Seagate Backup not visible in finder on macbrook pro retina display

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k119 Author

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Seagate Backup not visible in finder on macbrook pro retina display

My Seagate Back up has stopped displaying in finder

Have checked the threads online. Finder preferences have been checked. An update on the drivers has been done.

Does not appear in disk utilities either.

I have also upgraded OS to Yosemite.

Can't work out if the drive is malfunctioning or whether there is set up issue.

The light on drive powers up and the drive itself is spinning.

Nervous about doing anything that will wipe the data on the disc as it valuable.

Can anyone assist or advice whether I should take it to a third party for investigation?

cheers

Kathy

Mac Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Apr 3, 2015 1:02 AM

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Answer 1

jeremy_v

Community Specialist

Apr 5, 2015 4:05 PM in response to k119

Hello k119,

Thanks for contributing to the Apple Support Communities.

It appears that your external Seagate hard drive is not recognized by your Mac. It sounds like you've tried some good troubleshooting steps including checking Disk Utility, updating drivers, and verifying your Finder settings.

Next you may want to perform the reset from this link on your MacBook Pro, which can help with USB power issues:

Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) - Apple Support

If the drive doesn't appear in Disk Utility after this step, try these additional tips from the USB and FireWire Quick Assist guide:

Check the connections
If you're using a cable, make sure that both ends of the cable are properly and securely connected to your device and Mac. Try unplugging your device and then plugging it back in. If you're connecting a FireWire device, make sure that the cable is no more than 15 feet (4.5 meters) long. If you're connecting a USB device, make sure that the cable is no more than 16 feet long. If you're making a direct connection, make sure that the device's connector is fully seated in your computer's port. If your device also connects to a power outlet, make sure it has power.
Try a different port and cable
Connect your device to a different USB or FireWire port on your Mac. If you connected your device to a USB or FireWire hub or to a port on another USB or FireWire device that's connected to your Mac (known as daisy chaining), connect your device directly to a port on your computer. Some devices need to draw power from a USB or FireWire port to work; if you connect a device to a non-powered hub (one that isn't plugged in to a power source) or to a low-power port (such as the one on your USB keyboard), it may not work. If you have another known-good cable, try swapping the cable to see if that works. If it does, you should replace the problematic cable.
Check for device conflicts
Disconnect all USB or FireWire devices (including hubs and extension cables) except for your Apple keyboard and mouse. Then, connect the device in question directly to your computer. If your device works now, there may be a conflict between that device and one of your other USB or FireWire devices. If it doesn't work, go to tip 8. If you do have a conflict, you can determine which devices are affected. Connect your other devices to your Mac, one by one, making sure to test that each device works before making another connection. When you find the device that causes the issue, contact the manufacturer for assistance (check both manufacturers' websites for software updates and additional information).
Try another user account or computer
If you have another Mac available, try connecting your device to that other computer to see if it works. If you don't have another computer available, log in to another user account on your Mac (or create a new user account and log in to it), and test the device again. If the device is working now, there may be a software conflict between the device and something in your original user account.

Still having issues?

If the tips above don't resolve your issue, here are some other things to try:

Contact the device's manufacturer for assistance.

Sincerely,

Jeremy

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