Copying files from macbook pro to external hard drive

Hi,

I am a new user to Mac systems. With PC's I can drag and drop the entire folders of photos that are on my desktop to the external drive. But when I try to do the same with a Mac it doesn't allow me. Please advise on how I can transfer from files from my desktop to my external drive.

"Macintosh HD" - All Pictures I copy all the raw files to a new folder on my Mac's desktop. I want to back up those photos to my external drive.

Thanks!

Without a little more info any anwsers will just be a guess. So...How is your hdd formated , how large are these folders. A FAT32 drive will not allow file transfers larger then 4 gigs....We need more info.

Clay

My external WD 1TB drive is formated to NTFS.

You can only read NTFs drives not write to them with out a driver such as NTFS-3G
How-to: Read and Write NTFS Windows Partition on Mac OS X - Stepcase Lifehack

This is a good link to explain it to you

Hope this helps
Clay

Thanks Clay! This will help alot!

So what file format do I need to format my drives to so I can write to it?

If it's only going to be used on a Mac, then Mac OS Extended (Journaled) will work perfect.

Basically open up Disk Utility (Finder Toolbar > Go > Utility's > Disk Utility), Click the drive in question, click 'Erase' > Volume Format > Pick either Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or Mac OS Extended > Click Erase.

Now your done. However this will destroy any data on the drive, and will only be able to be used on Mac.