Multiple hard drives - newbie

[dmizesr]

I tried searching first and couldn't find a thread so...

I just bought a PowerMac. G5 dual processors (2.3 Ghz) and 2 hard drives @ 250 GB each. I have never owned a Mac and thought it was about time. I can see one of the hard drives (MAIN) in the disk utility or anywhere else on the system but I can't see the second drive. I know it's there. I've physically seen it, but it doesn't show up in the system. How do I find it and access it?

Thanks in advance.

DWM

[trevor]

Quote: Originally Posted by dmizesr I can see one of the hard drives (MAIN) in the disk utility or anywhere else on the system but I can't see the second drive.

I'm going to assume that these are external hard drives, but you didn't say so if they are internal let us know.

If you can't see it at all in Disk Utility (even a line denoting the drive manufacturer and model of hard drive), then the problem is not one of formatting or software. The problem is something hardware-related. The first thing to check is that the cable is good, since that's the easiest thing to replace, and the most common thing to fail. Even brand new cables can be bad. Swap cables between the two drives (assuming that's possible) and see if the problem follows the cable, or follows the external hard drive.

Is this a USB drive or a FireWire drive? FireWire 400 or FireWire 800? How is it connected exactly? (For example, if it's a FireWire drive, it could be daisy-chained to the other-working hard drive. If it's a USB drive, it could be connected to an unpowered Belkin USB hub.) Please be detailed.

Trevor

[acme.mail.order]

And there's the obvious: plugged in to power and switched on?

These are older drives (hard to find ones that small today) - it's quite possible one has failed.