External hard drive question (from PC to Mac)

Joined
Dec 9, 2013
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Hi all,
I have an external hard drive that I used with my previous PC, and now i learned that i can't write onto the external or delete individual files from my Mac. Is there a way to make it so that I can use the external with my Mac, without having to erase everything with a reformatting? I ask this because i don't have any extra space to backup the stuff already on the external. Please help. Thank you.
 

chscag

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
65,248
Reaction score
1,833
Points
113
Location
Keller, Texas
Your Mac's Specs
2017 27" iMac, 10.5" iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, Numerous iPods, Monterey
Your external hard drive is probably formatted as NTFS which is a proprietary file system used by Microsoft. Your Mac can read the files but can not write to them or delete them. You will need a special driver. The only one we recommend is "Paragon NTFS" which can be purchased as a download from Paragon Software for $19.95. Here is the LINK.
 
OP
H
Joined
Dec 9, 2013
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Thank you. So does this mean it won't erase what's currently on the external? and then I can just use it normally after that with the Mac?
 

bobtomay

,
Retired Staff
Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
26,561
Reaction score
677
Points
113
Location
Texas, where else?
Your Mac's Specs
15" MBP '06 2.33 C2D 4GB 10.7; 13" MBA '14 1.8 i7 8GB 10.11; 21" iMac '13 2.9 i5 8GB 10.11; 6S
OP
H
Joined
Dec 9, 2013
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Hey, it's been a while since i started this thread, and I haven't purchased Paragon yet. But I saw that it's for Mac OS 11. But mine is still 10.6.8 Will it still work? Thanks
 

Slydude

Well-known member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Nov 15, 2009
Messages
17,596
Reaction score
1,072
Points
113
Location
North Louisiana, USA
Your Mac's Specs
M1 MacMini 16 GB - Ventura, iPhone 14 Pro Max, 2015 iMac 16 GB Monterey
Yes. I believe the 11 in the title of that page refers to the version number of the driver (11.2.443). If you click the system requirements link on that page it shows that the software works with OS X 10.5 and above.
 

Slydude

Well-known member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Nov 15, 2009
Messages
17,596
Reaction score
1,072
Points
113
Location
North Louisiana, USA
Your Mac's Specs
M1 MacMini 16 GB - Ventura, iPhone 14 Pro Max, 2015 iMac 16 GB Monterey
You're welcome.
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top