Problems unlocking files.

Recently, I acquired a used Macbook Pro that I had wiped clean. I was attempting to mess with some video files from an external hard drive, but when I told the files to always open with VLC instead of quicktime player, I was given the following message: "You can’t change the item “[Video File Name]” to always open in the selected application. The item is either locked or damaged, or in a folder you don’t have permission to modify (error code -54)." Upon attempting to unlock the file, I found that the lock button was greyed out. Is there a way to fix this?

Welcome to our forums.

Right click the external hard drive, select "get info", and at the bottom select "ignore ownership".

chscag said:

Welcome to our forums.

Right click the external hard drive, select "get info", and at the bottom select "ignore ownership".

Click to expand...

Sorry, but I can't seem to find the ignore ownership button. Here's an image if it helps:

I don't know, but could that be due to the fact the USB volume is formatted as NTFS rather than a Mac's possibly more compatible GUID format etc. ???

Sorry, but I can't seem to find the ignore ownership button. Here's an image if it helps:

Click to expand...

You forgot to tell us that the external hard drive is formatted to the Windows file format = NTFS. Therefore, what I told you above does not apply. Instead, attach the drive to a Windows machine and open the File Explorer. From the File Explorer, select the Properties of the drive, and make sure that ownership is read and write. (Notice that the properties of the drive currently is "read only") The older Windows Explorer made that easy to do, but from Windows 7 on, it's no longer as simple.

Just curious here and wondering if one could just copy the file/folders to the Mac and then make any possible changes on them there with the help of Get Info???

pm-r said:

Just curious here and wondering if one could just copy the file/folders to the Mac and then make any possible changes on them there with the help of Get Info???

Click to expand...

I don't know if that will work or not. Ownership in Windows is more complex since Windows 7, but it still can be changed, however, it's best done within Windows. I currently do not have any external hard drives formatted as NTFS with data or I would try as you suggested. I long ago converted all my NTFS external drives to FAT-32 for easy access from my Macs.

As has been said already, in order for you to change the file on the external drive, it would have to be done in Windows. The OP, could copy the files to his Mac and change the permissions, but it still would not change the files on the external. Unless OP want to copy all the files off the external and then format the drive for Mac, using either exFAT or FAT, then he can put all the files back on it.