HELP external hard drive failure

[sam-c22]

Im desperate to get my external hard drive working again. I can view the files on it and play them but i cannot add any more or delete any.

when i plug it into my mac a pop up comes on saying

Mac OS X cant repair the disk

 

[blueroom]

Have you tried backing up the files and re-formatting the drive?

 

[Fishrrman]

"I can view the files on it and play them but i cannot add any more or delete any."

Try this. It may work. It may not.
But try it anyway.

Close all windows, and go to the finder.

Have your external drive connected and running - it should be mounted on the desktop.

Click the icon for the external drive ONE time to select it.

Type "Command-i" to "get info" on the drive.

At the very bottom of the get info window, there is a checkbox that should say:
"Ignore ownership on this volume"

If it is not checked, try putting a check into the checkbox.

You will be asked to enter your administrator password to do this.

You may need to click the "lock icon" on the right first.

Give this a try then close the Get Info window.

Does this change things for you?

 

[sam-c22]

there is no icon for ignore ownership when i click command i

 

[SpetsnaZ99]

there is no icon for ignore ownership when i click command i

Its right at the bottom in 'Sharing & Permissions'