External Hard Drive not showing up

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Level 1

9 points

External Hard Drive not showing up

I have WD My Passport 500GB external hard drive. I had some files in it. Then I formatted it in order to backup my MacBook Pro. Before I used it for backup it was working fine with both the computers, Mac and PC. I also partitioned it using Disk Utility in Mac so that I could use one part for backup and the other for general use. Then I did the backup and connected back with the PC using the USB cable. Now the indicator light is on but my PC does not show it up. I have files to put back into my hard drive from the PC and can't do anything now.

Please help me how to make it show up in the PC again. It is working fine with the Mac.

I am appreciative to any suggestions.

Posted on Jul 31, 2012 12:11 PM

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Answer 1

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Jul 31, 2012 12:14 PM in response to imacmania

Has is the whole drive formatted? If OS X Extended Journaled, your PC won't see it.

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Answer 2

imacmania Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 31, 2012 12:18 PM in response to wjosten

I formatted it in the PC (Windows 2007) and partitioned in the MacBook Pro (retina display 13") using Disk Utility. So how can I make it work with PC again? Actually, I want it work with both the systems ( PC and Mac) as I have to restore some files in it from PC also transfer files from PC to Mac.

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Answer 3

imacmania Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 31, 2012 12:20 PM in response to wjosten

And, yes the whole disk was formatted and until then it was working fine with both systems. It did not work with PC after I partitioned and backed-up the Mac using it.

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Answer 4

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Jul 31, 2012 12:27 PM in response to imacmania

Connect it back to your Mac, launch Disk Utility, if the whole drive is formatted Extended Journaled, it won't work with your PC. You'll have to pull the files off, then format the partition you want to use with your PC exFAT. However, there have been issues with Mac's formatting exFAT...sometimes a PC still won't see it. Formatting exFAT is best done on a PC. Thus, you may have to format on your Mac using FAT, your PC should see that. Then format to exFAT using your PC.

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Answer 5

imacmania Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 31, 2012 12:37 PM in response to wjosten

Thanks for your help. Let me see if I can get through.

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Answer 6

Buskie

Level 1

0 points

Jul 2, 2015 4:40 AM in response to imacmania

1. Relaunch the Finder.

The discs may be mounted and available; however, if the Finder is having troubles displaying them then it may appear as though the discs are not mounted. Press the Option key and right-click the Finder icon in the Dock, and choose "Relaunch".

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