How do I unlock my external hard drive?

[BlueRevolution]

Can you read the drive, just not write to it?

Try running:

sudo chflags -R nouchg /Volumes/Time\ Machine\ Backups

You have backups and other important files on the drive, or just backups? Looks like you've also used it with Windows...

NFTS-3g won't help you in this case, since the drive isn't formatted to NTFS.

[tmotter]

I have exactly the same problem except my drives are internal. Tried everything you did above and got exactly the same result. Did you ever find a solution?

[chrono1081]

If anyone still reads this thread Paragon NTFS is a program I used since I got my mac last march. Its excellent and lets you read NTFS drives just fine.

[Adminsan]

I'm a switcher from Windows (sorry! ), but for me the following worked. My volume name is "Backup".

Go to Terminal
Enter the following commands:

cd /Volumes
diskutil unmountDisk force Backup

Please tell me if it worked for you.

Adminsan

[ChoiTop=Luv]

right, sorry but this is the closest thread I could find that related to my problem.

So I've had a Mac and I've used one multiple times before, but there are some things I just don't know how to do.

I have a file saved on an external, portable hard-drive that is a read-only and it wasn't when I transferred it to the drive. I can't remember if I was the one that made it like that, but all I know now is that it's a read-only file and I can't deselect the lock selection button. It won't do anything when I click on it and when I go to the Sharing&Permissions tab all it says is 'You can only read this file'. So what's a girl to do when she can't change anything in her folder and she desperately needs to do some organizing? I have over 910mb of memory and I'm not about to delete all of it. Copying the file makes it readable and write-able but I want to use the original file and subfiles.

HELP!!

[VoidBoi]

Did you use a Mac to put the files onto the drive? Is it a Mac formatted drive? Can you read/write other files on the drive?

Originally Posted by ChoiTop=Luv

right, sorry but this is the closest thread I could find that related to my problem.

So I've had a Mac and I've used one multiple times before, but there are some things I just don't know how to do.

I have a file saved on an external, portable hard-drive that is a read-only and it wasn't when I transferred it to the drive. I can't remember if I was the one that made it like that, but all I know now is that it's a read-only file and I can't deselect the lock selection button. It won't do anything when I click on it and when I go to the Sharing&Permissions tab all it says is 'You can only read this file'. So what's a girl to do when she can't change anything in her folder and she desperately needs to do some organizing? I have over 910mb of memory and I'm not about to delete all of it. Copying the file makes it readable and write-able but I want to use the original file and subfiles.

HELP!!

[ChoiTop=Luv]

Originally Posted by VoidBoi

Did you use a Mac to put the files onto the drive? Is it a Mac formatted drive? Can you read/write other files on the drive?

When I first got this Mac, I was running a Windows XP Operating System, so no. My file came off of a Windows XP OS. I can still open Word documents and write more and edit and such, but that's about all I can do. I can't move images to or from folders, and I can't drag and drop to or from the desktop. It asks for a password authentication and when I put it in, nothing happens. All the other files on the drive are fine. Mine is the only one that's gone wonky. So it worries me deeply. Is there anything I can do? I've got an Administrative Account but it still says I don't have all the privileges needed. What's up with that?

[BlueRevolution]

You just don't have the drivers you need. Installing MacFUSE and NTFS-3G ought to give you read/write access to the drive.

[ChoiTop=Luv]

Originally Posted by BlueRevolution

You just don't have the drivers you need. Installing MacFUSE and NTFS-3G ought to give you read/write access to the drive.

I don't know if you were replying to me or someone else but it what am I supposed to do after I install this stuff? And it's not the drive I'm having problems with, it's the file I backed-up on the drive. HELP!

[IEatApples]

Originally Posted by niknok

1. “In Finder if you select the external HD then do a Get Info (cmd+I) it'll bring up a window. Under the General section at the bottom there's a check box for Locked. Make sure this is not checked. Do the same on some of the folders on the external HD.” – Angel Watt

Another check:
Open Terminal (/Applications/Utilities/Terminal)
type: cd /Volumes
type: ls -go
Copy and paste the line that refers to your external hard drive to this thread so we can see if any settings here are wrong. It may have permissions wrong or locked.


I have tried the above and this is the results:

total 8
lrwxr-xr-x 1 1 Jan 25 21:18 Macintosh HD -> /
drw-rw---- 24 1156 Jan 14 20:08 Time Machine Backups

My hard disk is Mac OS Extended (Case Sensitive Journaled)

2. The "uchg" part means it is locked. Not sure why you couldn't find the "Locked" check box though, but we can do this from Terminal.
cd /Volumes
chflags -R nouchg Portable\ HD
The above command will perform an unlock on the HD and recursively unlock every file and folder on the drive.

I have also tried the above and here is the results:

rj-imac:Volumes rjelape$ chflags -R nouchg /Volumes/Time\ Machine\ Backups
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/.0022412dbc5d: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/.DS_Store: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/.Spotlight-V100: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/.TemporaryItems: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/.Trashes: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/.com.apple.timemachine.supported: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/.fseventsd: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Alico: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Alumco: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Desktop DB: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Desktop DF: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/My Blog: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/My Music: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/My Pictures: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/My Software: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/My Videos: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE MANUALS-: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Personal Files: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Rj's File: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Simple Drive: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/System Volume Information: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/hatta small: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/iMovie Events.localized: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/lost+found: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/mac-softwares: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/my secured files.exc: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/standards: Permission denied
chflags: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups: Permission denied


3. I have also tried this from Blue Revolution

In your case, open Terminal and type:

sudo chmod g+w [drag your hard drive's icon into the Terminal window and it will fill in the rest]

And here is the result, I keyed in my password yet nothing happens

rj-imac:Volumes rjelape$ sudo chmod g+w /Volumes/Time\ Machine\ Backups
Password:

4. I have also tried the macfuse and ntsf-3g but nothing works, my external hard disk is still locked.

PLEASE HELP, Its been a month I was not able open this external storage. I have all the back ups here and all my files.

Anyone with an answer? I have the same problem. Please help!

[IEatApples]

I called Apple and they gave me the solution :

http://discussions.apple.com/thread....35132&#9035132

I found a solution that worked.

In Terminal type the following sequence (obviously replace "Volumename with the name of your volume):

sudo chflags 0 /Volumes/Volumename
sudo chown 0:80 /Volumes/Volumename
sudo chmod 775 /Volumes/Volumename
sudo chmod -N /Volumes/Volumename

but if your hard drives name includes a [space] like this: "My HD", then you must write the command like this:

sudo chflags 0 /Volumes/firstname\ secondname
sudo chown 0:80 /Volumes/firstname\ secondname
sudo chmod 775 /Volumes/firstname\ secondname
sudo chmod -N /Volumes/firstname\ secondname

or like in my example:

sudo chflags 0 /Volumes/My\ HD
sudo chown 0:80 /Volumes/My\ HD
sudo chmod 775 /Volumes/My\ HD
sudo chmod -N /Volumes/My\ HD

It saved both my drives! THANK YOU APPLE!!!

[angelwatt]

Thanks for posting the solution you found.

Originally Posted by IEatApples

sudo chflags 0 /Volumes/Volumename
sudo chown 0:80 /Volumes/Volumename
sudo chmod 775 /Volumes/Volumename
sudo chmod -N /Volumes/Volumename

Just to give some more info, for those who care, about the above commands I'll give a brief description of what each line does (as I understand them).

1. chflags 0 removes all flags from the file(s)
2. chown 0:80 ensures root:admin (owner:group) permissions so the system can access the files
3. chmod 775 adjusts file permissions so you and your group have read/write/execute permissions
4. chmod -N removes the ACL (Access Control Lists) from the named file(s)

[IEatApples]

Originally Posted by angelwatt

Thanks for posting the solution you found.


Just to give some more info, for those who care, about the above commands I'll give a brief description of what each line does (as I understand them).

1. chflags 0 removes all flags from the file(s)
2. chown 0:80 ensures root:admin (owner:group) permissions so the system can access the files
3. chmod 775 adjusts file permissions so you and your group have read/write/execute permissions
4. chmod -N removes the ACL (Access Control Lists) from the named file(s)

Thanks for the explanation!

The guy who gave me the solution didn't really know what it did, or how it worked.

[hedfelt384]

Dear Mac Forums,

I can't believe the number of cases about external drives being locked after the computer had to be re-formatted.

I have a similar problem. There is no check-box for "locked".

I have tried the Terminal commands:
cd /Volumes
and
ls -go

and the outcome for my external drive is: drw-rw-r--+ 44 1564 30 Mar 11:26 iMac G5 17"

I am hoping you can help as I really do not want to re-format a HD with valuable information

Regards,
Jim Robson
(hedfelt384).

[angelwatt]

Originally Posted by hedfelt384

I am hoping you can help as I really do not want to re-format a HD with valuable information

Have you tried the other solutions given by people in this thread? There can be multiple reasons why the drives gets like this and different solutions work for different people so it would be good to give each solution a try.

[hedfelt384]

Originally Posted by angelwatt

Have you tried the other solutions given by people in this thread? There can be multiple reasons why the drives gets like this and different solutions work for different people so it would be good to give each solution a try.

NO... Simply because I am not familiar enough with Terminal to experiment and stuff-up my iMac any more than it might (already) be!!

[angelwatt]

Originally Posted by hedfelt384

NO... Simply because I am not familiar enough with Terminal to experiment and stuff-up my iMac any more than it might (already) be!!

Then you should take it to a repair shop if you're not comfortable working on your machine. The Apple web site can help you locate the nearest Apple Store or Apple-authorized repair shop, or you could find a computer place that work on Macs.

[leikvik]

Originally Posted by IEatApples

I called Apple and they gave me the solution :

http://discussions.apple.com/thread....035132�

Thanks for sharing the procedure. It unlocked my external hd and saved me from years of grief.

HOWEVER: my account on my MBP is also locked in a similar way as was my external hd. My home file, encrypted with FileVault, shows up with a small padlock symbol in the bottom left corner. Have tried to use IEatApples' prosedyre, the name of my account replacing the name of the external hd. No luck.

Suggestions, anyone?

[hedfelt384]

Originally Posted by angelwatt

Then you should take it to a repair shop if you're not comfortable working on your machine. The Apple web site can help you locate the nearest Apple Store or Apple-authorized repair shop, or you could find a computer place that work on Macs.

Thanks. I will take it my nearest Apple Store or Apple-authorized repair shop as you suggested.
-Jim.

Originally Posted by IEatApples

I called Apple and they gave me the solution :

http://discussions.apple.com/thread....35132&#9035132



but if your hard drives name includes a [space] like this: "My HD", then you must write the command like this:



or like in my example:



It saved both my drives! THANK YOU APPLE!!!

Hi,
What do I do in a situation where my external HD is called iMac G5 17"
-Jim.

[IEatApples]

Originally Posted by hedfelt384

Hi,
What do I do in a situation where my external HD is called iMac G5 17"
-Jim.

My guess:

sudo chflags 0 /Volumes/iMac\ G5\ 17\"
sudo chown 0:80 /Volumes/iMac\ G5\ 17\"
sudo chmod 775 /Volumes/iMac\ G5\ 17\"
sudo chmod -N /Volumes/iMac\ G5\ 17\"

But like I said - it's a *guess*

[BlueRevolution]

That should be /Volumes/iMac\ G5\ 17\" in all cases.

[IEatApples]

Originally Posted by BlueRevolution

That should be /Volumes/iMac\ G5\ 17\" in all cases.

Thanks!

I updated my post.

Originally Posted by leikvik

Thanks for sharing the procedure. It unlocked my external hd and saved me from years of grief.

HOWEVER: my account on my MBP is also locked in a similar way as was my external hd. My home file, encrypted with FileVault, shows up with a small padlock symbol in the bottom left corner. Have tried to use IEatApples' prosedyre, the name of my account replacing the name of the external hd. No luck.

Suggestions, anyone?

Sorry, I don't really know what to do in that situation, but have you tried to log in as "root"?

[hedfelt384]

Originally Posted by IEatApples

My guess:

sudo chflags 0 /Volumes/iMac\ G5\ 17\"
sudo chown 0:80 /Volumes/iMac\ G5\ 17\"
sudo chmod 775 /Volumes/iMac\ G5\ 17\"
sudo chmod -N /Volumes/iMac\ G5\ 17\"

But like I said - it's a *guess*

Well IEatApples .......... your guess was absolutely PERFECT.
I executed the commands, logged out, restarted my iMac, and voila.

After many weeks I can open the HD and retrieve its valuable contents therein.
Your blood is worth bottling and I cannot express how much I value and appreciate your gem of knowledge my friend.

As they used to say in the good old days: "you are forever in my debt" (although I have no cash).

Regards, Jim.

[ChoiTop=Luv]

ok so I solved on problem now I have another. I accidentally erased all the files on my drive. The data is still there so it's recoverable. The problem is I can't actually buy any of the programs so I had to download a free demo of Data Rescue 2 and it worked. It picked up the data. But demo mode only allows you to restore 1 file that is no more than 5MB and that's a problem because I have soo many files I have to recover. HELP!

[VoidBoi]

Originally Posted by ChoiTop=Luv

ok so I solved on problem now I have another. I accidentally erased all the files on my drive. The data is still there so it's recoverable. The problem is I can't actually buy any of the programs so I had to download a free demo of Data Rescue 2 and it worked. It picked up the data. But demo mode only allows you to restore 1 file that is no more than 5MB and that's a problem because I have soo many files I have to recover. HELP!

Save up and buy a copy of Data Rescue 2. It's an amazing program. In the interim, don't use the drive.