I have a Seagate 2TB external hard drive partitioned with one partition of Snow Leopard (my computer is running Lion). Can't seem to reboot using the option key. Any ideas as to what's wrong?

I have a Seagate 2TB external hard drive with 3 partitions, one for Snow Leopard - my computer has Lion. I cannot seem to boot from this hard drive but I could yesterday. Any ideas?

Didnt help. The night I asked this question I was able to reboot from the external hard drive after running Disk repair (which said everything was fine). Tonight I have tried again and cannot boot from the external. So I tried the Safe Mode restart and then chose restart with the option key held down as well as shutting down and trying holding down the option key while turning on the power. I have never been able to reboot just choosing restart and holding down the option key. Whenever the reboot from the external has worked I've had to shut down and hold the option key while turning the power on. Now that is not working. My computer is brand new as is the hard drive. I don't know where to go from here.
I can access the drive just fine while I'm in Lion. I just can't boot up using it. Help!

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WD 1TB not recognised on 13" macbook pro retina (late 2013) even though it is exFAT file structure. The same drive is recognised on iMac and an old Dell laptop. I also have a seagate 2TB external hard drive (powered) that is recognised by my macbook pro.

I just bought a late 2013 macbook pro retina 13" a few days ago. I am trying to transfer all my music from my old Dell laptop. I formatted by 1TB Western Digital MyPassport to exFAT to allow read and write on both operating systems. The 1TB WD My Passport is recognised by both my Dell and iMac but not my new macbook pro retina 13 (late 2013). My 1TB WD My Passport is USB 3.0 with USB 2.0 backward compatability. I also just bought a 2TB Seagate Desktop Backup Plus (which is powered) for backing up and extra file storage, THIS WORKS! I don't understand how this works on my macbook pro but my 1TB western digital my passport doesn't. PLEASE HELP!! I have done full formats as well (not quick ones) which take nearly 8 hours. PLEASE HELP

Is there a pattern to the time of day or other detail that may be
traced back to a OS X system cause of this odd phenomenon?
Are there any copies of system files on any of the attached USB
external drives? Any libraries, such as iTunes, iPhoto, etc?
Once the drives are indexed by Spotlight, are their permissions
ignored by the OS X? Content, if neutral, should not affect the
wake or sleep cycle; especially if they're ignored by the OS X.
Could there be a bad cable or other component? If so that would
be a difficult process of elimination to detect it. Usually replacing
most suspect components in the USB stream (external to Macs)
is a rote way to mechanically test that idea; & not 100% sure.
Does the equipment all have a good ground to the utility or house
electrical field? An intermittent ground may affect more than sleep.
Hard to say at this point. Maybe a late-night talk radio guru on
remote viewing could peer into your situation and sleuth it out?
Sorry to have run out of ideas, but the process must be electrical
& mechanical to some extent. - Or perhaps odd software inspired.
Do you have any phone-home spyware items inside, just jumping
at the chance to spill your information? Little Snitch may help.
PS: Perhaps the computer needs to go into Apple & have a genius
or product specialist at AASP test the unit thoroughly... BlueTooth?
see:
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Wake+reason:+XHC1
Good luck & happy computing!
edited 2x

Can I partition my external hard drive so that one partition is for Time Machine and the other is to install Windows with Boot Camp?

I have a Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 1TB USB 3.0 external hard drive that I currently use just for Time Machine backups. Is it possible for me to go into Disk Utility and create a new partition on the drive so that I may install Windows 7 via Boot Camp? Or since I am already using it for Time Machine do I have to keep it only for Time Machine?

You must install Boot Camp in your internal drive because Windows can't be installed in an external disk and Boot Camp can't do that

I have a Seagate 3TB external hard drive and was using it with time machine on my old system with Snow Leopard and it was working smoothly. I have now upgraded to Mavericks and when I tried setting up time machine again, it did not work.

The OS does not detect the drive when I start the system, but Disk Utility shows the disk as an external drive. I seem to be going around in circles. Please take a look at the following screen grabs for the errors I am getting.

But When I verify The sub-partition in the Disk (disk4s2), it asks me to repair disk. When I try to repair disk, it gives me this error.

I have: (a) a Macbook Pro, (b) a Macbook, and (c) a brand-new 2TB external hard drive. How many partitions should I make on my external hard drive?

I want to back up both of the laptops, but I'm wondering if it would be a waste of the 2TB to just assign 1TB to each Time Machine backup. How much space does Time Machine use? Should I make a third partition for miscellaneous backups (photos from the camera, etc.)? If so, how big should it be?
Thanks in advice for your input.

Look at this web site devoted to Time Machine:
http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html
I suspect that this portion will address your situation:
http://pondini.org/TM/15.html
Ciao.

How do I reformat my Seagate Expansion external hard drive so I can use it for Mac

I recently purchased a 3TB Seagate® Expansion® external hard drive for PC. My plan is too reformat it so that I can use it, but it has been acting wierd on me. It says on Disk Utility that it is 4 gbs but I have a 3TB one. Im on OSX mavericks by the way. Thanks!

akostainsek,
the diskutil output shows that the disk has no Apple-recognized partitioning. Try the following commands in Terminal to establish the partitioning, and to see if it takes effect:
diskutil eraseDisk JHFS+ Seagate disk1
diskutil list
Again, please include in your reply the full output from these commands.

Need to download a programme to set up VPN but I can't access the website as it is also blocked in china? how do I install the programme if I cant download it or have it on a external hard drive.

Need to download a programme to set up VPN but I can't access the website as it is also blocked in china? how do I install the programme if I cant download it or have it on a external hard drive.

Not sure I understand you correctly.. Are you currently in China, and therefore unable to download the app? Also, which program is it that you're trying to get?

Just bought a 2tb external hard drive with the intention of moving my iPhoto data files on it. I have so much of my 500 gigs being used up by images and video. Questions: Will this foul up my iPhoto app? Do I need to point iPhoto to this new location?

Just bought a 2tb external hard drive with the intention of moving my iPhoto data files to it. I have so much of my 500 gigs being used up by images and video. Questions: Will this foul up my iPhoto app?
Do I need to point iPhoto to this new location?
Thanks!

Are you running a Managed or a Referenced Library?
A Managed Library, is the default setting, and iPhoto copies files into the iPhoto Library when Importing. The files are then stored in the Library package
A Referenced Library is when iPhoto is NOT copying the files into the iPhoto Library when importing because you made a change at iPhoto -> Preferences -> Advanced. (You unchecked the option to copy files into the Library on import) The files are then stored where ever you put them and not in the Library package. In this scenario you are responsible for the File Management.
Assuming a Managed Library:
Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.
4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.
Regards
TD

I have nearly 9,000 Images on my I Mac and I wish to move them over to a 2TB external hard drive and still be able to access them from Aperture and or iPhoto?

I have nearly 9,000 Images on my I Mac and I wish to move them over to a 2TB external hard drive and still be able to access them from Aperture and or iPhoto. How is the best way of doing this?

Here is how to do it with iPhoto:
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2506
As for Aperture, you'll need to do a search on the support website yourself because the result is a download so I couldn't post a link - the instructions are in the user manual. I believe the settings are within Aperture's Preferences.

I have the latest Mac Air 13" and I have a Seagate 500MB external hard disk I cant copy or Cut any files on the hard disk and I cant even delete any files. I have the settings as Read and Write in the get info tab. Please help

I have the latest Mac Air 13" and I have a Seagate 500MB external hard disk I cant copy or Cut any files on the hard disk and I cant even delete any files. I have the settings as Read and Write in the get info tab. Please helpand also note that my hard drive was formatted on a Windows 7 Laptop.

thats the problem, its in MSDos (Fat) or NTFS for Windows.
Options.....
1. offload all that data on the HD onto your PC, THEN format the HD in EXFAT for use on BOTH PC and Mac for read/write.....then reload all (or as you need) that data back onto the HD
2. get another HD, and format it for Mac OSX extended journaled.
FAT32 (File Allocation Table)
Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
Maximum file size: 4GB.
Maximum volume size: 2TB
You can use this format if you share the drive between Mac OS X and Windows computers and have no files larger than 4GB.
NTFS (Windows NT File System)
Read/Write NTFS from native Windows.
Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X
To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X, here are some alternatives:
For Mac OS X 10.4 or later (32 or 64-bit), install Paragon (approx $20) (Best Choice for Lion)
Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and Lion, but is not advisable, due to instability.
AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS
Maximum file size: 16 TB
Maximum volume size: 256TB
You can use this format if you routinely share a drive with multiple Windows systems.
HFS+ ((((MAC FORMAT))) (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Don't use case-sensitive)
Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X
Required for Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper! backups of Mac internal hard drive.
To Read HFS+ (but not Write) from Windows, Install HFSExplorer
Maximum file size: 8EiB
Maximum volume size: 8EiB
You can use this format if you only use the drive with Mac OS X, or use it for backups of your Mac OS X internal drive, or if you only share it with one Windows PC (with MacDrive installed on the PC)
EXFAT (FAT64) ------Can read/write from both PC and Mac
Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
Not all Windows versions support exFAT.
exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support exFAT
Maximum file size: 16 EiB
Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB
You can use this format if it is supported by all computers with which you intend to share the drive. See "disadvantages" for details.

I have a new iPad Air. Can I use plug in USB camera reader to have a load of movies etc on an external hard drive and then plug and play so to speak. I'm off on holiday and haven't got the capacity to have everything on that I'd like for the kids

Can I use a plug in USB camera reader to have a load of movies etc on an external hard drive and then plug and play so to speak? I'm off on holiday and haven't got the capacity on the iPad to have everything on that I'd like for the kids.
So basically I want a hard drive with X amount of films etc on. Can I then watch them on my iPad?
Hope this makes sense.

External HDD won't work.
You need something like this:
http://www.seagate.com/goflexsatellite/

With Time Machine I have an external hard drive formatted with Mac

With Time Machine I have an external hard drive formatted with Mac. The record contained files windows. How to recover?
Serious mistake: to connect a Mac to an external drive with data (important!) Windows, the warning appears: "You want to use the disk for Time Machine?" Wrong button, so in 2-3 seconds, the disk is formatted. Now Mac "sees" the disc but empty, Windows does not see it under "My Computer" but in "Disk Management" is reported as "hard core", "healthy", "GPT protective partition" Is there a way to retrieve the files? Sorry for my English Thanks

I'm having a difficult time following, I understand English isn't your native language. You may have good luck with Google Translate.
Also please read Pondini's Time Machine FAQs & Time Machine Troubleshooting.

My WD 2tb external hard drive will not unmount from my MacBook Pro.

My WD 2tb external hard drive will not unmount from my MacBook Pro. It no longer even shows up in finder, however it does show up in Disk Utility. I have tired so many of the suggestions on the internet all to a fail.
I keep getting the message to be sure that all applications are closed before ejecting the drive. I have no clue how to tell which appliactions are using the external drive to shut them off. I turned off Time Machiene to be safe.
I don't need anything on the external drive, I am just trying to erase it, save my current info, and migrate it to my new MacBook Pro.
I have been about four days now with this issue all over the internet, in this community, and watching videos on everything and nothing about this topic to a fail.
I think I am doomed and have lossed this external drive because of some wierd application that will NEVER close on my hard drive for it to disconnect correctly. It's annoying.
Does anyone have a solution?

Have you trie using another USB port? Can you test the USB ports with other USB devices to assure they are working? You may want to reinstall OS X in case there has been a driver glitch.
Reinstall OS X without erasing the drive
1. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
2. Reinstall Snow Leopard
If the drive is OK then quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed with reinstalling OS X. Note that the Snow Leopard installer will not erase your drive or disturb your files. After installing a fresh copy of OS X the installer will move your Home folder, third-party applications, support items, and network preferences into the newly installed system.
Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.

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 a FAT 32 External Hard Drive marked as Read Only that is unchangeable by an administrator or root user, how can I make it read/Write

Hello, All,
I have a FAT 32 External Hard Drive marked as Read Only that is unchangeable by an administrator or root user, how can I make it read/Write without reformatting it ?

Hi Kappy,
Just wondering if you had any advice for my situation . . .
My time machine backup was backing up to a drive that was "Mac OS X Enteded Journaled, Case Sensitive." I had no idea what this meant, or that it would even cause issues.
I took my computer to the Apple store yesterday, and they wiped it clean. When they tried to restore it from the Time Machine backup drive, it would not work. Their guess is that Time Machine cannot restore from a drive that is "case sensitive."
Any thoughts on how I can convert my time machine backup data from a "case sensitive" state, to a "non-case sensitive" state? I've tried to just drag and drop the files from the case sensitive formatted drive to a new drive that I have that is formatted non case sensitive, but I get the following error message:
"The volume has the wrong case sensitivity for a backup"
I just really want my data back - I thought TimeMachine was the way to go (and was supposed to work) but unfortunately it is not.
Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

I have a Seagate 2TB external hard drive partitioned with one partition of Snow Leopard (my computer is running Lion). Can't seem to reboot using the option key. Any ideas as to what's wrong?

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