How do I make a Mac read my external hard drive?

[tlogank]

Do I need to format it a special way or what? I need to copy my friend's pictures over to it. Please let me know ASAP! Thanks!

[illippinno]

Do I need to format it a special way or what?  I need to copy my friend's pictures over to it.  Please let me know ASAP!  Thanks!

585731188[/snapback]

External hard drives should be plug and play.

I have a WesternDigital external hard drive that use both USB and FireWire connection, and all I have to do it plug it into my Mac, and a drive will pop up in my desktop.

[tlogank]

External hard drives should be plug and play.

I have a WesternDigital external hard drive that use both USB and FireWire connection, and all I have to do it plug it into my Mac, and a drive will pop up in my desktop.

585731300[/snapback]

even an older version of MacOS, say version 10.2.8? Because it is throwing up an error saying it cannot read it when I put it in via USB2.0.

[shihchiun]

I think they need to be formatted with FAT or FAT32. If it's NTFS it probably won't work.

[tlogank]

I think they need to be formatted with FAT or FAT32. If it's NTFS it probably won't work.

585731355[/snapback]

hmm, not working yet. Any other suggestions?

[NinjaMonkey82]

NTFS drives will be read only. FAT32 should work with both read and write.

If it doesn't mout correctly open up Disk Utility and see if the drive shows up there.

[Vice]

how are you connecting the drive, is it being read on a Windows computer ok? is it possible the drive is damaged? does it show up in Disk Utility? and what format is the drive currently using.