Why can't my 2.4 iMac write to my external hard drive?

[ozziegn]

I'm trying send some files over to my external hard drive but it won't let me. it keeps telling me I don't have permission to do that.

this is my external hard drive that I've been using on my PC platform for roughly 2 years which I know works just fine.

any ideas?

[Eidorian]

It's more then likely NTFS formatted.

[vanmacguy]

Do you know how the External hard drive was formatted?

If it was formatted with NTFS permissions, you won't be able to write to it. If it's FAT32 then you've got another problem.

Cheers.

[ozziegn]

It's more then likely NTFS formatted.

so if it is NTFS then how can I do this?

[vanmacguy]

You'll have to take the files off using a Windows machine, reformat the drive using something other than NTFS, and then put them back on.

[Eidorian]

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/how-to-read-and-write-ntfs-windows-partition-on-mac-os-x.html

[mkrishnan]

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=346685

[ozziegn]

You'll have to take the files off using a Windows machine, reformat the drive using something other than NTFS, and then put them back on.

so could I copy all my external hard drive files to my Mac hard drive and then reformat the external within the Mac OS? if so, can I assume that my Windows side will be able to read and write to this as well?

[Eidorian]

so could I copy all my external hard drive files to my Mac hard drive and then reformat the external within the Mac OS? if so, can I assume that my Windows side will be able to read and write to this as well?If you don't have any individual files over 4 GB then FAT32 would work for moving data between OS X and Windows.

Windows cannot write to HFS+ formatted drivers without additional software. You can at least read with HFSExplorer (http://hem.bredband.net/catacombae/hfsx.html).

[vanmacguy]

so could I copy all my external hard drive files to my Mac hard drive and then reformat the external within the Mac OS? if so, can I assume that my Windows side will be able to read and write to this as well?

You are correct. And as long as you don't reformat the drive using a Mac specific format, so use FAT32 (but it's a shame you're still using the drive for Windows as a Mac specific format is much better on a Mac), then you'll be able to read and write from Windows as well.

Good luck.

[BlackMax]

Its in one of the links above, but in case you missed it definitely give MacFuse (http://code.google.com/p/macfuse/) a look.

[ozziegn]

You are correct. And as long as you don't reformat the drive using a Mac specific format, so use FAT32 (but it's a shame you're still using the drive for Windows as a Mac specific format is much better on a Mac), then you'll be able to read and write from Windows as well.

Good luck.

alright, so here's my plan. I will copy all my files to my Mac hard drive and then I will reformat the external drive. can I reformat it within the Mac OS using FAT32 or no?

*edit*

okay. I just tried to reformat the external within the Mac OS and there's an option that says MS-Dos something. can I assume this will be FAT32 so I can access these files within Windows if needed?

[vanmacguy]

alright, so here's my plan. I will copy all my files to my Mac hard drive and then I will reformat the external drive. can I reformat it within the Mac OS using FAT32 or no?

*edit*

okay. I just tried to reformat the external within the Mac OS and there's an option that says MS-Dos something. can I assume this will be FAT32 so I can access these files within Windows if needed?

You are correct. Use MS-Dos and you'll be able to use the drive from both Mac and Windows.

Let us know how you do.

Cheers.

[Eric Piercey]

Move the files to your Mac, format it HFS+, move them back, share the drive from the Mac using freeware like sharepoints and call it a day. Both the PC and the Mac will have read-write access without any file size issues. (Assuming you've got both machines on the same LAN, which you should- if you don't go buy a router for 40 bucks)