External hd not showing on desktop

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Level 1

20 points

External hd not showing on desktop

I have 2 imac 27 computers, I use the one for all my functions, the other has some info stored on it along with 3 external hard drives. For the computer I use all the time I got a new Seaquest 2 T for additional back up. For many years I have added external drives to my computers with no problems, I connected the new one to my main computer, went to Disk utility and it doesn's show up there, So, I unpluged it and then hooked it up to my older computer and it shows up, I was able to even change the name of the hard drive and just for checking, added an image to it, so I then unplugged it and then re connected it to my main computer, I doesn't show on my desktop and when I go to Disk utility it is not there, My current imac is 0s 11.17.1

The older one is 10.13 any suggestions?

Posted on May 20, 2023 2:15 PM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

214,572 points

May 21, 2023 4:10 PM in response to John Hough

Have you had/used Seagate external SSDs before?

Does it show in the  ➙ Information (hold down the Option key) report under hardware or USB?

Have you installed and run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus or VPN apps on your newer iMac?

What systems are you running on the two Macs? What is the year and model of each?

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Answer 2

May 20, 2023 2:26 PM in response to John Hough

Using the old computer, launch Disk Utility and check the format of that troublesome drive.

How is it formatted, and with what type partition map?

While you have it mounted in DU, run First Aid on the device and any volumes it contains. You may need to click View > Show All Devices in order to select each of those. Then disconnect the drive and see if it behaves on the newer Mac.

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Answer 3

May 20, 2023 5:05 PM in response to John Hough

Go to System Preferences (Sys. Settings?) > Software Update and apply any macOS updates (not upgrades) that may appear there. With that done, see if it has any affect on the problem.

Did you run Disk Utility First Aid on the drive? Did it get a passing result?

How is this drive connected to the newer Mac? Directly into the computer or through a hub?

If through a hub, try connecting it directly.

Since this is a brand new external drive, try using Disk Utility to reformat it.

Use the GUID partition scheme, the APFS format and name the drive... whatever you like.

Before you can do this, you might have to click (in the DU Menu Bar) View > Show All Devices. Then you can select the device – Seagate... Media – and proceed to format it.

Once it has been reformatted, try it again on the newer Mac.

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Answer 4

John Hough Author

Level 1

20 points

May 21, 2023 10:09 AM in response to D.I. Johnson

Hi

I have done all the suggestions you gave me with no luck. over many years I have added numerous external hard drives on various computers with no problems. After doing first aid which was ok I then went to format it, there was no selection for Guide (spelling] and it still does not show on the desktop of my newer computer . After spending too much time on this I think I will return it to Amazon and hopefully find one that works, I appreciate all your suggestions and efforts but it might be best to just start from scratch

John

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Answer 5

John Hough Author

Level 1

20 points

May 21, 2023 3:23 PM in response to ku4hx

Hi' Tnanks for your reply. The new external hard drive shows up on my old imac but not the new one which is where I want to use it. Over the years I have bought many external hard drives and it was a piece of cake to install them and get them to work. Another fellow was very helpful and gave me a number of great ideas try but none of them worked, I don't want to spend more time on this so I am returning it to Amazon for a money back and will then order another brand, thanks for your help

John

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