External hard drive not visible on macbook

Hi all
I am brand new to the mac from windows, so far so good! However I have an external hard drive that I want to plug into my mac and back up onto. Problem is when I connect it it is not "seen" in the finder window. The drive is presently formatted as NFTS. I want to reformat it for mac but unable in the disk utility option as it can't see it! Covered the basics ie drive works and is powered as checked on the (ex) windows machine. I have tried reformatting it under windows, the only choice I have is to NFTS. Am I missing something glaringly obvious here. Am sure this may be the first of many posts.....!!
Thanks in advance
Ynot

Hi! Is the drive a portable drive that doesn't have a separate power supply? If it's a portable put the drive up to your ear when you plug it in and see if it spins up or clicks. Inadequate usb power is often the problem. tom

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I have had a good look through previous discussions and I can't seem to find an issue relevant to mine.
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An update for anyone who can help me:
I have tried the external hard drive in other computers (mac and windows), each time I get the same problem above.
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See Pondini's TM FAQs.
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External hard drive not visible on macbook

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