Macbook - usb ext hdd can read can't write

lengzzz · lengzzz #1 (**permalink**)

01-02-2007, 04:41 AM

hi, can someone enlighten me on how to change the permission for usb ext hdd to read & write instead of read only? i have no problems with usb thumb drives, only ext hdd.

thanks. ann.

dtravis7 · dtravis7 #2 (**permalink**)

01-02-2007, 05:14 AM

Is your external USB drive formatted in NTFS by Windows XP? If so due to Microsoft not sharing the necesary info, no other OS can currently write to an Windows NTFS formatted HDD except 2k and XP. Neither Linux or OSX can write, just read NTFS. The secret is make your external drives FAT32 then anything out there can both read and write to them.

That is why your USB Thumb drives can be written to.

dtravis7 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 04, 2005 Location: Modesto, Ca. Posts: 25,807 Mac Specs: iMac C2D Late 2007 20" with 10.8.3, Macbook Santa Rosa 4GB Ram OSX 10.8.3	01-02-2007, 05:14 AM Is your external USB drive formatted in NTFS by Windows XP? If so due to Microsoft not sharing the necesary info, no other OS can currently write to an Windows NTFS formatted HDD except 2k and XP. Neither Linux or OSX can write, just read NTFS. The secret is make your external drives FAT32 then anything out there can both read and write to them. That is why your USB Thumb drives can be written to. ...Dennis Mac-Forums Community Guidelines
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lengzzz #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 02, 2007 Posts: 1	01-02-2007, 04:41 AM hi, can someone enlighten me on how to change the permission for usb ext hdd to read & write instead of read only? i have no problems with usb thumb drives, only ext hdd. thanks. ann.
	QUOTE Thanks

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