Home » Questions » Computers [ Ask a new question ]

Hard drive is not showing up on my computer

Hard drive is not showing up on my computer

I'm using Mac OSx Yosemite Version 10.10.2 and the last time i conntected my WD External Hard Drive was just 5 days ago and I disconnected correctly etc. So it wasn't till today that I reconnected it to my laptop and it doesn't show on my desktop. The light blinks on the hard drive and I hear it spinning but doesn't show on my desktop. I have important files in this drive. What can I do?

Asked by: Guest | Views: 210
Total answers/comments: 3
Guest [Entry]

"There are a couple of possibilities here:

The USB cable is bad - Try a different cableThe USB port you are using is bad - Try a different port on the systemThe Drive needs more power than your port is able to offer - Try using a external powered USB hub or power supply for the driveTry a second Mac system to see if it can access the drive.

Lastly, see if Apple's Drive Utility is able to see the drive. If it does try repairing it."
Guest [Entry]

"I just fixed mine by editing the finder preferences. 1) make sure external disks is checked under ""general"". 2) Make sure external disks is selected under ""sidebar""

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkrKWclM..."
Guest [Entry]

"Okay, so I had to fight this today, and I figured out a way to at least fix the hard drive.

First of all, update to Sierra if you are on Mac OS. El Capitan was a pain in the a$$. Next, open the WD Disk Utility app, NOT the mac one. Select ""Erase"" and then check the box on the right, NOT the left. The left will not erase first for some reason. Erase the right first, then the left. Boom. Your hard drive is ready for work again.

HOWEVER if you need to get those files off of the hard drive, do not mess around and go to a computer repair shop. If you can, back up your important files temporarily to iCloud or some other service. Disk Warrior is supposed to work great but I didn't exactly have $100 lying around.

After this is said and done, I still recommend buying another hard drive just in case."