my WD HDD is read only.I can't write anything.....help!!!

[falconb]

I'm a new mac user and i know and convinced that it's a great powerful OS

so i think there is a solution for my problem

i have an external WD HDD and i can access it very normally
but the problem is that i cant edit on it because it's "read only" and i tried to make writable but as a new mac user i couldn't

so please help

thanks

 

[GGJstudios]

i have an external WD HDD and i can access it very normally
but the problem is that i cant edit on it because it's "read only" and i tried to make writable but as a new mac user i couldn't

How is the drive formatted?

Format A Hard Drive Using Disk Utility (which is in your /Applications/Utilities folder)

Choose the appropriate format:

HFS+ (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Don't use case-sensitive)

• Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X
• Required for Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper! backups of Mac OS X system files.
  [*]To Read/Write HFS+ from Windows, Install MacDrive
  [*]To Read HFS+ (but not Write) from Windows, Install HFSExplorer
• Maximum file size: 8EiB
• Maximum volume size: 8EiB
• Mac OS X: Mac OS Extended format (HFS Plus) volume and file limits
• You can use this format if you only use the drive with Mac OS X, or use it for backups of your Mac OS X internal drive, or if you only share it with one Windows PC (with MacDrive installed on the PC)

NTFS (Windows NT File System)

• Read/Write NTFS from native Windows.
• Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X
  [*]To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X, here are some alternatives:
  • For Mac OS X 10.4 or later (32 or 64-bit), install Paragon ($19.95) (Best Choice for Lion and Mountain Lion)
  • For Mac OS X 10.5 and later, including Lion, FUSE for OS X
  • For 32-bit Mac OS X, install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free) (does not work in 64-bit mode)
  • For 64-bit Snow Leopard, read this: MacFUSE for 64-bit Snow Leopard
  • Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx $36), which is an enhanced version of NTFS-3G with faster performance.
  • Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and later versions, but is not advisable, due to instability.
• AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS
• Maximum file size: 16 TB
• Maximum volume size: 256TB
• You can use this format if you routinely share a drive with multiple Windows systems.

exFAT (FAT64)

• Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
• Not all Windows versions support exFAT. See disadvantages.
• exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
• AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support exFAT
• Maximum file size: 16 EiB
• Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB
• You can use this format if it is supported by all computers with which you intend to share the drive. See "disadvantages" for details.

FAT32 (File Allocation Table)

• Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
  [*]Maximum file size: 4GB.
• Maximum volume size: 2TB
• You can use this format if you share the drive between Mac OS X and Windows computers and have no files larger than 4GB.

 

[hallux]

What ^^ he said...

Most WD external drives (unless it's a "Mac drive") come formatted for Windows, usually NTFS these days.

 

[falconb]

thank you veeeeery much GGJstudios for your help
and you too hallux

but what happens if i change the HDD format?
would the files that it contains get hurt?

and also please i want to ask about the "data measuring symbols" you've used cause some of them i didn't understand

tell me if i'm right or correct
EiB>>> Exa ???
ZiB>>> Zetta ???

thanks

 

[GGJstudios]

thank you veeeeery much GGJstudios for your help
and you too hallux

but what happens if i change the HDD format?
would the files that it contains get hurt?s

Yes, if you format the drive, you will lose any data on it. You should move your data to another drive before you reformat the drive, then move the data back afterwards.

and also please i want to ask about the "data measuring symbols" you've used cause some of them i didn't understand

tell me if i'm right or correct
EiB>>> Exa ???
ZiB>>> Zetta ???

This will explain: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EiB

 

[mankar4]

In order to use an ntfs drive on your os x you will need some special drivers. I would recommend you do this only if you plan to use this drive both for your Mac and for a Windows computer. If not, just reformat your drive to HFS+ because that works better with mac that NTFS even when you have these drivers. You could use these to copy your files to your mac, reformat it, then copy them back to the HD.

Free, slower: http://download.cnet.com/NTFS-3G/3000-2094_4-10913782.html
Cost $, faster: http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/
Never used before, has a trial period: http://www.tuxera.com/products/tuxera-ntfs-for-mac/

Edit: I just realized GGJ wrote about this above in his long post. Oops.

 

[falconb]

thanx GGjstudios
hahahahahahaha mankar4 thank you
you all helped me pretty good...appreciate that