PC SATA drive to MacBook Pro problems

Deacon Lively · Deacon Lively #1 (**permalink**)

03-19-2011, 11:05 PM

I took out a PC SATA drive and tried to hook it up to my macbook pro for use as an external drive but it doesn't read for some reason and calls for me to erase everything that was on it. Any way to not erase things so that it will mount on desktop? Thanks.

chscag · chscag #2 (**permalink**)

03-19-2011, 11:15 PM

The PC drive is likely formatted as NTFS. A Mac can read but not write to by default to a NTFS drive. You will need a special driver to write to that drive. That's why Disk Utility, wants you to erase the drive. If you intend to use the drive for your Mac only, you can erase and format it to HFS Journaled. If you want to use it for both your Mac and PC, format it to FAT-32.

Deacon Lively · Deacon Lively #3 (**permalink**)

03-19-2011, 11:17 PM

Alright I think I get it. Will I still be able to access whatever is on it after I format it?

bobtomay · bobtomay #4 (**permalink**)

03-20-2011, 04:42 AM

No!!!!

Formatting will erase all data on the drive.

If you don't have that data backed up, first suggestion is to do so.
Second would be to grab Paragon's NTFS for OS X to enable writing to NTFS volumes.

Deacon Lively · Deacon Lively #5 (**permalink**)

03-20-2011, 11:47 AM

Well it paragon's NTFS doesn't seem to be working. Disk does not come up.

chscag #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 31,982 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	03-19-2011, 11:15 PM The PC drive is likely formatted as NTFS. A Mac can read but not write to by default to a NTFS drive. You will need a special driver to write to that drive. That's why Disk Utility, wants you to erase the drive. If you intend to use the drive for your Mac only, you can erase and format it to HFS Journaled. If you want to use it for both your Mac and PC, format it to FAT-32. Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

bobtomay #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 21,796 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	03-20-2011, 04:42 AM No!!!! Formatting will erase all data on the drive. If you don't have that data backed up, first suggestion is to do so. Second would be to grab Paragon's NTFS for OS X to enable writing to NTFS volumes. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus. Place your vote for our Member of the Month
	QUOTE Thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Changing hard drive in Macbook pro?	LAC_STS	Apple Notebooks	11	08-19-2010 09:05 AM
Macbook Pro Hard Drive Problems	JrNichols5	Apple Notebooks	1	05-28-2009 08:30 PM
External hard drive for Final Cut Pro & Macbook pro	Sany	Other Hardware and Peripherals	5	06-13-2008 01:38 PM

PC SATA drive to MacBook Pro problems

Internet Services

Web Development

Digital Marketing

Consumer Tech

Deacon Lively #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 19, 2011 Posts: 3	03-19-2011, 11:05 PM I took out a PC SATA drive and tried to hook it up to my macbook pro for use as an external drive but it doesn't read for some reason and calls for me to erase everything that was on it. Any way to not erase things so that it will mount on desktop? Thanks.
	QUOTE Thanks

Deacon Lively #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 19, 2011 Posts: 3	03-20-2011, 11:47 AM Well it paragon's NTFS doesn't seem to be working. Disk does not come up.
	QUOTE Thanks

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)