I'm working on a recording project. I'd like to back up my audio files on an external hard drive. I have a Lacie external hard drive that has always worked fine until recently. Now my Macbook doesn't recognize it most of the time. Once in a while it does. If I hook it up to my old G3 first and then reconnect it to my Macbook then it seems to work most of the time. Weird. Any thoughts about what's going on?
It could be a matter of file header structures, etc. So, not a hardware problem, but software. Have you run Disk First Aid, and repaired permissions on the hard drive (using your Mac's Disk Utility)? Before doing anything, though, back up what you have (onto DVDs, or ??) in case things go from bad to worse and it is a hardware problem.
I have had good really luck with the product DiskWarrior when I have file structure problems...it seems to work magic. And when you have a lot of audio files, samples, and folders, file structures can get discombobulated.
Thought you said you could access it sometimes. Can you read it from your G3? Does the drive show up when you run Disk Utility? Huh? Huh? Squawk. Honk.
The external hard drive is shot. Bummer. But NOW I DID IT. I dropped my macbook. Oops. It has a Finale softward disc in it. Now it won't read the disc or eject it. I must be living wrong. Any ideas?
Hopefully you can get your disc ejected with no problems, and your internal drive working OK. If the drive is not functioning or binding in the case, AND you are out of warrantee, AND you are comfortable doing your own minor repairs, there are plenty of online instructions and videos, but proceed at your own risk and level of comfort! Repair shops can be spendy.