How do I locate my external hard drive?

Question

Level 1

8 points

How do I locate my external hard drive?

Just bought mac mini. Had some files backed up on external hard drive. When I first hooked up the hard drive it was listed in my finder and I could see all my files. Then, while trying to figure out how and where to copy the files to I unplugged the hard drive. There was a message that said to properly disconnect you need to go to eject on the file menu. Fine. But now when I plug in the hard drive it is nowhere to be found. Im afraid i may have damaged the hard drive and/or will not be able to access my data. Help!

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Feb 1, 2012 6:44 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Michael Wasley

Level 5

6,810 points

Feb 1, 2012 7:07 PM in response to demnaca

Check that in Finder > Preferences > General it is set to show external disks.

Failing that open Disk Utiliy (Applications Folder > Utilities Folder) and see if the HD shows there and will let you mount it.

In any case it would be worthwhile using Disk Utiliy to verify the disk in question.

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Answer 2

demnaca Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 1, 2012 7:23 PM in response to Michael Wasley

Thank you. I was able to verify and mount the HD from the Disk Utility folder. The HD still doesnt show up in the finder after adjusting preferences to show external disks. So now I'd like to open the folder and copy everything on the external HD to my Mac HD. Can you help me with that?

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Answer 3

demnaca Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 1, 2012 7:30 PM in response to demnaca

Actually, I did find both hard drives on the desk top. Now I just want to copy one to the other.

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Answer 4

Feb 2, 2012 6:01 AM in response to demnaca

demnaca wrote:

I'd like to open the folder and copy everything on the external HD to my Mac HD.

What do you mean by 'everything'?

If you are referring to files you have created (wordprocessing, pictures, spreadsheets etc) you can just select the files and either drag them across to the Mac HD or use Copy then Paste where you want them.

If you are talking about applications it will depend. Some will copy as above, some will require proper installation.

If you are talking about any System files that is a totally different situation.

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Answer 5

Feb 18, 2013 4:04 PM in response to demnaca

Hi

I adjusted preferences to show external drives,cd.s etc but no success

disk utility did not show anything

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