Unable to delete files/folders on external Hard Drives

[fgduthie]

Hi,

I'm using an external hard drive, that had the appropriate Mac drivers installed, that is now unable to write files to that hard drive. Since this is my first ever Mac OS upgrade, I was wondering if this was a common issue or if anyone had any idea how I can change the permissions for my hard drive? Is this as simple as a Driver issue?

Many thanks

 

[fisherking]

Hi,

I'm using an external hard drive, that had the appropriate Mac drivers installed, that is now unable to write files to that hard drive. Since this is my first ever Mac OS upgrade, I was wondering if this was a common issue or if anyone had any idea how I can change the permissions for my hard drive? Is this as simple as a Driver issue?

Many thanks

do you mean, the external drives are mac-formatted? (you can check in Disk Utility). and have you tried rebooting?

 

[fgduthie]

The external drives were formatted for Mac OS X but since I've upgraded the OS it's been replaced with read only. I've gone into the Disk Utility and it's now just saying that the File Format is unknown, yet the "Get Info" function states it is Windows NTFS. If I did the First Aid function on the Disk Utility will that wipe my drive? First time ever upgrading/having these issues and I don't want to remove all of the data

 

[old-wiz]

Perhaps when you upgraded to El Capitan the old NTFS drivers are not working in El Capitan? check the system list of incompatible software.

 

[fgduthie]

I wondered this, but the old drives were "writeable" on the Yosemite system. They are USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 but I'm not sure why this should be a factor. I can still read and access them, just I cannot write anything to them which is great for backing up....

 

[cynics]

OS X can read NTFS but can't write too it without some finagling. Is formatting it for a Mac out of the question? Do you share this hard drive with Windows?

 

[fgduthie]

OS X can read NTFS but can't write too it without some finagling. Is formatting it for a Mac out of the question? Do you share this hard drive with Windows?

I bought and formatted the drive specifically for Mac. I could reformat it but it has 1.2tb of data on it and I don't want to lose all of the data. It's a specifically for use with my Mac hard drive (toshiba 2tb USB 3.0), but now I've had to take it to work to transfer files from it.

 

[pastrychef]

NTFS is not a Mac format. It is a Windows file system.

If you used Disk Utility to partition it, there's no way you would end up with NTFS because it's not even an option in Disk Utility.

You basically have two options:

1. Move the data you currently have on the drive to some temporary storage, partition the drive using Disk Utility, and move the data back on to the drive. This is the option I would use.

2. Install some third part NTFS drivers which would give OS X the ability to write to NTFS partitions. There are a few of them out there, search "NTFS Mac drivers" on Google to find them. I have never personally used any of these drivers. I don't know how stable they are and/or if they will jeopardize system stability.

 

[fgduthie]

NTFS is not a Mac format. It is a Windows file system.

If you used Disk Utility to partition it, there's no way you would end up with NTFS because it's not even an option in Disk Utility.

You basically have two options:

1. Move the data you currently have on the drive to some temporary storage, partition the drive using Disk Utility, and move the data back on to the drive. This is the option I would use.

2. Install some third part NTFS drivers which would give OS X the ability to write to NTFS partitions. There are a few of them out there, search "NTFS Mac drivers" on Google to find them. I have never personally used any of these drivers. I don't know how stable they are and/or if they will jeopardize system stability.

Ok this solves the short term problem, but why when I had it formatted for the Mac did it reformat it when I upgraded to El capitan? That's the bit I don't understand. Would the first aid option in Disk utility fix this issue?

 

[ApolloBoy]

Would the first aid option in Disk utility fix this issue?

No it won't. You'll have to migrate your data off your external drive, erase the drive and partition it as an HFS+ drive, then move your data back on the drive.

 

[pastrychef]

Ok this solves the short term problem, but why when I had it formatted for the Mac did it reformat it when I upgraded to El capitan?

1. If it is NTFS, it was never formatted for the Mac.
2. If it did a reformat when you upgraded to El Capitan, all your data would have been lost.

Would the first aid option in Disk utility fix this issue?

No.

 

[fgduthie]

1. If it is NTFS, it was never formatted for the Mac.
2. If it did a reformat when you upgraded to El Capitan, all your data would have been lost.



No.

This is what I thought. I wonder why, before I upgraded I was able to write and read and then after I was only allowed to read? And this was just before the upgrade as I was transferring stuff before upgrading.

And because I'm a complete novice with this stuff, if I removed the data can I reformat in the Disk Utility? Or is there a special place to do this? Apologies for the simplistic question

 

[pastrychef]

This is what I thought. I wonder why, before I upgraded I was able to write and read and then after I was only allowed to read? And this was just before the upgrade as I was transferring stuff before upgrading.

And because I'm a complete novice with this stuff, if I removed the data can I reformat in the Disk Utility? Or is there a special place to do this? Apologies for the simplistic question

Did your drive come with any sort of software? Maybe an NTFS driver was installed and the driver broke with El Capitan.

Yes, after you move your data to another location, you should be able to format your drive to work properly in OS X. Then you can move your data back on the drive.

 

[fgduthie]

Did your drive come with any sort of software? Maybe an NTFS driver was installed and the driver broke with El Capitan.

Yes, after you move your data to another location, you should be able to format your drive to work properly in OS X. Then you can move your data back on the drive.

On the drive yes, I "formatted" using the drivers installed on the driver. That sounds like the most applicable because with both drives, I did have to run Mac Installer.dmg. Maybe it's been reverted back to the original drivers then. I wonder if I was to just open these again if the drive would become "formatted". I shall maybe try this first then try and then reformat the drive in Disk Utility. Unless you think this wouldn't solve it?

I just check the drive again, the driver that came with it was called "Tuxera NTFS for Mac". Wonder if this is the source of the issue

 

[pastrychef]

On the drive yes, I "formatted" using the drivers installed on the driver. That sounds like the most applicable because with both drives, I did have to run Mac Installer.dmg. Maybe it's been reverted back to the original drivers then. I wonder if I was to just open these again if the drive would become "formatted". I shall maybe try this first then try and then reformat the drive in Disk Utility. Unless you think this wouldn't solve it?

I just check the drive again, the driver that came with it was called "Tuxera NTFS for Mac". Wonder if this is the source of the issue

Yes, Tuxera NTFS is an NTFS driver for OS X. It was because of this that you were able to write to your drive.

This has to be the most asinine way to sell hard drives to Mac users that I have ever heard of. Please let me know the brand of drive it is so that I can tell everyone I know to never buy from them.

I would advise against trying to launch those installers and/or apps again.

Again, in my opinion, it's best to copy your data somewhere else temporarily. Format the drive using Disk Utility. Copy the data back to your drive.

 

[fgduthie]

Yes, Tuxera NTFS is an NTFS driver for OS X. It was because of this that you were able to write to your drive.

This has to be the most asinine way to sell hard drives to Mac users that I have ever heard of. Please let me know the brand of drive it is so that I can tell everyone I know to never buy from them.

I would advise against trying to launch those installers and/or apps again.

Again, in my opinion, it's best to copy your data somewhere else temporarily. Format the drive using Disk Utility. Copy the data back to your drive.

It was a Toshiba passport 2tb drive. I have a Seagate 3tb one that came with a Mac Installer.dmg that has also become read only (I'm not sure if it's the same as this tuxera NTFS or not but assume so) and a WD My cloud drive. I hope the My cloud is ok as I have just bought this but should be easier to circumnavigate. Hopefully.....

But I shall try reformatting in the Disk Utility and see what happens. Tonight could be fun then.....

 

[pastrychef]

Thanks for the information. I had no idea that these companies have resorted to this method of selling drives to Mac users. In my opinion, it's quite irresponsible of them.

After you have copied your data off to another location and you are ready to format your drive with Disk Utility, you will have options for every types of format.

If you will only be using the drive on Macs, I would just use the default option, which is OS X Extended (Journaled).

If you will also be using the drive on Windows machines, ExFAT is most convenient.

 

[fgduthie]

Thanks for the information. I had no idea that these companies have resorted to this method of selling drives to Mac users. In my opinion, it's quite irresponsible of them.

After you have copied your data off to another location and you are ready to format your drive with Disk Utility, you will have options for every types of format.

View attachment 590683

If you will only be using the drive on Macs, I would just use the default option, which is OS X Extended (Journaled).

If you will also be using the drive on Windows machines, ExFAT is most convenient.

That's quite alright, I bought the drive because it stated that it was compatible with Mac OS X and I was needing a drive for moving between systems. Ok, I shall look into this tonight. With older drives that "aren't compatible with Mac OS X" I assume you can just reformat it aswell and make it compatible for Mac? I know this sounds like a naive question but after using Windows for 15 - 20 years I'm still in that mindset. I shall use the ExFAT I think, but thanks for giving me those options

 

[pastrychef]

That's quite alright, I bought the drive because it stated that it was compatible with Mac OS X and I was needing a drive for moving between systems. Ok, I shall look into this tonight. With older drives that "aren't compatible with Mac OS X" I assume you can just reformat it aswell and make it compatible for Mac? I know this sounds like a naive question but after using Windows for 15 - 20 years I'm still in that mindset. I shall use the ExFAT I think, but thanks for giving me those options

Yes. Hard drives are hard drives. They are the same for any operating system. The only difference is the types of formats each operating system uses and recognizes.

Personally, I have always purchased bare drives and separate external enclosures for them. This tended to be less expensive and I would be able to choose exactly the hard drive I want.

 

[fgduthie]

Yes. Hard drives are hard drives. They are the same for any operating system. The only difference is the types of formats each operating system uses and recognizes.

Personally, I have always purchased bare drives and separate external enclosures for them. This tended to be less expensive and I would be able to choose exactly the hard drive I want.

That does sound appealing. Now I'm wishing I never bought my Cloud. Hopefully the cloud works, if not then I shall go after one of those. I assumed that would be the case but I wasn't sure if the older drives accepted those formats. Thanks for all your help though

 

[old-wiz]

That's quite alright, I bought the drive because it stated that it was compatible with Mac OS X and I was needing a drive for moving between systems. Ok, I shall look into this tonight. With older drives that "aren't compatible with Mac OS X" I assume you can just reformat it aswell and make it compatible for Mac? I know this sounds like a naive question but after using Windows for 15 - 20 years I'm still in that mindset. I shall use the ExFAT I think, but thanks for giving me those options

I have the same drive, but when I first purchased it the first thing I did was wipe the drive and reformat for OSX journaled. I hate the drivers that they install on the drive.
*** edit ***
I recently upgraded to El Capitan, but I was careful to make sure no external drives were connected at the time of the upgrade. I reconnected after upgrade and all was well. Did you check to make sure that the data on the drive was not destroyed? If it somehow turned back to NTFS that would wipe the drive.