I have a new WD Passport for Mac. I am trying to add it to Time Machine where I already have a similar drive set up. The drive is connected to my MacBook - its indicator light is is on. But when I select + to add the drive I get this message ‘No available time machine destinations. Connect a suitable external drive or network storage device.’ The Set Up Disk is greyed out.
Advice would be most welcome.
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.7
TheLittles--
That is exactly the right idea!
But when faced with a drive that is likely to be factory-initialized to NTFS or other foreign file format, there is one additional sub-step you may be glossing over. For High Sierra and later, you need to erase the entire DVICE by selecting the immutable manufacturer-given Device-name.
By default, Disk Utility HIDES the device information, showing only Volumes, like this:
above shows that I have four MacOS Volumes in my Mac Pro, but does not give access to the Devices.
Use the tiny View menu to select "Show all Devices" and then you get access to the Physical Devices to do a proper ERASE. Then it will look like this:
Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support
.
TheLittles--
That is exactly the right idea!
But when faced with a drive that is likely to be factory-initialized to NTFS or other foreign file format, there is one additional sub-step you may be glossing over. For High Sierra and later, you need to erase the entire DVICE by selecting the immutable manufacturer-given Device-name.
By default, Disk Utility HIDES the device information, showing only Volumes, like this:
above shows that I have four MacOS Volumes in my Mac Pro, but does not give access to the Devices.
Use the tiny View menu to select "Show all Devices" and then you get access to the Physical Devices to do a proper ERASE. Then it will look like this:
Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support
.
Gardnerlord Said:
"Macbook won’t add drive to time machine: I have a new WD Passport for Mac. I am trying to add it to Time Machine where I already have a similar drive set up. The drive is connected to my MacBook - its indicator light is is on. But when I select + to add the drive I get this message ‘No available time machine destinations. Connect a suitable external drive or network storage device.’ The Set Up Disk is greyed out. Advice would be most welcome."
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Backing Up with Time Machine:
To use Time Machine Backup, you need to format your hard drive, accordingly. APFS is the format to use.
***To Open Disk Utility: Go to: Applications > Utilities
Grant Bennet-Alder Said:
“But when faced with a drive that is likely to be factory-initialized to NTFS or other foreign file format, there is one additional sub-step you may be glossing over.[…]”
———-
Formatting this is a Wise Decision:
If it’s pre-Apple factory set or not, then you’re not so good. Just know that there may be pre-installed junk software installed. On the original packaging, look on see if it reads you must perform a format, if you want to use it with TMB.
One other 'trick' (that you may never need).
Sometimes Disk Utility just refuses to erase a Device if it contains data in a foreign file format.
The way around that is to pretend it put up that old message from MS-DOS "Are you sure?".
Without changing anything, ask Disk Utility to ERASE again. This often will go through the second time.
Gardnerlord Said:
”Macbook won’t add drive to time machine: Thank you TheLittles for your prompt help. It worked a treat and back up is now in progress.”
———-
You are welcome. Excellent job troubleshooting!
Thank you TheLittles for your prompt help. It worked a treat and back up is now in progress.
Macbook won’t add drive to time machine
