Download files to my external hard drive

[DesignDiva93]

I recently purchased a refurbished iMac Retina 5K running Yosemite (10.10.3).

I purchased a new external hard drive to store royalty free images that I purchase online for my graphic design business. I have not been able to download directly to the external hard drive. I can download to my desktop and copy the files over just fine, but I am hoping to streamline the process a bit.

I have checked (GET INFO), and the external hard drive (Toshiba 2.0 TB) shows that I am able to read and write to the drive. I just can't download direct to it. I installed the Mac Drive that came with the hard drive, if that helps at all.

Is there a way to do this?

Thank you!

 

[0d085d]

How are you downloading these images? If you can copy them to the drive with Finder then you shouldn't have trouble with anything else.

If you could post screenshots showing what you're doing and what doesn't work, that would be helpful in working out what's going on.

 

[DesignDiva93]

Here is an example:

I purchase an image from iStock. When it asks me where to save the file, I select the folder in the HD. The only reason I know it didn't save is by the "Failed - Download error" message at the bottom of my browser (see attached).

I tried to create a new folder on the HD, but it said it was "read only." I only get that message when trying to download files from the internet.

Thank you for your help!

 

[0d085d]

Hmmm, something isn't behaving as it should. Tuxera seems the most likely thing to blame.

Try to download another image (such that you get the "Download Failed" message) and then immediately open the Terminal application and paste in the following command:

sudo cat /var/log/system.log | grep ntfs

It'll ask you for your password. Type it in but be aware that nothing will happen on screen as you type.

Copy and paste the result up here. Hopefully what's happened is that Tuxera had a reason for blocking the write and has logged it.

If this doesn't bear any fruit, I'll probably recommend uninstalling Tuxera and trying NTFS-3G and FUSE and seeing if you have any better luck with them.

 

[DesignDiva93]

Thank you for the assistance!

I followed the steps and now instead of "Failed - download error", I get "Failed - insufficient permission".

 

[0d085d]

I followed the steps and now instead of "Failed - download error", I get "Failed - insufficient permission".

Is that having installed NTFS-3G? Nothing else should have changed the error message. Did you paste the command into Terminal to check the logs?

Try downloading the image in Safari or Firefox or any other browser you have just to see if it gives you any clearer error messages.

(Logging out for the day)

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

I'm not sure if the option below is available for non-HFS volumes, but see if it is, and give it a try:

Have the icon of your external drive visible on the desktop.

Click on the external drive ONE time to select it.

Type "command-i" to bring up the "get info" box.

Go to the bottom of the box. You may have to click the "sharing and permissions" disclosure triangle to view permissions.

At the extreme lower-right, you should see a lock icon. Click it.

Enter your administrative password when required.

Now, at the extreme lower right of the get info box, put a checkmark into the "ignore ownership on this volume".

Close the get info box (this saves your changes).

Try to save to the external drive now.
Any different?

 

[Fishrrman]

Deleted - double post, sorry

 

[DesignDiva93]

Fishrrman, I had already done that. I shared a screen shot and you can see that the sharing and permissions say that I should be able to read and write. Thanks for the idea, though!

 

[DesignDiva93]

Is that having installed NTFS-3G? Nothing else should have changed the error message. Did you paste the command into Terminal to check the logs?

Try downloading the image in Safari or Firefox or any other browser you have just to see if it gives you any clearer error messages.

(Logging out for the day)

Good ideas! I first tried Safari and I was able to download to the external drive. I had to go into preferences and tell it where files should download.

I tried Firefox and was able to download just fine.

So... must be a Chrome issue? I tried to look in the settings to see if I could change something, but can't find anything obvious (to me). Though I prefer Chrome as my main browser, I supposed I could only use Safari or Firefox strictly for downloading images. Still kind of a drag, but better than nothing.

Unless anyone has any other thoughts??

 

[DesignDiva93]

I think I have it solved! I went into settings in Chrome and where the default download currently is set to my desktop, I set it to my external drive. Tried and download and it worked! Tried several times, and worked great!

I swear I tried this yesterday with no luck, so I am not sure what happened, but I guess as long as it is working, who cares?

I appreciate the help you gave me. I work alone and it is sometimes hard to troubleshoot without having someone to bounce ideas off of.

Thank you!

 

[0d085d]

Glad you've got it sorted! Agreed - it's very easy to convince yourself that you've already tried something.