Using Mac external hard drive with Windows

[goldoro99]

I have an external HDD that I've been using with my Apple laptop (OS X 10.6.8). When I plug it into my Windows 7 machine it appears under Device Manager but does not appear in My Computer and I have absolutely no idea how to access its files. Any help?

 

[TVeblen]

Windows will not recognize MAC formatted drives. It can see them but can't deal with the files in HFS+ format so it ignores the drive/partition.

I install MACDRIVE on PCs to do exactly what you are trying to do. It's not free, but cheap enough.
Mediafour - MacDrive 9 Standard and Pro |

 

[Bob Pickering]

Windows 7-64 will not recognize Mac Drives - MacDrive8 and 9

Windows will not recognize MAC formatted drives. It can see them but can't deal with the files in HFS+ format so it ignores the drive/partition.

I install MACDRIVE on PCs to do exactly what you are trying to do. It's not free, but cheap enough.
Mediafour - MacDrive 9 Standard and Pro |

I have been using MacDrive8 for some time, but lately the Windows computer will not recognize the drive. It shows in Drive Manager with an exclamation mark, and explanation code 28, device driver missing. I have spent many hours trying to figure out what has gone awry. Tried installing trial version of MacDrive9, but that has made no difference. Updated drivers, etc. using Gigabyte Updater. Still no good. Perhaps someone can help me here?

 

[TVeblen]

Sounds like the drive has died.

Your first step should be to check all the connections, use a different power connector, use a different SATA connector, and see if it works.

Second, download the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic program and run it.
If the connections are good and their diagnostic can't find the drive then it may be defective.

 

[Bob Pickering]

I have tried all those options. I can use all my Mac drives, irrespective of format, on my older XP PC with MacDrive9. I think the problem is within the Windows 7 PC. I have updated the USB controllers, etc. from Gigabyte website using their Download Center Tool, but the problem persists. I have tried two identical Seagate Expansion 2TB USB 3 drives with no success. Both of them work perfectly on XP, and check out on Mac in Disk Utility as being troublefree. They contain a large archive of files, including MP3, DVD & CD disk images (.cdr & .toast), books in .pdf format, disc labels (.psd) and inserts (Word). Also tried three other portable drives, one with HFSJ format, another with HFS+. Both of those work. When I format a portable drive with Mac OS extended, the drive does not open, and is listed in Device Manager as having no driver (code 28), the same as the two Seagate drives. I have tried uninstalling MacDrive and reinstalling it. Can you suggest what else I might try? I believe this failure has only begun in the last couple of weeks.

 

[TVeblen]

Ah - missing information. Since the drives work on another computer then there is little reason to believe that there is a mechanical problem. So we can focus on the problem PC and the OS.

I know that Windows 7 will ignore drives and partitions that are 'foreign' formats and/or alternate operating systems. If a drive contains both HFS and NTFS partitions then Windows will see the drive but only the NTFS partition. Perhaps if the entire drive is HFS then the whole thing gets ignored in Windows 7 but not in XP. I have not tried this, so I don't know for sure.

Perhaps you could test this idea by creating a small NTFS partition on one of the problem drives and then see what happens.

Another test you can try - only to see if the problem lies in the PC or the OS - is to download a copy of UBUNTU for a USB stick. You do not have to install UBUNTU - you can run it straight off the stick. Then see if UBUNTU recognizes the drive and HFS partition.
If it does then the problem is in Windows. If it does not then the problem is in the PC.

 

[Bob Pickering]

Ah - missing information. Since the drives work on another computer then there is little reason to believe that there is a mechanical problem. So we can focus on the problem PC and the OS.

I know that Windows 7 will ignore drives and partitions that are 'foreign' formats and/or alternate operating systems. If a drive contains both HFS and NTFS partitions then Windows will see the drive but only the NTFS partition. Perhaps if the entire drive is HFS then the whole thing gets ignored in Windows 7 but not in XP. I have not tried this, so I don't know for sure.

Perhaps you could test this idea by creating a small NTFS partition on one of the problem drives and then see what happens.

Another test you can try - only to see if the problem lies in the PC or the OS - is to download a copy of UBUNTU for a USB stick. You do not have to install UBUNTU - you can run it straight off the stick. Then see if UBUNTU recognizes the drive and HFS partition.
If it does then the problem is in Windows. If it does not then the problem is in the PC.

Thanks TVeblen. I ran UBUNTU from a bootable CD (never used it before!). All drives are visible and data is accessible. Looks like it's a Windows 7 problem. Can you offer any suggestions to fix it. I tried a repair from the installation disk, but it wouldn't let me do it. I don't wish to make any modifications to the external drives, as they contain backup archives for a now closed organization (muny hundreds of CD & DVD images, labels and inserts, as well as .pdf of published books, lesson notes, etc.

 

[TVeblen]

Is the drive HFS only?

 

[Bob Pickering]

It shows on the Mac as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). I have just reformatted another drive in the same manner and the PC won't open it. Reformatted again as Mac OS extended (case sensitive Journaled), and still does not work. Tried as Ex-Fat, still not working.

 

[TVeblen]

On that test drive you are using, leave it formatted Mac OS extended (HFS+) but then shrink the partition about 100MB and then format that small partition NTFS. Then see if the drive is recognized in Windows 7.
My thinking is that once Windows recognizes the drive then you can use MacDrive to access the HFS+ stuff.

You will probably need to use Apple compatible software to shrink the HFS+ partition, and Windows compatible software to create the NTFS partition.

 

[Bob Pickering]

Thanks for keeping up with this, and for all your suggestions. I reformatted the drive into two partitions on Mac Disk Utility. The first partition is HFS+ (Mac OS extended), and the second is Ex-Fat. The option for NTFS appears unavailable. On reconnecting the drive to the PC it is still unrecognized, and Device Manager reports the same problem (no driver). Partition map is shown as GUID on Disk Utility. As the problem seems to be happening with different drives, Seagate, WD, and another (?), and is only on the Windows 7 OS, I am still wondering where the problem lies. Certainly it appears to me that the problem lies within Windows 7 on this PC. I have attempted to repair Windows 7, using the steps outlined on a sevenforums page, with both the original install disk and an ISO disk I burned (with IMGBurn) after downloading from Microsoft. In each case the instal fails with a message saying it encountered an unknown error and has to quit. I don't want to have to do a new install, as I have a lot of applications on this PC. (BTW-My use with Mac drives on the PC is primarily to burn CD and DVD disks from the archive drive, as it is far quicker on PC than the Mac. Also the MacBook Pro is a late 2008 model, so it may end up dying sometime and I need to have access to the archive resources.)

 

[TVeblen]

I think you may have the same problem with Ex-FAT. It would be good to see what happens if it were formatted NTFS or even FAT32.

You could try Partition Wizard to format the ExFAT to NTFS. If you use the Bootable CD you do not have to install it on your PC.
Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online
Partition Wizard only works with Windows based partitions, so be careful around your HFS+ partitions.

 

[Bob Pickering]

I feel certain that the problem is within Windows 7-64 on my PC. Partition Magic will not show any of the unrecognized external hard drives. What I have done is reformat the portable hard drive that PC will not recognize by using Windows 8 on my Mac in Parallels. Firstly I reformatted it as NTFS. Not recognized (code 28, no driver). Then I installed Partition Magic on the Mac computer (Parallels, Windows 8), and again formatted as NTFS. The Windows 7-64 PC still will not recognize it. I suspect a registry problem that keeps it from opening either the portable drive and the Mac Seagate drives. I reiterate, it will open one portable drive I have used for another ongoing Mac project, showing it as HFSJ format. Can you suggest any way to fix this? As I said, I have tried a repair instal of Windows but it won't allow it. Also I have System Mechanic installed, which has repaired detected registry errors. That has not corrected the problem.

 

[TVeblen]

If these drive can be recognized on other PCs and other operating systems, anf this problem PC can't see a NTFS partition or drive, then there is no point in playing with the formats anymore. You know have to focus on the problem PC.

There is a possiblity that the drives are not recognized due to defective USB ports, or USB drivers. You could try other USB ports, different cables, see if that changes anything.
Also, you can go into Device Manager and delete (uninstall or remove) all the devices listed under USB and restart the computer. Windows will reinstall all the USB drivers fresh on restart.

 

[Bob Pickering]

Thanks again. Sadly I have already tried those actions numerous times, without any change. The PC says it is loading drivers, but then says it failed. I will try again to do a repair instal. Just waiting for a very slow backup of system image to my external drive. The USB ports front and back work ok with one external Mac drive, but the other Mac drives and the one now repartitioned as NTFS continue to be refused. The reformatted drive was first done on Windows 8 in Parallels, but after that failed in the Windows 7, I reformatted it on Mac as NTFS using Partition Magic, but with same failure. Will let you know how I get on. (p.s. what part of the world are you in?)

 

[Bob Pickering]

Many thanks TVeblen for your help. I was able to do a repair install, and this seems to have fixed the problems I was having. I still need to be a bit choosy about which USB ports to use, as although no drives are unrecognized, there are some USB3 ports that do not seem to work effectively as the drive does not appear on 'my computer' explorer window. That is another thing for me to work on. By the way, Malware Bytes did find PUPs in Partition Wizard that I had downloaded as you suggested, and also IMGBurn. They are now quarantined.

 

[Layback Bear]

IBurn will load you up with PUP's. Even from the originators site.
Malwarebytes Anti Malware in the last few weeks has got a lot better at finding these PUP's but I would also run Eset free online scanner.

Free Virus Scan | Online Virus Scanner from ESET

And this for a little extra search.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/

 

[TVeblen]

Many thanks TVeblen for your help. I was able to do a repair install, and this seems to have fixed the problems I was having. I still need to be a bit choosy about which USB ports to use, as although no drives are unrecognized, there are some USB3 ports that do not seem to work effectively as the drive does not appear on 'my computer' explorer window. That is another thing for me to work on. By the way, Malware Bytes did find PUPs in Partition Wizard that I had downloaded as you suggested, and also IMGBurn. They are now quarantined.

Glad to hear you got it sorted.
I have never experienced that with Partition Wizard before. That is disturbing. However I only use the bootable CD so maybe I was just blissfully ignorant.

 

[Bob Pickering]

IBurn will load you up with PUP's. Even from the originators site.
Malwarebytes Anti Malware in the last few weeks has got a lot better at finding these PUP's but I would also run Eset free online scanner.

Free Virus Scan | Online Virus Scanner from ESET

And this for a little extra search.

AdwCleaner Download

Oh dear, Eset found quite a number of nasties that others had missed.

 

[Layback Bear]

I have went through that IBurn trip and a bad trip it was. Glad you found and got rid of the nasties.