Creation of new folder blocked

[ekimoz]

Hello,
I have plugged my external drive to my MacBook Pro and I have tried to create new folders.

I saw on the internet that there are 2 ways mainly of creating them: shift-command-n or file-document-create folder. However both of them are blocked and cannot create/modify any folders on my external drive.

Additionally, I did not put any special protection on my drive.

Does somebody know how to unblock this?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Slydude]

While in the Finder select the drive and choose Get Info from the File menu. When that window appears what format is listed for the drive in the General section of the window?

If the drive is listed as NTFS or NT Filesystem that's the problem. You have two options re-format the drive to Mac OS Extended Journaled or install a drive that lets the Mac write to NTFS drive.

If you choose to format the drive using Disk Utility remove any important data first. Formatting the drive erases anything on it. If you choose to install a drive to write to NTFS drives the only one I recommend is Paragon NTFS for Mac® - First NTFS driver for OS X Yosemite - Overview

 

[gsahli]

What format is the new drive? It needs to be Mac OS extended, journaled (Use Disk Utility).
Or, do you already have files on it from Windows?

 

[ekimoz]

Yes when I go in the "get info" it is mentioned as Windows NT File. And I cannot format this external drive as I have files already (from Windows)

I will try the option of installing the drive in order to let the Mac writes in it.

Will let you know the outcome

 

[ekimoz]

For the drive to be install: is there any free good software that you would recommend?
The one proposed has a cost and currently I am not able to proceed with any payment but I need to get the info urgently.

 

[Slydude]

Your Mac should be able to read the information on the drive without any problems. So it would be possible to move the information from that drive to another one that is Mac formatted without any problems.

There are some free drivers that allow the Mac to write to NTFS formatted drives. I personally don't use them since many users have complained about these drivers being unstable and corrupting data. I'll have to leave it to others to comment on which driver is most stable.