My computer doesn't recognise my external hard drive

My macbook doesn't seem to recognise my external hard drive (OS 10.8.3).
The hard drive connects to laptop via USB, but gets power from another plug in the wall. When I plug it in, its icon does not appear on desktop, or in Finder menu.
The hard drive works fine on my sisters laptop (Macbook, about 5 years old). Other storage devices work fine in my macbook, and appear rapidly on both desktop and finder menu when I insert them.
Have any of you encountered this before? Can you tell me how can I fix it???

Check out KB Article:
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH10866 OS X Mountain Lion: If a CD or DVD doesn’t appear on the desktop

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Time Machine doesn't recognise Seagate external hard drive

Forgive my ignorance, but I can't figure out how to connect Time Machine with my new hard drive. I've clicked on "select back up disk" but my external hard drive doesn't appear. I've looked at a lot of similar support online, but everything tells me to click the button and select the drive, but not what to do if there is no drive to select. Can anyone help me? Am I missing something obvious?

mel_hann wrote:
I found this:
http://knowledge.seagate.com/articles/en_US/FAQ/217131en
This tells me it can be done and that it's quite simple. It's all fine until step 4. When I click on Time Machine Backup Configuration it just connects to the Apple support page for how to set up Time Machine. Nowhere to input my details. Grrrrr.... This shouldn't be this hard!
In theory, I agree that it ought to be simple, but that's Seagate's programming, not Apple's. Few folks here, and none at Apple, are familiar with it.
Do you have the current version? Does it claim to be compatible with the version of OSX you're on (is that Snow Leopard 10.6.8, per your profile)? Not all NASs are compatible with all versions of OSX. You need to contact Seagate (or return the NAS).
Again, I'd strongly recommend reconsidering. I just spent the better part of a couple of days helping a user of a GoFlex Home who replaced her internal HD, then found her backups were corrupted, piece her system back together. Not for the faint of heart.
Take a look for yourself: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5061341
There's a lot of chaff there -- she's not an experienced Mac user (she is now!), but was very determined to get her stuff back.

My computer doesn't see my external hard drive

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It does. It may not call it "resetting the port", but this method is what resets the port:
"Tip: FireWire ports are keyed, which means the FireWire cable can only be inserted one way. Check that you are inserting the FireWire cable into the FireWire port in the correct orientation.
If the issue persists, try these steps:
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2. Disconnect all FireWire devices and all other cables, except the keyboard and mouse cable(s).
3. Disconnect the computer from the power outlet and wait for 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Plug the computer back in and turn it on.
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I recently updated the software on my MacBook Pro. Now, my computer no longer recognizes my external hard drive. Could this be related to the software update and, if so, how do I correct the problem?

I Recently updated the software on my MacBook Pro. Now, my computer no longer recognizes my external hard drive. Could this be related to the software update and, if so, how do I correct the problem?

Ari343 wrote:
No, the external hard drive does not show up on Disk Utility. I don't have another computer to try it on.
Perform a PRAM reset:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379
Have you tried all the ports?
Have you tried with a different cable?
Have you tested all the ports with other devices to see that they are functioning?
Ciao.

Can a computer crash disable (break) an external hard drive?

Can a computer crash disable (break) an external hard drive (FW800)?
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Can a computer crash disable (break) an external hard drive (FW800)?
No, but it could damage files or the directory structure, so the drive wouldn't mount. Disk Utility should be able to fix it by erasing or partitioning, but you would lose the data on the drive.
My mac pro started to see programs crash. First one, that wouldn't 'force quit', then a minute later a second. This had happened before last year, so i started quitting apps to restart. At the end, half of them i succeeded to quit and about 4 wouldn't quit. The finder was frozen/crashed, no dock or apple menu or any menu for that matter. The mouse moved. i could shortcut 'force quit' and 'return' on default OKs.
You may have bad RAM, or other hardware problems. Have you run the extended Apple Hardware Tests. Boot from the install DVD while pressing "D". Try removing any non-Apple RAM modules.
I tested the pins on the power adapter with a voltmeter, according to the schematic on the adapter itself and i got 5.5 V on the one side and 13 odd V on the other. Apparently what's supposed to be coming out. (5 V and 12 V)
Some power supplies will put out more than the rated voltage if there is nothing attached, but 5.5 V and 13 V are not high enough to cause damage, anyway.
Can a powerbutton shutdown shoot electricity through the FireWIre bus?
No.

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How do I get my iMac to recognise this external hard drive again?

Yes, while WD makes great drives in my experience, their enclosures & chipsets really don't do anybody justice.
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[USB and FireWire Quick Assist|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1151]
[Common fixes for USB device issues (unrecognized, etc.)|http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=20070824012114701]
[What to do if your computer won't recognize a FireWire or USB device|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1317]

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Why won't my MacBook recognise my external hard drive?

I've just upgraded to a new MacBook.
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Nick

Mac Medic ([email protected]) wrote:
Are there two USB plugs connected to the wire coming out of the drive? Do you see the drive in your System Profiler? Even if it doesn't mount, it should show up in there.
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Try buttons are meant for Trial installations
Note : Make sure you had Signed in to Creative Cloud using Email ID using which you had purchased subscription .
If you had signed in with valid email ID already , Sign out from Creative Cloud and Sign in.
https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/sign-in-out-creative-cloud-desktop-app.html
Still you are getting Try buttons??
1) Right click on the Finder icon on dock and select "Go-To Folder" option.
2) You will get a text box, type-in below mentioned command and then hit 'Return' key.
/etc
3) It will open the etc folder, please look for file named "hosts" and copy the same to Desktop screen.
4)Double click on Hosts file , it will open with TextEdit .
Let me know whether you can see any Adobe entries like 127.0.01 activate.adobe.com ...xxxxxx.adobe.com.....etc???

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So what is the APPLE HDD?
Here is a screenshot of my devices on my iMac:
The top entry is the internal hard drive and "iMac ML" is the one and only partition on it which is by default normally "Macintosh HD" - I renamed it (except the hidden recovery).
Can you post a screenshot of yours?

My Macbook suddenly won't recognise my external hard drive

Hi there.
I am using an Intenso 2,5" MemoryStation as an external hard drive. I have a few folders with pictures on it and my TimeMachine. When I plug it in it would usually show up on my desktop and start backing up my hard disk automatically. Something has now changed.
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Anne Sofie

Open the Finder.
From the Finder menu bar click Finder > Preferences then select the General tab.
Make sure: External disks is selected.

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Why doesn't Time Machine recognize my external hard drive? The icon is on the desktop but it won't back up and fails saying the backup volume can't be found.
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Format : Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
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Type : Volume
Disk Identifier : disk1s3
Mount Point : /Volumes/My Iomega HDD
File System : Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Connection Bus : FireWire
Device Tree : /PCI0/RP04@1C,3/FRWR@0/node@d0b87de0002bb1/sbp-2@c000/@0:3
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Universal Unique Identifier : 4692F5BF-C808-3459-8090-F05D5724133C
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Free Space : 199.7 GB (214,375,014,400 Bytes)
Used : 98.3 GB (105,563,660,288 Bytes)
Number of Files : 367,381
Number of Folders : 85,981
Owners Enabled : No
Can Turn Owners Off : Yes
Can Be Formatted : Yes
Bootable : Yes
Supports Journaling : Yes
Journaled : Yes
Disk Number : 1
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My computer doesn't recognise my external hard drive

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