cannot transfer files from iPhoto to external hard drive

mlp · mlp #1 (**permalink**)

04-08-2012, 07:01 PM

Hello, I need some help please!

I just got my first Mac and its a MacBook Air. I wanted to transfer some pictures from my iPhoto library into my external hard drive which is a verbatim clon but it will not let me. Now, according to what says on the box of my external hard drive it supports both Mac OS X and Windows. I can transfer pictures from my external hard drive into windows but not vise versa. I read some other threads where people are having similar problems but they mention that a message pop up saying ¨cannot be modified¨ but that doesn't come up to me it simply doesn't allow me to do so without any messages or notices coming up. What can I do?

chscag · chscag #2 (**permalink**)

04-08-2012, 09:03 PM

How about telling us what file format the verbatim hard drive is using? If the drive is formatted to FAT-32 it would be compatible for both Windows and OS X, however, if the format is NTFS, it will only be compatible for Windows.

The box may say the drive supports both OS X and Windows, but that usually assumes that the drive will be reformatted to the correct file format.

mlp · mlp #3 (**permalink**)

04-08-2012, 11:01 PM

Where or how can I find out which format is the external hard drive using?

chscag · chscag #4 (**permalink**)

04-09-2012, 02:32 AM

Attach the external drive to your PC. Assuming the drive shows up as E:, open a command prompt and type in the following: chkdsk E:

That will tell you what file system it's using plus other information.

mlp · mlp #5 (**permalink**)

04-09-2012, 05:04 PM

hello

can I do the same but attached the external drive into the MAC as I don´t longer have the PC I was using before.

chas_m · chas_m #6 (**permalink**)

04-10-2012, 02:31 AM

If there's nothing on there, just save yourself a lot of time and reformat the thing to OS X using Disk Utility.

MightyGem · MightyGem #7 (**permalink**)

04-10-2012, 08:47 AM

Quote:

can I do the same but attached the external drive into the MAC

Right/Ctrl click on the drive's icon and select "Get Info". That should tell you.

chscag #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 32,386 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	04-08-2012, 09:03 PM How about telling us what file format the verbatim hard drive is using? If the drive is formatted to FAT-32 it would be compatible for both Windows and OS X, however, if the format is NTFS, it will only be compatible for Windows. The box may say the drive supports both OS X and Windows, but that usually assumes that the drive will be reformatted to the correct file format. Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

chscag #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 32,386 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	04-09-2012, 02:32 AM Attach the external drive to your PC. Assuming the drive shows up as E:, open a command prompt and type in the following: chkdsk E: That will tell you what file system it's using plus other information. Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

chas_m #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 22, 2010 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 13,808 Mac Specs: 2009 MacBook Pro, Black speakers, Black Benq second monitor, black iPhone 4, Black 2012 iPad, etc.	04-10-2012, 02:31 AM If there's nothing on there, just save yourself a lot of time and reformat the thing to OS X using Disk Utility. Cheers, chas_m -- My essay for switchers and newbies
	QUOTE Thanks

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mlp #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 08, 2012 Posts: 3	04-08-2012, 07:01 PM Hello, I need some help please! I just got my first Mac and its a MacBook Air. I wanted to transfer some pictures from my iPhoto library into my external hard drive which is a verbatim clon but it will not let me. Now, according to what says on the box of my external hard drive it supports both Mac OS X and Windows. I can transfer pictures from my external hard drive into windows but not vise versa. I read some other threads where people are having similar problems but they mention that a message pop up saying ¨cannot be modified¨ but that doesn't come up to me it simply doesn't allow me to do so without any messages or notices coming up. What can I do?
	QUOTE Thanks

mlp #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 08, 2012 Posts: 3	04-09-2012, 05:04 PM hello can I do the same but attached the external drive into the MAC as I don´t longer have the PC I was using before.
	QUOTE Thanks

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