don290022

Q: My iBook G3 won't recognize my 3TB & 4TB external hard drives. Why?

I've had my 4TB external hard drive since May and my iBook G3 since April. I've been trying to connect my 4TB external hard drive to my iBook, and it says some error message about the disk. So what I decided to do is come here and search for similar problems to mine that other users have posted on the forum, and found one, but the user didn't discuss how he solved his problem.

 

What do I need to do for my iBook G3 to recognize my external hard drive? My iBook runs on Mac OS X.

iBook G3 (2001 Version), Mac OS 9.1.x, I have an iBook G3 (not clamshell)

Posted on Dec 6, 2015 10:21 AM

Close

Q: My iBook G3 won't recognize my 3TB & 4TB external hard drives. Why?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by K Shaffer,Apple recommended

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Dec 6, 2015 5:21 PM in response to don290022
    Level 6 (14,244 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 6, 2015 5:21 PM in response to don290022

    There is a fair chance the older first edition dualUSB ported white iBook G3/G4 group

    does not support larger capacity hard drives; you also may need to check the format

    to see if the unit shipped with one that isn't compatible with old OS X or OS9.2.2 files.

     

    http://lowendmac.com/2005/how-big-hard-drive-imac-emac-power-mac-powerbook-ibook /

     

    External use of larger capacity drives is a different area of concern than internal hard

    disk drive usage; and not just size but type is also important when considering internal.

     

    With an external drive, a new one supports USB2.0/3.0 and faster; the unit may not be

    supported with USB1.1 that is as much as 40x slower in read-write. And if the unit is

    not in a self-powered enclosure, that too will likely fail since port-power for a larger HDD

    may be lacking from an old USB1.1 dualUSB computer. There likely is a mis-match in

    hardware support. As details are lacking, one can go across a wide range of possibilities.

     

    And older PowerPC macs tend to prefer their external drives be IDE/ATA (PATA) and be

    inside a FireWire400 self-powered (not bus powered) enclosure; these also can support

    bootable clones of the OSX if the controller chipset inside the enclosure is proper type.

    An earlier chipset type was referred to as 'Oxford chipset' but there are other; see the

    OWC macsales.com site for enclosures w/ their own power supplies, FireWire400/800.

     

    So the kind & type of hard drive enclosure may also be an issue, in addition to the limits

    in physical capacity of the drive and how it is attached to the computer... And power.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by my ginger,

    my ginger my ginger Dec 13, 2015 5:02 PM in response to don290022
    Level 4 (2,472 points)
    Dec 13, 2015 5:02 PM in response to don290022

    What is the wording of the error message. If the error message is: this drive cannot be read or identified by this computer, then you have to use disk utilities to erase  and set whatever partitions you want and make it MAc OS extended.    I am not to sure that you can use a 4TB external drive as it may not be able to be read it. I think the limit is 500 MB. Also to work effectively. You would need to have it in a firewire inclosure. USB 1.1 is too slow.