JacquelineC asks:
I’ve always been able to see my files from my external hard drive on my Mac. One day, the files just magically disappeared. Thankfully, in the properties, I can see that there is still used space on there. I had my hard disk “recovered”.
Now with this new hard drive, it’s the same problem – the drive shows up on the computer, but when I click it on it, I cannot see a single file. But in the properties, it shows that it has used space.
I’m wondering if this has to do with my Mac?
Help!!
10 Answers -
Mihovil Pletikos
July 31, 2012how is it formatted? did it happen after you have updated your osx? maybe you lost ability to read ntfs if it was formated like that…
ha14
July 31, 2012Batch FileXamine
http://www.gideonsoftworks.com/filexaminer.html
Choose your drive
- on the right pannel chose “privileges”
- chose “preset” –> “public share”
(wich is chmod 755 for folders and does a chmod 644 on files)
- Check “apply to enclosed..”
- Apply Permissions
Hope This will revert back your files permissions to their default state.
To enable hidden files/folders in finder windows:
Open Finder
Open the Utilities folder
Open a terminal window
Copy and paste the following line:
defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES
Press return
Now hold ‘alt’ on the keyboard and right click on the Finder icon
Click on Relaunch
to revert back
defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles NO
or try the following utilities
Onyx
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/11582/onyx
ThinkerTool
http://www.bresink.com/osx/TinkerTool.html
Mike
July 31, 2012Well, how much used space is there on the drive? Does it account for all the data you expect to be on it?
There will always be a small amount used by the Spotlight index.
Also, did you check the Trash bin in your Dock? When you (accidentally) delete stuff from an external drive it will also and up in the Trash.
The Trash is a hidden folder that resides on the drive you deleted the files, hence the external drive would still show used space wherein it appears to be empty.
I’m not sure what to make of your new drive. Did you put data on the new drive and it disappeared again?
Rob Berry
August 1, 2012If you have the drive formatted as NTFS and are using it between a PC and a Mac it may be having problems, Make sure to check it is formatted properly and check in disk utility to see what format the drive is in.
VictorGeis
August 27, 2012Definitely check the drive’s info (click it so it’s highlighted and press CMD + I). You might need NTFS as many suggested. You might want to try going to Disk Utility and select your drive and then click the verify/repair disk buttons.
Luke Blache-Fraser
September 5, 2012You may need to format the drive as MS-DOS – Fat16 or 32 to be compatible on Mac and PC. To do this go to Applications on your Mac > Utilities > Disk Utility.
Choose your drive and click the erase tab. This will give you the options to reformat the drive.
Remember you would lose all data if you do this.
Christopher Webb-Orenstein
September 16, 2012Try going to Disk Utilities and mounting the disk.
S. Elbanna
November 7, 2012I had the same problem but only after I upgraded to Lion. I could see the files on my external drive on other Macs using older software. It seems that Lion wasn’t seeing old files on the external drive. So we accessed the files on a Mac using Snow Leopard, copied all the files into one new folder on the same external hard drive and now they’re there on Lion. Problem solved! I hope this helps
Nikhil Chandak
November 11, 2012Is the drive having virus or some type of virus
or try out Advance System Care 5
In Advance System Care , go in the Toolbox & then in Disk Explore , then explore the external hard disk & then u will see all the files present in it
then u will see all the files
Mark
December 20, 2012When you are in Disk Utility be sure to re-mount or mount the hard drive by clicking on to where it says “mount.” That should solve the problem.