Home > Questions

Disk Utility Asks to Initialize External HDD, Why?

Once I plug my external HDD into my MacBook, Disk Utility asks me to initialize it. I can choose Eject, Ignore, and Initialize on the error dialogue. I don't know how can I save my files to the HDD. The file system of the drive is HFS+ and the interface is USB. I chose Eject and didn't use the disk yet. Can anyone tell me what can I do?

Best Answered by

iBoysoft author Connie Yang

Connie Yang

Answered on Tuesday, August 27, 2024

This error message means that your Mac can't recognize the HDD correctly. You can check your USB port and then connect your HDD to another port on your Mac.

If you continuously receive the error message, you need to reformat your drive. But this will cause data loss as reformatting the HDD will erase it cleanly. Thus, reconnect your HDD to your Mac and choose Ignore, then check if you can access the drive. If you can, back up files on it.

If you can't, you have to use a data recovery tool like iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac to rescue your files from the inaccessible and not recognized HDD.

  1. Download, install, and open iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac on your Mac.
  2. Select the HDD and click Search for Lost Data.
  3. After the scanning process ends, check the results.
  4. Preview and select your wanted files and then click Recover to save them to your Mac.

People Also Ask

Read More Questions

Read More Advice From iBoysoft's Computer Experts

Solución al error No se pudo modificar el mapa de particiones en Mac

Reparar 'No se pudo modificar el mapa de particiones' en Mac (69874 & 69803)

Error al borrar, particionar o reparar tu unidad debido al error, 'No se pudo modificar el mapa de particiones.' en Mac? Este artículo te ayudará a resolverlo y recuperar los datos perdidos.

El tamaño elegido no es válido para el sistema de archivos elegido 69850

Soluciona 'Tamaño elegido no válido para el sistema de archivos elegido - 69850'

Esta publicación soluciona el error 'El tamaño elegido no es válido para el sistema de archivos elegido (-69850)' que aparece al borrar o particionar un disco en Utilidad de Discos.

Como Corrigir o Word para Mac Não Poder Criar um Arquivo de Trabalho

Correções!!! Word Não Pôde Criar o Arquivo de Trabalho no Mac

Um tutorial para corrigir o problema de o Word no Mac não poder criar o arquivo de trabalho. Verifique a variável de ambiente temporária e a melhor alternativa ao Microsoft para criar arquivos no Mac.