Externals Externals Externals...

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Hi!

I have 2 externals which I have always been using with my Vaio notebook and they have always been working fine. However, whenever I try using either of my externals with my MBP, I can only view items and copy them form teh external to the MBP but I cannot do the reverse, ie: move items form my MBP to my externals.

Anyone have any idea why this is and how to fix this issue?

Thanks!
 

bobtomay

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Because OSX cannot natively write to NTFS formatted drives.

You'll need to:
A. Reformat the drives to HFS (native OSX format) or FAT32 if you want to be able to read and write from both OSX and Windows. FAT32 does not allow file sizes of 4GB or larger.


B. enable OSX to write to NTFS
I prefer Paragon's NTFS for Mac which also provides software for Windows to read and write to HFS
There is also NTFS-3G
And there is also a way to enable 10.6 to write to NTFS - although not sure what limitations it may have - how to available here. I have not tried this either as all my NTFS drives are accessed via the network.
 
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Hey, thanks for the reply, but as I am a basic user (and have just started with mac), this all sounds technical.

Is there a way to convert the format from NTFS to FAT32?
 
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Not convert, but re-format is easy enough. Bear in mind you will destroy all data if you re-format.
You can use Disk Utility to re-format.
 
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I used the Disk Utility to format the drive, but when I click the 'Erase' button, the disk starts erasing, but as it writes 'partitioning' with the progress bar next to it, it simply gets stuck on this...i had it running throughout the night and int he morning it was still on the same spot... Is this a glitch or does it take a long long time? The drive isn't so big, only 250 GB, so I don't think it should take this long.
 
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No it should take minutes really.
Have you verified the disk at all?
 
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Can't say that I have, no.

I just tried it again, but selecting the Mac standard format setting (not FAT32), and it still does the same.

Even worse, after I Force quit the application and yanked the external out, whenever I plug it back in the Mac, it says 'The disk inserted was not readable by this computer' and my Vaio doesn't see it either...
 
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Hmm. Well that will be because it's not formatted at all.
I suspect though, that the drive is dead/faulty, because it should format ok.
Give it another try in Disk Utility, formatting to Mac OS Extended (journaled), and let us know how it goes.
 
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Nope, still nothing.

It sees the disk in DU, but doesn't actually see it in terms of use (doesn't display on the desktop).

Can't verify it as it is greyed out, same as repairing it...

Tried to create a partition, same story as before, the status bar gets stuck at about 1/3 way in, writing 'Creating partition map'.

Same story as before with trying to Erase it, gets stuck.

I think I'll write it off as a dead HD. But for the future, as it looks like i will have to go and buy a new external, how can I make sure that it can Read&Write both on Windows and Mac?

Thanks!
 
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To make sure it's readable on both, you need something like Paragon NTFS, which allows Macs to read and write to NTFS drives.
You are right that it is indeed dead if it is getting stuck during formatting.
 
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had ticks

Is this the only way - to purchase a program?

So the external comes already formatted to the standard Windows NTFS system?
 
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Normally they come formatted for Windows yes, and then you reformat as required.
If you are sticking to file sizes smaller than 4GB you can use FAT32, but if not you need Paragon or similar, Yes.
 
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Just to confirm, I too have recently done this, and formatting a 300GB HDD using my MBP too seconds, very impressive.
 
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I use Paragon's NTFS for Mac and love it.

If your format them to HFS (native OSX format), then they will not work on a PC.
Unless you have a software on the PC computer that allows you to do so.
 
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Thanks for the tips guys!

I think I'll try and stick to using FAT32...I'd use Paragon, but I just don't like paying for extra apps...especially for something as simple as reading an external HD.
 
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Since I connect NTFS drives to my computer all the time, it was worth it.
But if you don't think you will be doing that, then just go to a different format.

Thanks for the tips guys!

I think I'll try and stick to using FAT32...I'd use Paragon, but I just don't like paying for extra apps...especially for something as simple as reading an external HD.
It's for writing to an external NTFS drive.
Mac OS X can read NTFS just fine.

;D
 

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