Hard Drive Error

JBannister · JBannister #1 (**permalink**)

10-25-2007, 02:53 AM

Alright so I have this spare 80gb WD harddrive that I've used here in there in previous years with windows computers, and it is in an external case which I connected to my mac with a usb cable. Now when I connect it it gives me a Disk Insertion error, the disk you inserted was not readable by this computer. Is this a formatting error or something to do with software or something?

Kevriano · Kevriano #2 (**permalink**)

10-25-2007, 03:08 AM

It's a format error more than likely, but it should still show up, otherwise you can't re-format!
Is it showing as an external drive on your desktop? If so you just need to use disk utility to reformat to Mac OS Extended.

JBannister · JBannister #3 (**permalink**)

10-25-2007, 03:19 AM

It shows it in disk utility as a usb connected device and has all the specifications such as the capacity and such.

JBannister · JBannister #4 (**permalink**)

10-25-2007, 03:28 AM

Another thing I see under disk utility is the formatting options or erasing and what not. I don't want to get rid of the information on the disk if there is any I would like to look to see what is on it before I "erase" it or what not.

Kevriano · Kevriano #5 (**permalink**)

10-25-2007, 06:13 AM

Right, if it doesn't show on your desktop as an external drive, then there isn't a way of you accessing the dat on your Mac.
Once you format the drive it will show up, but your data will be gone.
If you still have a PC, drag and burn the data to discs first.

mac57 · mac57 #6 (**permalink**)

10-27-2007, 12:52 PM

Do you know what file system is on the disk? It could also be a file system that the Mac doesn't recognize.

eskimoboi · eskimoboi #7 (**permalink**)

10-28-2007, 03:04 PM

I have exactly the same problem. I'm going to attempt to transfer the files onto a mate's windows laptop and then format it on my mac. Will let you know how it goes!

eskimoboi · eskimoboi #8 (**permalink**)

10-28-2007, 04:36 PM

Oh dammit. Checked on vista (obviously everything failed and it didn't even realise what was plugged into it), then found a mate who still has xp (thank god). This detected my HD, then told me that it hadn't been formatted. Guess 've ust got to say goodbye to my data and format it on my mac.
If it's not completely broken, that is. -.-

eskimoboi · eskimoboi #9 (**permalink**)

10-28-2007, 05:23 PM

Reformatted it on my MBP and it's working fine. Thankfully I already had the data I really needed; nothing very important lost.

JBannister · JBannister #10 (**permalink**)

10-28-2007, 10:04 PM

Yeah I don't think any thing on my disk either so I just formatted it for mac and it works now so it's cool.

Kevriano #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 02, 2006 Location: Crawley, England Posts: 4,560 Mac Specs: 20" Intel iMac 2.4 Ghz/3G Ram/320HD, Snow Leopard. PBook G4, 1.5Ghz/1.5 Ram/250 HD, Leopard 10.5.6.	10-25-2007, 03:08 AM It's a format error more than likely, but it should still show up, otherwise you can't re-format! Is it showing as an external drive on your desktop? If so you just need to use disk utility to reformat to Mac OS Extended. Try my custom Mac Forums Search Engine: Mac Forums Google Search Please use the reputation system if you consider any help given useful (it's the little ✓/✘ on the left <---)
	QUOTE Thanks

Kevriano #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 02, 2006 Location: Crawley, England Posts: 4,560 Mac Specs: 20" Intel iMac 2.4 Ghz/3G Ram/320HD, Snow Leopard. PBook G4, 1.5Ghz/1.5 Ram/250 HD, Leopard 10.5.6.	10-25-2007, 06:13 AM Right, if it doesn't show on your desktop as an external drive, then there isn't a way of you accessing the dat on your Mac. Once you format the drive it will show up, but your data will be gone. If you still have a PC, drag and burn the data to discs first. Try my custom Mac Forums Search Engine: Mac Forums Google Search Please use the reputation system if you consider any help given useful (it's the little ✓/✘ on the left <---)
	QUOTE Thanks

mac57 #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 29, 2006 Location: St. Somewhere Posts: 4,547 Mac Specs: PowerMac G5 Quad, 2.5 GHz, 4 Core, 120 GB SSD, 500 GB HDD	10-27-2007, 12:52 PM Do you know what file system is on the disk? It could also be a file system that the Mac doesn't recognize. My Macs: PowerMac G5 Quad, 2.5 GHz, 4 Core, Mac Pro, 3.2 GHz 8 Core, Power Macintosh 7500/100 My iStuff: 32 GB iPhone 4, 30 GB iPod Video, 16 GB iPod Touch My OS': Mac OS X Tiger, Mac OS X Snow Leopard, Mac OS X Leopard, Mac OS 8.6, openSUSE 10.3, Win XP I was on the Mac-Forums honor roll for September 2007
	QUOTE Thanks

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JBannister #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 20, 2007 Location: Temple, GA Posts: 91	10-25-2007, 02:53 AM Alright so I have this spare 80gb WD harddrive that I've used here in there in previous years with windows computers, and it is in an external case which I connected to my mac with a usb cable. Now when I connect it it gives me a Disk Insertion error, the disk you inserted was not readable by this computer. Is this a formatting error or something to do with software or something?
	QUOTE Thanks

JBannister #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 20, 2007 Location: Temple, GA Posts: 91	10-25-2007, 03:28 AM Another thing I see under disk utility is the formatting options or erasing and what not. I don't want to get rid of the information on the disk if there is any I would like to look to see what is on it before I "erase" it or what not.
	QUOTE Thanks

eskimoboi #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 28, 2007 Posts: 20	10-28-2007, 03:04 PM I have exactly the same problem. I'm going to attempt to transfer the files onto a mate's windows laptop and then format it on my mac. Will let you know how it goes!
	QUOTE Thanks

eskimoboi #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 28, 2007 Posts: 20	10-28-2007, 04:36 PM Oh dammit. Checked on vista (obviously everything failed and it didn't even realise what was plugged into it), then found a mate who still has xp (thank god). This detected my HD, then told me that it hadn't been formatted. Guess 've ust got to say goodbye to my data and format it on my mac. If it's not completely broken, that is. -.-
	QUOTE Thanks

eskimoboi #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 28, 2007 Posts: 20	10-28-2007, 05:23 PM Reformatted it on my MBP and it's working fine. Thankfully I already had the data I really needed; nothing very important lost.
	QUOTE Thanks

JBannister #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 20, 2007 Location: Temple, GA Posts: 91	10-28-2007, 10:04 PM Yeah I don't think any thing on my disk either so I just formatted it for mac and it works now so it's cool.
	QUOTE Thanks

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