Drive "cannot be modified"

[Johnc131]

I have been trying to move folders and files from my desktop (iMac) to an external drive (300GB Freecom & 1TB Seagate), but every time I get the message "The [Item name] could not be moved because [drive name] cannot be modified". Have gone through Mac Help but can't follow the instructions - names in instructions don't correspond, so can't follow.

Any ideas?

Johc131

 

[Buzzard2010]

Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility, click your External HDD, click Repair Disk Permissions

Hope this helps
- Simon

 

[Johnc131]

Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility, click your External HDD, click Repair Disk Permissions

Hope this helps
- Simon

Can't get Repair Disk Permissions to highlight as is greyed out. Is OK when main HDD is selected but not my Seagate 1TB.

Johnc131

 

[Johnc131]

have also tried in new finder window but still no go

Johnc131

 

[Buzzard2010]

Click get info on your external hdd, in the permissions pane, make sure you add yourself and give yourself read & write permissions.

HTH
- Simon

 

[chscag]

I have been trying to move folders and files from my desktop (iMac) to an external drive (300GB Freecom & 1TB Seagate), but every time I get the message "The [Item name] could not be moved because [drive name] cannot be modified". Have gone through Mac Help but can't follow the instructions - names in instructions don't correspond, so can't follow. Any ideas? Johc131

What format are the drives using? If they're both formatted to NTFS, then the message you're getting is correct. You can't repair permissions on a drive that's formatted to NTFS because you can't write to it.

 

[Johnc131]

The drive must be NTFS as supplied for PC I assume. Have now formatted for OS (FAT32) and has solved the problem. It appears that NTFS will only accept PC stuff, but Mac format will accept all - Macs are much better. I use both, but chalk and cheese!

Thanks

Johnc131

 

[Buzzard2010]

Technically Windows can read and write to NTFS, FAT or FAT32, OSX can read and Write to Mac OS Extended, FAT and FAT32. So the middle ground really is FAT/32.

- Simon