External hard drive not appearing

tadd5181 · tadd5181 #1 (**permalink**)

07-22-2010, 12:44 PM

I have an external hard drive. Sometimes its icon shows on my mac screen on the far right but not always. How do I get it back so that it shows there?

Raz0rEdge · Raz0rEdge #2 (**permalink**)

07-22-2010, 01:04 PM

Is the external drive connected through a USB cable? Can you see the drive in Finder? Does unplugging and replugging in the cable cause it to show up on the desktop?

Regards

zacharace · zacharace #3 (**permalink**)

07-22-2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raz0rEdge

Is the external drive connected through a USB cable? Can you see the drive in Finder? Does unplugging and replugging in the cable cause it to show up on the desktop?

Regards

Does it work on other computers? Are your settings (Finder-->Preferences) such that external drives aren't hidden on the desktop? Hope this helps.

rocky_cruiser · rocky_cruiser #4 (**permalink**)

07-22-2010, 01:46 PM

Hi,

I had the same problem. I finally traced it to where I had the external hard drive power cord plugged in. I switched it to a different surge box and it shows up every time now. Maybe this will work for you.

Slydude · Slydude #5 (**permalink**)

07-22-2010, 02:13 PM

Can you tell us more about the drive in question and how it is connected. There are two things that occur to me:
1. If the drive is connected to a hub make sure that it is a self-powered hub (plugs into an electrical outlet). Some hard drives seem to not like being connected to only the USB bus.
2. Is this one of the drives that is USB and connects to two USB ports. Several members have complained about similar behavior with that setup. It appears that the drive draws more power than the ports can provide.

tadd5181 · tadd5181 #6 (**permalink**)

07-22-2010, 07:33 PM

The hard drive was plugged to a hub. I unplugged and replugged the hub and the hard drive icon showed up. thanks

Slydude · Slydude #7 (**permalink**)

07-23-2010, 02:02 AM

You're welcome. Glad you got that sorted out. The problem might return at some point if that hub is not "self-powered". That is one of the things that sold me on self-powered hubs. The hassle of the extra power cord is worth avoiding a recurring problem.

Slydude #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 15, 2009 Location: North Louisiana, USA Posts: 3,885 Mac Specs: 2.8 GHz MacBook Pro 10.8,3 8 GB mem, 2.66 GHz Mac Pro - Dead, iPhone 4	07-22-2010, 02:13 PM Can you tell us more about the drive in question and how it is connected. There are two things that occur to me: 1. If the drive is connected to a hub make sure that it is a self-powered hub (plugs into an electrical outlet). Some hard drives seem to not like being connected to only the USB bus. 2. Is this one of the drives that is USB and connects to two USB ports. Several members have complained about similar behavior with that setup. It appears that the drive draws more power than the ports can provide. Sylvester Roque Former Contributing Editor About This Particular Macintosh No matter what time it is where I am it's early morning somewhere in the world. At that hour of the morning follow my advice at your own risk. Anything sounds good before your first cup of coffee
	QUOTE Thanks

Slydude #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 15, 2009 Location: North Louisiana, USA Posts: 3,885 Mac Specs: 2.8 GHz MacBook Pro 10.8,3 8 GB mem, 2.66 GHz Mac Pro - Dead, iPhone 4	07-23-2010, 02:02 AM You're welcome. Glad you got that sorted out. The problem might return at some point if that hub is not "self-powered". That is one of the things that sold me on self-powered hubs. The hassle of the extra power cord is worth avoiding a recurring problem. Sylvester Roque Former Contributing Editor About This Particular Macintosh No matter what time it is where I am it's early morning somewhere in the world. At that hour of the morning follow my advice at your own risk. Anything sounds good before your first cup of coffee
	QUOTE Thanks

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tadd5181 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 28, 2009 Posts: 148 Mac Specs: Mac OS X v. 10.6.5	07-22-2010, 12:44 PM I have an external hard drive. Sometimes its icon shows on my mac screen on the far right but not always. How do I get it back so that it shows there?
	QUOTE Thanks

Raz0rEdge #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 17, 2009 Location: MA Posts: 5,822 Mac Specs: 27" i7 iMac with 16GB RAM and 1TB HDD, iPhone 3G & 4, iPod Nano 16GB, iPod Shuffle, iPad 2 16GB WiFi	07-22-2010, 01:04 PM Is the external drive connected through a USB cable? Can you see the drive in Finder? Does unplugging and replugging in the cable cause it to show up on the desktop? Regards
	QUOTE Thanks

rocky_cruiser #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 24, 2010 Location: Black Hills, South Dakota Posts: 11 Mac Specs: 2006 MBP 2.33 Ghz; 500 GB HD; Netbook Hackintosh	07-22-2010, 01:46 PM Hi, I had the same problem. I finally traced it to where I had the external hard drive power cord plugged in. I switched it to a different surge box and it shows up every time now. Maybe this will work for you.
	QUOTE Thanks

tadd5181 #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 28, 2009 Posts: 148 Mac Specs: Mac OS X v. 10.6.5	07-22-2010, 07:33 PM The hard drive was plugged to a hub. I unplugged and replugged the hub and the hard drive icon showed up. thanks
	QUOTE Thanks

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