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Jun Sakuma · February 16th, 2009, 01:47 AM

I'm trying to use an external Seagate drive as a HOST HDD for my HVX200.
I can transfer data to the hard drive but when I connect it to my iMac I get:
"you've inserted a disk that is unreadable by this computer."

Has anyone experienced anything like that?
I'm using FreeAgentPro. As a regular HD formated for mac use it works fine, but it stops being recognized when I format it through HVX200.

Any help would be most appreciated.

Robert Lane · February 16th, 2009, 12:39 PM

This is because the FreeAgent enclosure has automated software built into a firmware chip and on the HDD itself to act as an automatic backup solution for PC or Mac. That software only allows "READ ONLY" access on a Mac which is why you're getting that message.

What you need is a simple external HDD in an enclosure (technically you don't even need an enclosure, you could simply use a bare-drive connector/power supply) with whatever size HDD you want. Then the camera can format the drive properly and, there won't be any additional software in the enclosure competing for formatting or access options.

Use your FreeAgent for system backups but not for HOST MODE transfers.

Jun Sakuma · February 16th, 2009, 08:20 PM

Really? That's too bad. I've bought it only for this purpose.
Does anyone know if there's a way to work it around?

Thanks for your answer, Robert.

Robert Lane · February 17th, 2009, 09:46 AM

No, there's no workaround other than physically removing the HDD from the enclosure and using it bare. You can't turn off that firmware chip in the enclosure because that contains the entire purpose of the FreeAgent product.

February 16th, 2009, 01:47 AM	#1
Jun Sakuma New Boot Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: São Paulo Brazil Posts: 23	Host hdd I'm trying to use an external Seagate drive as a HOST HDD for my HVX200. I can transfer data to the hard drive but when I connect it to my iMac I get: "you've inserted a disk that is unreadable by this computer." Has anyone experienced anything like that? I'm using FreeAgentPro. As a regular HD formated for mac use it works fine, but it stops being recognized when I format it through HVX200. Any help would be most appreciated. Last edited by Jun Sakuma; February 16th, 2009 at 10:57 AM.

February 16th, 2009, 12:39 PM	#2
Robert Lane Go Go Godzilla Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ USA Posts: 2,825 Images: 15	This is because the FreeAgent enclosure has automated software built into a firmware chip and on the HDD itself to act as an automatic backup solution for PC or Mac. That software only allows "READ ONLY" access on a Mac which is why you're getting that message. What you need is a simple external HDD in an enclosure (technically you don't even need an enclosure, you could simply use a bare-drive connector/power supply) with whatever size HDD you want. Then the camera can format the drive properly and, there won't be any additional software in the enclosure competing for formatting or access options. Use your FreeAgent for system backups but not for HOST MODE transfers.

February 16th, 2009, 08:20 PM	#3
Jun Sakuma New Boot Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: São Paulo Brazil Posts: 23	Really? That's too bad. I've bought it only for this purpose. Does anyone know if there's a way to work it around? Thanks for your answer, Robert.

February 17th, 2009, 09:46 AM	#4
Robert Lane Go Go Godzilla Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ USA Posts: 2,825 Images: 15	No, there's no workaround other than physically removing the HDD from the enclosure and using it bare. You can't turn off that firmware chip in the enclosure because that contains the entire purpose of the FreeAgent product.