john920

After seven years, my Macbook died. I thought I was ok because I had backed up my data, including tons of photos cover years of shooting, on an external hard drive. But when I plugged in my new Macbook Pro to the hard drive, I couldn't connect. I'm sure the data is there; I just can't get to it. What am I doing wrong?

JAW Loc: LA

Take your new Mac computer and external hard-drive into an Apple Store and have them look at what may be the problem. It may be something simple or "eek", something you wish hadn't. I do wish you well and hope it is not the latter.

john920

Thanks. You've confirmed my initial instinct. I have been planning to take it to an Apple store or Simply Mac, but was hoping fixing the problem was simple, something I could do on my own. Sigh.

Rbode Loc: Ft lauderdale, Fla

Two places you could ask your questions before trucking down to Apple are:
Macrumors

http://forums.macrumors.com/index.php



Apple Support Communities

http://discussions.apple.com/index.jspa

Karron Loc: Bellevue, WA

It could be a driver issue. See if you can download drivers for your older external drive. Sometimes older equipment doesn't work on new operating systems, without downloading drivers for it.

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

Does the light on the drive flicker? Does it spin? (sound) or is it a new solid state one?

Go to Applications>utilities>disk utility

DOes the drive show up in the left hand column? If not, can you swap cables and re-try above?

if it does show up, select it and hit "mount" (Buttons accross top of Disk Utility Console) Once mounted, hit verify- this will check it and not change anything. You could have a permission issue.
You could repair permissions.

If your laptop is new- it will probably be under warranty, not sure if this issue would be covered, but worth a try.

Anyways, in 24 years of using a mac I have had to take it in "0" ( Zero) times, been able to figure it out on my own. Thats is not to brag- just that they are pretty easy to fix if they can be.. however the macsperts at the genius bar are very good.

I have lost a drive- once due to a hot connection where a tiny static spark I generated by scuffing my feet caused the directory to scramble- make all the info stored on the disk un-reachable. All i had to do was ground my self out by touching the metal cabinet, before I touched the cord. FYI. Always ground o yourself out BEOFRE you get near connections!

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Welcome to UHH

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

This is probably a driver issue - but beware that external drives are (at least for now) mechanical drives and generally only last 2-3 years or so before failing. Always replace them regularly or at least back up to disc or some other place (the "cloud" perhaps).

flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

I would make sure that "finder" has it selected in the device section at the bottom of the panel under "external disks" , if it's not checked that would be the problem, otherwise go to the disk utility app for further troubleshooting.

john920

That did the trick! Thank you, thank you. I bought a new cable and followed your directions. Worked like a charm. I now have all my data back. Big sigh.

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

The difference between a mac and a windows machine was summed up by a windows expert user- he said both platforms can develop problems, but with a mac, I am always enthusiastically confident I'll be able to fix it myself- without having to call in the "cavalry".

Now back that up NOW so you have two sources!

john920

Good advice from you all. I'm delighted to follow it. Vital information! Thanks.