1T laCie external not always starting up. Not always recognized by Mac. Running OS X 10.5.5

Here's two suggestions. (If your using Mac OS X 10.x)
Make sure external hard drives are to be shown by clicking "Finder" in the menu bar then "Preferences" and under the "Sidebar" section selecting "External Disks".
Also check that the hard drive is mounting by opening "Disk Utility" by first opening the "Applications" folder then the "Utilities" folder and double clicking "Disk Utility" and in the left sidebar checking to see if your external hard drive is listed as one of the mounted drives. Hope this helps, don't forget to comment/vote if this helped. Thank you.

Thank you for asking your question with FixYa Support.

I am not sure what type of computer you have that your LaCie is connected to, but first and foremost, make sure the external hard drive has been properly formatted to work with the operating system your computer has.
For Windows computers: the LaCie should be formatted in either FAT32 or NTFS (recommended- more secure).
How to Format a HD in Windows Vista
For Mac computers: the LaCie should be formatted in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format.
How to format an external hard drive in Mac OS X


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If your LaCie is already formatted, then the best way to import your entire iTunes library from the internal hard drive of your computer into the LaCie, especially if you are unable to drag and drop the library into you LaCie, is to try a simple copy and pasting of the ENTIRE iTunes folder from its home on your computer to the LaCie hard drive.

You can also use the website I like to reference which provides some good alternatives to effectively migrating your iTunes Library from a PC or Mac to your external hard drive:

Here is that support link:
How to Transfer iTunes Library to another Computer
(also included in this article, are external hard drives)

For sake of space, I want you to review this article, because I not only agree with its content, it is exactly what I would explain to you as well in a more condensed, easy to follow fashion.

I hope I have helped guide you well on your question.

Regards,

-Mactechtrainer

the Mac may not recognize it if it is formatted with NTFS. I believ most Macs can read FAT32 and other formats but not NTFS. You could hook the drive up to a modern PC, transfer the files there for a while, format the external drive to FAT32 and copy the files back to the drive. The Mac shold read them now,

Hi,

If it recognizes on the Macs but not the PC the first question to ask is, is the drive formatted for Mac or PC? If it is formatted for Mac the PC will need to add www.macdisk.com to provide a driver that will let it use the ac format.

If it's formatted for PC or if you already have Macdisk installed then the problem is with the PC but may require a bit more digging.

Let me know how you make out,

Chris

It needs to be formatted for mac use.  If you are going to be using it on both Windows and Mac OS X, you need to format it in windows as a FAT 32 partition.  If you are going to be using it Mac ONLY, then you can format it in disk utility.  

The normal, slow format can take hours, you could have selected quick format if you had the option would have problably taken around 10 seconds to a minute.

1. If you have another firewire device test this device with the same firewire cord you are currently useing for the LaCie. (if there is no reasponse form the other device then it is the cord it's self) If not then 2. Check the Leads on the back of the LaCie where the firewire plugs in if the copper looks tarnished use a ear swab dipped in Lime Away or CLR to clean it then wait for it to dry and try the cord again. 3. if these physical connections are in good connection with each other and the firewire in port on your computer and on the LaCie are good then. Run a "Permissions" verify and repair through the disk utility program on your Mac with the LaCie turned on and plugged in.
FINALLY if none of these options repair the LaCie you may have to open the LaCie up and check to make sure the soldering from the firewire to the chip set is still in tact. I hope this helps Happy Macing.

solved: after referring to the userguide, I found that I formated my drive with a OS format, which can not be recognized by VISTA >> formated to FAT32 and now it works... 

http://forums.macworld.com/message/457596

http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/repairprocess.html

to try

Hi, I have just checked the LACIE website, So Google LACIE, click the second result [Lacie's own site] you will get a page up with a choice box, select Australia/go click the desktop HDD. click the 500Gb usb, this will give you a page with a support and a download link. click download, here you will find a manual and drivers. Goodluck mistyman