember, i've never had a Mac computer (i'm waiting for my 1st iMac to be available on store) ... so a lot of things are "flying" in my head right now ...
... and of course .. sorry for my english ... i hope you all understood me ...
thanks (obrigado) a lot for your patience...
Rui from Portugal

Hi! Dwagner, once again ...
I've just got my Mac last friday ... i'm still getting amazed with this new world to me ... eehe .. quite different ... but
... "i can do it, i can do it" eheeh
i'm in that period that a new question appears at almost every mouse click ... lol
so ... can you help me (once again) ..
you said you had your hard drive with this settings...
"You can partition for OSX (extended Journal) - read/write by only OSX or read only by Windows via BootCamp
You can partition for Windows (NTFS) - readable by only Windows
OR - you can format with ex-FAT and this is read/write capable for both operating systems."
how did you formated the partition in NTFS ? ... on the mac? using the "disk utility" ? or did you use another program to do so ...?
i hope i'm not "bugging" you ... this might be a silly question for most of people ... but right now ... it's a major question for me ... ehehe
once again Obrigado (Thank You)
Rui from Portugal

How can a format an external hard drive to Fat 32 format

how can i format an external hard drive to a Fat 32

Drive Preparation
1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to MBR then click on the OK button. Set the format type to MSDOS (FAT) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.

If i back up my mac using Time Machine and an external hard-drive, can that same hard-drive be used on another computer and on a PC?

Hi!
I hav just got a macbook pro and am used to using a HP pc and am a newbie! I have backed up my macbook with my elements external hardrive and was wondering if i can transfer the music i have purchased and is now on my external hard-drive back onto my other laptop purely because i use both laptops for different things and want to use my music on both. how do i do this? and do i need a particular software to do so?
Any tips would be greatly appreciated
thanks
alex xxx

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
You can do it, but it's not recommended to use a Time Machine volume to store other files. In this case, you can create a second volume on the external drive, so you will be able to use it to store data and transfer it to other PCs.
As you are going to use the external drive with other PCs, you can make the volume and format it in "MS-DOS (FAT)" with Disk Utility > http://pondini.org/OSX/DU3.html Finally, you will be able to copy files to the external drive.
If you copy files to a Time Machine disk, you may damage the Time Machine file structure, so you shouldn't do it. It may not happen, but it's better not to try that. Also, you won't be able to read the Time Machine drive in a PC

External hard drive can't be found as a backup disk in time machine and I can't reformat it in Disk Utility.

Just bought a samsung 500gb external hard drive because I need to backup my mac to do a full system reboot because it is completely messed up after downloading the new yosemite update.
But when I go to time machine it isn't offered as an option for a backup disk. I go to disk utility and I can't reformat the hard drive from MS-DOS (FAT) to Mac OS extended (Journaled). I try to change it and it reverts back straight away and I can't change the name of my hard drive. I don't understand what I have to do, i'm currently in safe boot because my laptop runs too slow in normal mode.
Any help would be great.
MacBook Pro

Select a new partition in disk utility.. change the drive options then to GPT from MBR.
And then select Mac OS for the format.
It should work.. if not get a friend with a mac to help you.

Toshiba 3.0 USB external hard drive can't be accessed

I got a new pc (8.1 64) The external hard drive shows up in the folders window, but when I try to open it, I get the following message:" F:\ is not accessible. Access is denied." My son-in-law says this is because when I originally set it up on my old pc I didn't allow sharing. That old pc has had it's disk formatted, so I can't go back to it to reset it there. Any way I can get at my backed-up files?

Take ownership of the drive.
Take Ownership of a File, Folder, Drive, or Registry Key in Windows 8
I generally use Option 4 and set the owner to Everyone.
-Jerry

Recover data from external hard drive that was Windows format and connected on a Macbook Pro. Did I lose everything? What happened?

Hi there this is my first question here!
I connected my external hard drive originally formatted on PC on my new Macbook. The first time I connected it I could see all my files but today I connected it and after I couldn't see any file nor even on my pc appears as NO NAME with a different name and nothing on it. I think was reformatted, any help to recover all my data?
It's really important stuff for me

If the Apple Store couldn't get files off of the drive, it is unlikely that you will be able to. If you have backups, those would be the best way to go. You could also try booting up the computer and holding down T to boot into Target Disk Mode. Plug the broken computer into another one with FireWire and see if it works to recover data from external hard drive. If you can see it, try booting up the broken computer while holding down Option. Choose Recovery HD from the menu, then choose to Reinstall OS X.
It is unlikely that this will work, because I'm pretty sure that the Apple Store would have tried this. You could try using expensive software to get files off the drive, but it would be risky and the results might not be any good.
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4273

If i backed up my iPhotos on an external hard drive can i delete them off my mac?

I recently backed up my Macbook pro on to an external hard drive. I was wodnering if i could delete my photos from my iphoto library to save space, and if so can i then get them back on my computer from my external hard drive?

Depends on exactly what you did
And if you delete the information from your main computer then you do not have a backup - to have a backup you need hte original on your computer and an exact copy on another disk
What format is the external drive? It must be Mac OS extended (journaled) to have your iPhoto library on ti
What did you copy to the external drive? The iPhoto library or your photos?
What you probably need to do is to run your iPhoto library on an external drive and to have a second external drive to backup to - Time Machine is a good choice
To run your iPhoto library on an external drive verify that the drive is formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) and drag the iPHoto library to it intact as a single entity - depress the option and command keyus, launch iPhoto and select the new location - fully test the library on the external drive and after one successful backup cycle verify that the external drive is being backedup - then delete your iPhoto library on the main drive - test one more time before emptying the trash
LN

External Hard Drive Can't Be Formatted?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for