Why isn't my mac reading all the files on my external hd?

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Level 1

8 points

Why isn't my mac reading all the files on my external hd?

First off, I should say that this is my very first Mac, so while I've had iPods and an iPad for awhile, this is all pretty new to me. I have a refurbished Mac Mini from 2011 with a 2.3GHz intel core i5 and 8 GB of memory. The OS is Yosemite 10.10.3. I have everything I used on my old PC on an external hd. My new-to-me Mac Mini reads some of the files on there, but not all of them. In particular, hundreds of music files. What do I do to find them again? I have not tried any troubleshooting steps because, as a total newbie, I was worried that doing things on my own would only result in some sort of tragedy. Can anyone help me?

Mac mini, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Jun 28, 2015 2:50 PM

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Answer 1

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Jun 28, 2015 2:56 PM in response to velvetwhip

What do you mean by "read"?

What does it "read"

How are you trying to copy/read the files?

Have o tried using Migration Assistant?

About Windows Migration Assistant - Apple Support

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Answer 2

velvetwhip Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 28, 2015 3:05 PM in response to lllaass

What I mean by "read" is seeing them at all. I know they're there because I can still find them using my old PC, but when I search for them when the hd is hooked up to my Mac, it doesn't see them at all. There are serious problems with my old PC (which is why I bought a Mac a few days ago), that might interfere with using the migration assistant from what I am seeing in the information to which you linked.

Thank you for the incredibly speedy reply. I truly appreciate it.

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Answer 3

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Jun 28, 2015 3:12 PM in response to velvetwhip

Just what do you see?

Where specifically are you looking?

They should be in external drive>Users>You user name then where they were located.

What does that location show?

You can post a screen shot if necessary

How to take a screenshot on your Mac

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Answer 4

velvetwhip Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 28, 2015 3:17 PM in response to lllaass

I think I'm explaining myself very badly and I apologize for that. I can find a great many files on the drive. It's only some of them which don't seem to exist when I look for them from my Mac. I type in their names in search and they aren't found. I am looking in the Music folders I created on the drive and I've also searched on the drive in general.

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Answer 5

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Jun 28, 2015 3:26 PM in response to velvetwhip

Since you can find some and if you are looking in the right location then they should be there. Nothing to prevent seeing them.

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Answer 6

velvetwhip Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 28, 2015 3:29 PM in response to lllaass

Unfortunately, that doesn't change the fact that they aren't visible or accessible when using my Mac. Oh well. Thank you anyway. I do appreciate you taking the time to try and help. Hope you've had a great weekend.

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