I'm attempting to access files on my external hard drive, but my Mac won't open the files (or rather the hard drive won't let me download them). I can connect the hard drive and I see my files, but when I try to open them, it just shows that it's working, but I have yet to be able to access anything within any of my files. Does anyone have a suggestion?
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.12
If you have a Mac with an Intel processor, try resetting the NVRAM and the SMC. If you have a Mac with an Apple silicon chip, just power your Mac off and back on.
Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support
Reset the SMC of your Mac - Apple Support
Go into Safe Mode and see if you can open your files from there.
Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support
Have you tried running First Aid on the external hard drive using the "Disk Utility" App?
Repair a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support
This webpage, also, has some ideas on how to try to resolve some issues:
If you have a Mac with an Intel processor, try resetting the NVRAM and the SMC. If you have a Mac with an Apple silicon chip, just power your Mac off and back on.
Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support
Reset the SMC of your Mac - Apple Support
Go into Safe Mode and see if you can open your files from there.
Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support
Have you tried running First Aid on the external hard drive using the "Disk Utility" App?
Repair a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support
This webpage, also, has some ideas on how to try to resolve some issues:
It could be the permsions on the File ITSELF -OR-
it could be the permissions of the Folder that encloses the file -AND-
if you have access to the file, you can likely COPY it somewhere, which has far fewer requirements than EDITing in place.
Is this a rotating magnetic drive?
if a block is going BAD, it may take as long as a quarter minute per marginal block (worst case) too re-read that block up to 1,000 times hoping to get good data.
when you look at a file with Finder, and can see the file, you know you have at least READ access to the drive.That may allow you to copy the file, if desired.
When you find you can not open a file to EDIT that file IN PLACE, it is likely you do not have WRITE access to the Folder where the file is located, or possibly you do not have WRITE access to the file itself.
in finder, select an icon and choose GetInfo off the file menu to see what access you have:
...
It is set to read & write. When I open the disk and attempt to open one of the files, the file opens, but I cannot see any of the items saved there as it looks like it's "working" to open the files. I had some success last night when a couple of the files opened and I was able to drag some of it onto my computer, but then the external shut down again. I've changed cords and different computers, which leads me to believe there is something corrupt in the external. I don't think I could even download recovery software. Does this mean I can't get my files off or do I need to take it somewhere?
Mac no longer recognizes Toshiba external hard drive.
