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external hard drive

Have new WD My Passport 2TB external hard drive. Installed software for mac and cannot get iPhone back up ios files to drop in. Thoughts?


MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Oct 30, 2021 11:18 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 30, 2021 12:04 PM

Drives like the MyBook came with software, and the manufacturer suggested you install that software.


What that software does is to "spare you the annoyance of having to re-initialize the drive" from its factory set Windows New Technology File System (NTFS) or similar unusual (on a Mac) format. Instead, the software they provided would simulate a MacOS drive inside an NTFS file for your Mac.


The downside of using the manufacturer's software is that if the manufacturer's software is not loaded, the Macintosh Volume is not readable. This means that in startup manager, Installer, and in recovery such as after a data loss, the Macintosh Volume will not be visible.


The standard advice given here to all users, including novice users, is to discard the manufacturers software and NEVER use it. "Best Practice" is to erase the drive when new, using only MacOS Disk Utility, and create the fundamental data structures needed for consistent, reliable use by MacOS.


Be sure to "show all devices" which will allow you to ERASE the entire Device (physical Drive) by it immutable name, not just a Volume-name.


1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 30, 2021 12:04 PM in response to X21-12X---83

Drives like the MyBook came with software, and the manufacturer suggested you install that software.


What that software does is to "spare you the annoyance of having to re-initialize the drive" from its factory set Windows New Technology File System (NTFS) or similar unusual (on a Mac) format. Instead, the software they provided would simulate a MacOS drive inside an NTFS file for your Mac.


The downside of using the manufacturer's software is that if the manufacturer's software is not loaded, the Macintosh Volume is not readable. This means that in startup manager, Installer, and in recovery such as after a data loss, the Macintosh Volume will not be visible.


The standard advice given here to all users, including novice users, is to discard the manufacturers software and NEVER use it. "Best Practice" is to erase the drive when new, using only MacOS Disk Utility, and create the fundamental data structures needed for consistent, reliable use by MacOS.


Be sure to "show all devices" which will allow you to ERASE the entire Device (physical Drive) by it immutable name, not just a Volume-name.


external hard drive

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