Displaying Recognized HD's: How Please ?

[Robert4]

Hi,

Embarrassed to ask, but will blame it on old age now.

On my iMac, is there "someplace" that shows all of the external HD's that
presumably the iMac recognizes (and uses) ?

I think the external WD HD that Time Machine has been using has possibly
conked out, but am not sure. It won't see it. Have tried several Ports.

But that small horizontal light on the WD case's edge is blinking, which
I presume means it is "working" ? True ?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Fishrrman]

1. Click on desktop to bring finder "to the front"
2. Open finder preferences
3. Check "hard disks" and "external disks" if they're not already checked.
4. Close finder preferences.

How's that?

 

[Robert4]

Hi

Thanks for help, and all the previous help.
Really appreciated.

So, if I have all of these checked (which apparently I had checked), if the external HD doesn't show on desktop, it's not being recognized.
True?

Still reluctant to believe my WD external HD that was being used for Time machine conked out. Have had such good luck with them.

if the light on the edge of the case is blinking, what does it mean ?

Any other way to check the health of the external HD ?

Regards,
Bob

 

[Fishrrman]

"if the light on the edge of the case is blinking, what does it mean ?
Any other way to check the health of the external HD ?"

Some random thoughts:
Are these 3.5" hard drives, or 2.5" "portable" drives ?

If they are the larger hard drives, are you using the "power blocks" that came with them ?
Larger external drives require too much power to use only the Mac's USB power.

If you plug a drive in that DOES NOT mount up on the desktop, can Disk Utility still "see it" ?

How old are the drives?
Some WD drives have a "bad rep" for conking out prematurely.

 

[Robert4]

Hi,

It's a portable external HD.

Where is this "Disk Utility" that you mention, please ?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Robert4]

Disk Utility see it, sorta, but everything is greyed out.
WD Drive must be about 3 or 4 yrs old.

Guess I'll just buy another.
WD still a decent brand for the $, or should I consider Seagate, or...?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Fishrrman]

I wouldn't buy WD or Seagate.

Instead, I'd get a Toshiba or HGST (Hitachi) 2.5" "bare" drive, and put it into an enclosure like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Tool...usb3+sata+2.5+enclosure&qid=1575217681&sr=8-7

Or, better yet -- get an SSD (assuming your needs are under 2tb).
Again, you can buy a "bare" 2.5" SSD, and put it into the same enclosure.

Or... get a "ready-to-use" SSD such as the Samsung t5.

If the drive is going to be used only as a backup, a platter-based drive will do.