SATA Ultra 16, 250GB, 7200RPM, Serial ATA/150 16MB Cache.

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Level 1

75 points

SATA Ultra 16, 250GB, 7200RPM, Serial ATA/150 16MB Cache.

I just installed a Maxtor internal drive to my G5 S/P 1.8, The drive is a SATA Ultra 16, 250GB, 7200RPM, Serial ATA/150 16MB Cache which according to the Maxtor website it is compatible with my G5. http://www.maxstore.com/product.asp?sku=2565011 My question is that why under System Profiler>Hardware>Serial-ATA>S.M.A.R.T. status: it says not supported. Did I purchase the right drive? Am I doing something wrong? Please help. Thank You.

Power Mac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.2)

Posted on Jan 19, 2006 8:43 PM

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Answer 1

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,492 points

Jan 20, 2006 4:42 AM in response to EIGHTBALL

8ball, that drive should work fine. Have you formatted the drive using Disk Utility?

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Answer 2

EIGHTBALL Author

Level 1

75 points

Jan 20, 2006 7:56 PM in response to EIGHTBALL

What are the steps I should take to formatt my drive using disk utilities?

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Answer 3

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,492 points

Jan 21, 2006 4:40 AM in response to EIGHTBALL

it's a pretty easy task. Once you're done your disk should appear on the desktop and be recognized in system profiler.

* Open Disk Utility
* Select the disc in the column on the left
* click Erase (select Quick Erase if you don't want to zero out the disk)
* Click Erase to start the process

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Answer 4

EIGHTBALL Author

Level 1

75 points

Jan 21, 2006 10:45 AM in response to EIGHTBALL

Hey Mike, my disk does not show up on the desktop but it is recognized in the system profiler as Maxtor SABRE. I followed your instructions on erasing the disk but I get a message saying "Disk Erase failed with the Error: The chosen size is not valid for the chosen file system"
What am I doing wrong, Any other ideas? Thank You.

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Answer 5

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,492 points

Jan 21, 2006 2:35 PM in response to EIGHTBALL

are you selecting the "mac os extended (juornaled)" option? That's always worked for me and is the preferred file system for OS X.

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Answer 6

EIGHTBALL Author

Level 1

75 points

Jan 21, 2006 3:57 PM in response to EIGHTBALL

Well under Erase>volume format> I only have two options, Mac OS Standard or UNIX File System. I tried with both and still nothing.

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Answer 7

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,492 points

Jan 21, 2006 6:32 PM in response to EIGHTBALL

Now you've got me lost. When I click on the erase tab my default option is mac os extended (journaled). I'm going to have to dig deeper. If anyone else wants to chime in here we're ready!

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Answer 8

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,492 points

Jan 21, 2006 7:35 PM in response to SeaPapp

Disk utility is offering me five different options:
1.Mac OS extended-journaled
2.Mac OS Extended
3.Mac OS Extended, case sensitive, journaled
4.Mac OS Extended, case sensitive
5. Unix file system

Mac OS standard isn't even one of my choices. I don't understand. Are you using 10.4.4?

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Answer 9

EIGHTBALL Author

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75 points

Jan 21, 2006 8:48 PM in response to EIGHTBALL

Yes I do have Version 10.4.4

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Answer 10

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,492 points

Jan 22, 2006 4:57 AM in response to EIGHTBALL

from what I've been able to find it seems like a partition problem. You're only going to have one partition right? Select your drive and cick on the partition tab. Check under partition scheme that 1 partition is selected. Look at the size box and make sure it's reporting it correctly. It shouldn't report it as 300 gb, it'll be something like 279. Let me know.

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Answer 11

EIGHTBALL Author

Level 1

75 points

Jan 22, 2006 5:29 PM in response to EIGHTBALL

That did not work either, I called B&H, where I bought the drive and they said the drive has some sort of switch that I had to flip but I couldn't find anything. I have to call them back tomorrow to speak to Technical Support. Anyone ever heard of a serial ATA drive having a switch?

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Answer 12

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,492 points

Jan 23, 2006 3:48 AM in response to EIGHTBALL

That drive has something called MHX acceleration according to Maxtor's web site. I can't find out what that is or if it's not compatible with Macs. I've never heard of problems with Maxtor drives and formatting. Let me know what you find out. I'm not aware of a switch. You might want to call Maxtor's product support at 1-800-2MAXTOR.

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Answer 13

Jan 23, 2006 9:24 AM in response to SeaPapp

Hey Eightball, Mike..

I also recently purchased the exact same drive and was skeptical to open it before installing it after reading this thread. I called Maxtor and they weren't much help. I guess the only difference between the retail box version and the bare drive version is the 1 yr (retail box) and 3 yr (bare drive) warranty. In the retail box, which I just opened, it's the same exact drive (6L200S0). Let me try and see what happens.

I'll post back in a lil bit....

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Answer 14

Jan 23, 2006 9:56 AM in response to macdaddysjsu

Alright, just finished installing it.. Works flawlessly! At first, it said 'disc not readable' then I clicked initialize, which launched Disk Utility and just chose erase (Mac OS Extended (Journaled)), the default option.

Eightball, I think you have a defective drive...

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Answer 15

EIGHTBALL Author

Level 1

75 points

Jan 24, 2006 6:41 PM in response to EIGHTBALL

Hey Mike, thank you for everything, you have been a great help. It seems to be that something was wrong with the drive. I spoke with Maxtor and they said to listen to the drive, that maybe it was not running at start up. Well they were right, the drive wouldn't run at start up. I am shipping it back to B&H Photo tomorrow and they will send me a brand new one again. It was to weird that it wouldn't erase. Well Mike thanks again and I will keep you inform as soon as I receive my new one.

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