Major Hard Drive Help???

My computer suddenly started to have an alternating beep (soft, sounded like an alarm clock) and ticking sound and then locked up. Then on start up, I would hear the sound (about one beep and tick per 2 seconds at a low volume), there would be a quick, strange flash on the display and then I got a blinking folder/?. Starting up with the install disk and running disk utilitity, no hard drive shows up, but when I run a hardware performance test (extended), it passes.
I keep most of my important data on an external but I would like to recover email and a few files. Is this possible? Is it even possible to reformat at this point or is the hard drive completely done? Thanks very much for any help...

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think your drive is dead - you can try taking it out and putting it in an enclosure and see if anything will work, but if Data Rescue can't see it, that's not a good sign.
Please post back,
Miriam
P.S., if you'd like, go ahead and click the "Helpful" or "Solved" buttons on any of the posts / replies above if you feel they were helpful or adequately answered your question.

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Disk utility tells me to start my computer with my osx disk, then repair the hard drive , help???

disk utility tells me to start my computer with my osx disk, then repair the hard drive , help???

Hi prkrgrp,
I'm sorry, I'm a bit unclear on the exact nature of your question. If you are having issues starting up from your original Install Disk and running Disk Utility to repair your hard drive, you may find the information and steps outlined in the following articles helpful:
Using Disk Utility to verify or repair disks - Apple Support
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck - Apple Support
Regards,
- Brenden

External Hard drive help: use with mac and pc? how to backup everything etc

Hello! I need some help regarding a new external hard drive I got from OWC. It is a 500 gb firewire 400 + usb 2.0 7200 rpm hard drive. I am running it from firewire. The software suggests the first thing you do is make a clone of your macbooks internal hard drive, that way if it fails later you can use the external to back everything up. If I do this ...
1. do I have to make the drive "Bootable" ? I have software called Data Backup 3 by Pro soft I think. It came with my external.
2. Can I still back up other stuff like my audio recordings and record onto that drive to a seperate folder?
3. If I make a bootable copy will it try and boot from the drive everytime I turn it on or something?
My other question is... how can I use this drive with a pc? I have a pc as well and I heard that the only way it will work is to format it in ms-dos mode (fat32?)
If I write it to fat32 will it slow down my drive or make it worse? I heard that you should format external drives specifically for mac if you have a mac; so it will only work with macs...
(sorry this is going on and on; it's like a chain reaction of questions)
so If its formatted to mac drive format then can I do this with my current situation:
1. I have wireless internet, the router is on a pc downstairs
2. Can I send files over a network somehow from the pc to my mac
3. then store it on my external?
If so can someone point me in that direction with a link?
Thank you for reading, sorry for making this so long.

1. No, you don't have to make a bootable clone.
2. If you use the drive for a bootable backup, then you cannot use the drive for other types of storage unless you partition the drive and make more than one volume.
3. No, it will not try to boot the computer. You must designate the startup volume using Startup Disk preferences.
If you wish to use the drive on both a Mac and a PC, then either you make two partitions - one for Mac and the other for the PC or you must format the entire drive using FAT32 so the drive can be used for read//write by both operating systems. If you do this then you cannot use the drive for a bootable backup nor can you use it with Time Machine.
FAT32 is slower for read/write on the Mac than using Mac formatting.
Optimally, I would suggest you partition the drive into two volumes. One volume formatted for the Mac and the other formatted FAT32.
You can send files from a PC to a Mac and vice-versa using File Sharing. Select Mac Help from the Finder's Help menu and search for "file sharing" or "sharing" to find help articles. Also see,
Mac OS X 10.5 Help- Setting up a Mac computer to share files with Windows users
Mac OS X 10.5 Help- Setting up a Windows computer to share files with Mac users
Mac OS X 10.5 Help- Sharing with Windows computers

Weird problem involving my external hard drive - help please!

I recently got a formac mini 120 gb firewire hard drive, which had been working fine with my g4 quicksliver.
i then went to a friends (g5 machine) with my drive and he put some data on it - bought it back to mine and managed to re connect the drive and take the data - no problem - very happy.
I recently gave my drive to another friend using a g5 and when it came back, nothing - i don't get the drive symbol appearing. turned the comp on and off many times and tried re-connecting etc still no drive appearing.
Then i took the drive to my friend with a mac lap top power book. connected there - working fine. Baffling. was happy that my data can still be accessed.
I know it's not the firewire cable because i can get power to the drive - i can see the red light at the fron on.
Can anyone help with this weird problem?
Thanks

Thought you could use this info about getting FireWire to work!
First, you should always Repair Permissions in Disk Utility before and after any update; I would do that now. If you installed your update with FireWire plugged in, your Mac may not recognize it anymore.
Try resetting your FireWire ports by disconnecting all FW devices, shut down your Mac and unplug it from AC power (wall socket) for 30 minutes. plug it back in and try FW.
If that did'nt work, download the combo update from this site (yours may be corrupt), not Software Update, disconnect all firewire + USB devices except keyboard + mouse, Repair Permissions, re-install update, Repair Permissions again + try. Yours might be the 10.4.10 Combo update. I have no idea since you did not fill out your specs. fully when you signed in to this site. Others reading, download the Combo that applies to your system. This link is for PPC Macs not Intel Macs.
If that still did'nt get it Zap the PRAM. While restarting Mac hold down the following key combo Command-Option-P-R. Keep holding those keys down till you hear the second start-up chime, then release.
For those of you with Macs that are not PowerBooks or iBooks, a bad internal battery can cause FireWire to not be recognized, so make sure it's good! Also, here is Apple doc.#88338 on getting FireWire to work.
Good Luck!
Cheers!
DALE

Major Hard Drive Issues

Hi guys, I have a 2011 MBP (Trying) to run osx 10.8.
Recently, the finder and web browsers started crashing, then it would not boot to the OS at all. I figured it was probably a bad hard drive so I replaced it with a new one and reinstalled OSX 10.8 and now it just did the exact same thing. First chrome starts crashing every webpage, then the finder wont open and it just becomes unbootable.
I've run the hard drives through tech tool pro and they both come back with no errors whatsoever. I also have tried installing multiple OSX versions to no avail.
Could it be that java or flash on my browser is corrupting my OS install? Or is this a hardware issue with the logic board?? Note: I tried running run of the HDs through USB 3.0 and have the same problem. Any Ideas as to what this problem is or how I can address getting it fixed? I don't even know what to tell the apple store techs! I have a feeling they will replace the HD and I will still have the same issues.
Any help is much appreciated! Im totally lost now!

Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode* and log in to the account with the problem. The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:
Shut down your computer, wait 30 seconds, and then hold down the shift key while pressing the power button.
When you see the gray Apple logo, release the shift key.
If you are prompted to log in, type your password, and then hold down the shift key again as you click Log in.
*Note: If FileVault is enabled under OS X 10.7 or later, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t boot in safe mode. Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs. The next normal boot may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin. Test while in safe mode. Same problem? After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

Saving and reopening an iDVD project from a hard drive - HELP!

Hello! I am a moderately experienced user of iLife and am starting to use it for a business(memorial videos, sports highlight videos, etc) My problem is this: After I finish a project and export it to iDVD I want to save it to my external hard drive and store it there(like a file cabinet for all my finished projects, so that I can come back to them later, if needed) and I am having difficulty when I do this and then go back to open it - iDVD can't find my files for the pictures and sometimes the audio and video. This said, this is my process: Create project in iMovie, export to Garage Band to create chapters, export to iDVD.(this is 08 BTW) At every step I save to the desktop. Then when I am finished burning my DVD, I create a folder(eg., Bob and Kate's Wedding) on my hard drive and put all the media from the desktop in that folder(eg, the iMovie file, the Garage Band file, the iDVD file and a folder of the pictures I used also.
If anyone can shed some light on a better process, or maybe a reason why I cannot just go into my hard drive and double click the iDVD project and burn extra copies, that would be fantastic!
I appreciate any insight. I love doing this work, but with 3 kids, I rarely get time to research the answers to my questions outside of this board!!!
TIA - Lis

Hi Mamalisa
iDVD can't find my files for the pictures and sometimes the audio and video.
And welcome to apple discussions. If you plan to do further modifications to your iDvd project then follow these steps. (btw, iDvd doesn't like it when you change the actual location of video / audio assets once encoded / burned to DVD-R unless it's saved or rather archived beforehand).
On the other hand if you plan no further changes then you may wish to follow this instead of the above.
By sdmacuser at 2009-09-03
Hope this helps but if not just come on back.

Mac OSX is telling me to reformat my external hard drive - HELP!

I have Fantom Drives external hard drive which I use to backup my Mac (via Time Machine) as well as for general storage. Recently, when I turned on my external hard drive I was given the following message:
"The disk "Time Machine Backups" was not repairable by this computer. It is being made available to you with limited functionality. You must back up your data and reformat the disk as soon as possible."
Basically, I can use anything on the external hard drive as well as copy files FROM the drive, but I cannot add anything new to it. I went to Disk Utility to try and repair the disk, but the button is not available so I clicked Verify Disk. The results in red were the following:
"Incorrect number of thread records
Invalid sibling link
Volume Check failed
Error: Filesystem verify or repair failed"
I wondered if erasing the external hard drive would possibly fix the situation. Is it even worth it to try? I was able to copy the most important files to my iPod, but I don't have nearly enough room to copy everything I need (otherwise I would just do it).
My other option is to by a new hard drive and move everything over, but I am hoping I don't have to do that.
Does anyone have any other ideas?

if the drive can not be repaired you should try reformatting.
you can try the following link first that sometimes helps with invalid sibling link errors
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20070204093925888
also, try unmounting (not ejecting) the drive and see if you can use "repair disk" then.
Message was edited by: V.K.

ITunes can't find music on external hard drive Help!

We moved my friend's iTunes music to an external hard drive. Everything was working fine until this week. Somehow the location of the music got changed back to her C drive. I redid the location but now every song has the exclamation mark. I would trash the music folder on the external drive and have her import the songs again from her DVD back ups but she has over 4,000 songs. Any other way to do this? I'm a Mac person so please explain the PC steps clearly. She is running Windows Vista.
Thanks for any help you can offer.

Somehow the location of the music got changed back to her C drive.
Because iTunes was started with the external drive not plugged in or not online and ready.
I redid the location but now every song has the exclamation mark
Select all the songs in iTunes, right click - Get info.

Install new hard drive HELP !!!

Hello, I just install a new 500gb hard drive into my uni mb replacing my 160gb. I have nothing really important to save from my previous hard drive. I am starting from scratch. After installing the new hard drive and inserting the disc 1 and press 'c'. Follow the screen instruction but only get to step 3 where screen ask ' SELECT A DESTINATION'. I have waited for 30 mins and all i see was the same screen. I am unable to click on options and continue cos they were greyed out. The only button that is nor grey is the 'go back'.
I am eagerly trying to get this new hard drive installed. What should i do next. Have tried the restart and all i am able to continue is until the Select a destination page.
Hope to get a good advice from here and .......
Thanking you in advance for all help and assistance.

Finally get the new hard drive installed from sratched. Once again many thanks to ypw. Once i clear the 'select a destination' step, the rest comes easy even for a novice like me.
Just for those who are curious to know the model of the hard drive that I installed. It is Hitachi 5K500 B-500. Choose this over the more popular WD Scorpion blue that most people are using.

Desperate need of External Hard drive help.

Bottom line, I need one that will work. I have been through a mess of external HD problems & I have looked at hundreds of drives on many sites & I just don't know which one I can trust. I have tried a few already, but they just didn't like working on a Mac (even though they are Mac recommended). If anyone can offer any kind of help, it would be greatly, greatly, greatly appreciated. Of course, we won't know how appreciative I am until it arrives & it actually works.
Here is what I am looking for. About 120GB capacity. Nothing over $110, but I am a little flexible. It will just be sitting on my desk, so it doesn't need to be ultra portable. I do not want to buy a regular hard drive & stick it in a case, it's what I have now & it has caused me so many problems. I have FireWave surround sound, so it would be nice if it was firewire (plugs into the back of the FireWave, which is tucked away, while the drive sits on the desk). Would prefer it not to be bus-powered, less cables coming out of my laptop, the better.
I have been through a lot with these products & it just seems like there isn't a great external hard drive that was meant for the MacBook Pro. Please, help me if you can. I need one very soon, the external I have now (the one in a case) is all screwed up & I can only access files when doing a data recovery, but I need another external to transfer the files onto, (I have very little space left on my internal). Thank you very much.

If your looking for something that looks great, works great, and is highly recommended, then I would suggest you look at a drive by G-Technologies. I have been using their drives for years and I have yet to have any issues at all. They do use a variety of drives in the cases, but their boards are what are great. They always receive at least 4 mice, if not 5 from MacWorld as well.
You might be a little hard pressed to get a drive right in your price range, but a smaller drive, such as the one your looking for, are a little harder to find unless they are 2.5" drives. Everything these days is getting bigger.
http://www.g-technology.com/Products/G-DRIVE.cfm
Oh, I should also note that their drives come with a 2 year warranty as well.

I need RAM and Internal Hard Drive help Macbook Pro 17inch

It's about time for me to max out the ram and buy another internal hard drive for my 17 inch Macbook Pro. I use photoshop and final cut pro X on a regular basis and my Macbook is starting to slow down and is low on memory. These were the two recommendations that I got from a live chat agent on OWC. Just wondering were these recommendations good...if so I'll go ahead and purchase them now. Any help is appreciated.
Specs for my Macbook Pro
2.66hz
4GB Ram
250GB HD
Model Identifier is MacBook Pro5,2
Mac OSX Maverick
Recommendations from Agent:
HD
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Seagate/ST1000LM014/
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Toshiba/MQ01ABD100H/
Ram
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/8566DDR3S8GP/

Good choices, though a true SSD would be faster overall, though more expensive. That same drive is a lot cheaper on Amazon though.
http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Solid-Hybrid-2-5-Inch-ST1000LM014/dp/B00B99JUBQ/re f=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395060904&sr=8-1&keywords=seagate+1tb+hybrid

Needs new hard drive- help required.

Hello all.
For reasons that don't really matter- my hard drive has become corrupt- I believe it is the recovery partition on the hard drive. The device won't restore to factory nor will it update. Sometimes I have to unplug it and plug it in just to get movies to play.
Basically- I need to rebuild a new hard drive with the Apple TV OS on it- and all 3 partitions, but I don't know:
1. Where to get the OS.
2. How to create that recovery partition successfully
I'm pretty sure if I could get a .dmg of the OS or whatever form it will come in that I can just load those files into the boot partition. The 3rd partition is just empty for storage, and trickiest of all (to me) is the apple recovery partition.
My Apple TV is a couple years old so it's out of warranty.
Thanks in advance.

1. Where to get the OS.
You can get the Apple TV OS! Just use a network sniffer while the Apple TV download the update and you'll find the address of the Apple server to go to download the OS on your mac. It appears that Apple only provides the 2 most recent versions of the Apple TV OS (As of today 3.01 and 2.4). Alternatively, you can google to find the address of the Apple Server. This info has been on the net forever and I just make sure to download a copy of the Apple TV OS each time a new version is released.
2. How to create that recovery partition successfully
I haven't yet use it to upgrade my Apple TV drive (waiting to be out of warranty) but the instructions available on the net to upgrade the drive should help on how to use the OS images instead of cloning a previous Apple TV drive.
I'd greatly appreciate if you could share your experience on how you got it done. This will also be very useful to go back to previous version of the OS higher than the version in the recovery partition.

External hard drive help!!!

I've recently got a new PC and all of my itunes music is stored on and external hard drive (as it was when using itunes on my last PC).
I've now copied all these files from my hard drive into my itunes library on my pc (with the file locations still being on my hard drive which is where I want them), but now I can't seem to access or change any of the file information. I can play all of the songs but it won't let me amend anything in the 'Get Info' tab of the song information.
Can anyone help?

Are you using Vista? It is fussy about permissions. Check that your account has full control of you music folder.
Vista file folder permissions help
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/2464a180-e5dc-45d1-a2b8-3c8a 2b571e9d1033.mspx
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/05/25/how-to-take-ownership-and-grant-permiss ions-in-windows-vista/

No device list...new hard drive HELP

hard drive crashed...new hard drive now itunes doesnt recognize shuffle...computer does though? Can someone help me? i get a message saying the device is synched to another library, but there is no device list just library store and playlists so i cant get to the shuffle to dhange the settings to manually synch....help please.

Click OK to erase and hit return on your keyboard. That will wipe out the contents of the shuffle and let you reload it from the library...

Mount Digital Camera like a Hard Drive-HELP TONIGHT PLEASE

I need to figure out how to make my digital camera mount on my desktop like a hard drive. I need to put Images ONTO my memory card, but when I hook up my (Kodak) camera, it always opens in either Image Capture or iPhoto, and only allows me to download images ONTO my computer. I need to put pictures ONTO my memory card. Please help!!!

Digital Camera Disks can be a problem getting mounted and/or accessed on a Mac. Windows has a proprietary system for integrating camera disks but that system is not shared with Apple.
Some cameras have a menu setup setting for disk usage. You might explore your camera's menu and look for a setting to tell it to "act like a data disk". Use the "Data Disk" option to bypass Microsoft's sabotage of your camera
You can name your camera 's disk so the "NO_NAME" part will be something like "Camera". To do this, select the camera disk and press (at the same time) command key (AKA applekey) and the i key, which brings up the infowindow. You can rename your camera disk there.
Another cool trick is to assign your camera a custom icon, I have mine set as a camera which makes it easy to find on the Desktop.
I suggest ignoring applications in both Mac and XP and copying your pictures directly in Finder. When it mounts the camera disk, navigate to the pictures folder and drag it to your desktop and the entire folder will be copied. You can then open the folder in whatever application you want, I use GraphicConverter.

Major Hard Drive Help???

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