Question: Why is my Disk Utility not loading, but showing only the spinning globe?

[spunky8]

Hello:

I just tried to access Disk Utility on my Macbook Pro in order to erase and format an external hard drive. When I try to open, the Disk Utility, I get the spinning globe and the load is never completed.

Any suggestions as to how to get past the spinning globe?

Thanks.

 

[Slydude]

Just for kicks and grins try a little experiment for me. Before launching Disk Utility disconnect / turn off the external drive that you are trying to format. If Disk Utility launches properly now try connecting and powering up the external drive. If the drive is having problems it may take Disk Utility quite a while to recognize the drive. That may be causing the problem you are having.

On some drives the directory structure/drive mechanism may be badly enough damaged that Disk Utility doesn't recognize it.

 

[spunky8]

Just for kicks and grins try a little experiment for me. Before launching Disk Utility disconnect / turn off the external drive that you are trying to format. If Disk Utility launches properly now try connecting and powering up the external drive. If the drive is having problems it may take Disk Utility quite a while to recognize the drive. That may be causing the problem you are having.

On some drives the directory structure/drive mechanism may be badly enough damaged that Disk Utility doesn't recognize it.

Thanks for your suggestion. I tried what you suggested but it didn't work.

Again, thanks.

 

[pigoo3]

Thanks for your suggestion. I tried what you suggested but it didn't work.

Let's try a 2nd version of the experiment Slydude suggested.

1. Power everything down (both the computer & the external drive).
2. After powering everything down…disconnect the external drive from the computer.
3. Now do an SMC Reset on the computer:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

Skip down to the part which says…"If you're using a Mac notebook computer…"

4. Restart the computer as indicated in the SMC Reset procedure.
5. Now Shut Down the computer.
6. If the external HD has it's own power switch or power cord…now plug it into the power and/or flip the power switch.
7. Plug the external HD's cable (USB cable I assume) into the computer. If the external HD has only one cord (a USB cable)…plug it into the computer.
8. Start up the computer.
9. Try the Disk Utility task you were doing previously.

One word of caution (which Slydude wisely referred to). Never unplug an external hard drive from the computer while everything is powered on…unless the external HD was properly ejected first (drag the external HD's icon to the trash can). If this is not done…directory files can get damaged…possibly leading to the problems being experienced now.

- Nick

 

[Slydude]

I didn't think of the SMC reset. Good idea. I have a suspicion that the drive is having problems (either SMART status or directory structure) and difficulty reading the drive is what causes Disk Utility to beachball. Sometimes I've had to try multiple times before the drive can be read. Some third party utilities may be able to read the drive when Disk Utility can't but that's an expensive option.

 

[pigoo3]

I didn't think of the SMC reset. Good idea.

We shall see if it was a good idea or not. I have the same suspicions…ext. HD file structure could be damaged. Hopefully not worse than that.

If the spinning wheel issue remains. My next test would be with no ext. HD attached…to see if the problem is computer based & not ext. HD based.

- Nick

 

[pm-r]

Now you guys did it and killed things and now spunky8 can't even post back!!!

 

[spunky8]

Spunky 8 is out of town and will try to implement your suggestions when he returns. In the meantime, thanks for posting.

 

[pigoo3]

Spunky 8 is out of town and will try to implement your suggestions when he returns. In the meantime, thanks for posting.

We will be very interested to hear how things turn out for spunky8…when spunky8 is back in town…and spunky8 has time to do the troubleshooting!

When you see spunky8…please tell spunky8 to "Have Great Day"!

- Nick

 

[spunky8]

He will for sure. Spunky8 is not a tech guy, so he may well have trouble implementing the advice.

 

[spunky8]

The solution

Spunky8 (me) just arrived back in town. Being a tech idiot and fearful of commencing the solutions recommended by forum members, I decided to call Apple this morning to see if it could solve the problem.

It did. The representative instructed me to do something I had already done, namely, to unplug the disc in question, to shut down the computer, to wait about 30 seconds, and then to reboot. I did it and the Disk Utility started up immediately even though I had done the same thing previously and it hadn't worked. It's like having a pain, going to the doctor and being pain free when the doctor is examining you.

In any event, I'm up and running. And, I wish to thank all of you for your efforts to try to help me out.

 

[pigoo3]

The representative instructed me to do something I had already done, namely, to unplug the disc in question, to shut down the computer, to wait about 30 seconds, and then to reboot. I did it and the Disk Utility started up immediately even though I had done the same thing previously and it hadn't worked.

This is basically a derivation or replication of what you did previously…and Slydude & I suggested above. The important point is…sometimes these steps need to be done in an exact sequence…and accompanied by the appropriate wait period (which is usually 15-30 seconds) for certain steps.

Congratulate "spunky8" for us...getting things working properly again!

- Nick