DubyaB

Q: can't delete folders contained in remote hard drive

I have folders and files contained in a remote hard drive, and I can not delete any.  I just get a pop-up that 'can not be moved to trash because they can not be deleted'   The 'move to trash' is not available on the rt-clk drop-down, so have been just trying to drag to the trash bin.  Anyone? Thanks!  PS: file/folders are not 'locked')

MacBook Pro with Retina display, Mac OS X (10.1.x)

Posted on Jan 12, 2015 12:04 PM

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Q: can't delete folders contained in remote hard drive

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  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Jan 12, 2015 12:27 PM in response to DubyaB
    Level 9 (52,686 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 12, 2015 12:27 PM in response to DubyaB

    Look for possible solutions here:

     

    http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201583

     

    http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/trash.html

     

    The HDD must be connected to the MBP in order to delete files on the HDD.

     

    Ciao.

  • by DubyaB,

    DubyaB DubyaB Jan 12, 2015 12:43 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 12, 2015 12:43 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Hi 'Ogelthorpe' , Thanks, nothing there worked.  And Yes, I do have the HDD connected to MBP!  hehheh...thanks anyways.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Jan 12, 2015 12:55 PM in response to DubyaB
    Level 9 (52,686 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 12, 2015 12:55 PM in response to DubyaB

    What types of files are you trying to delete?

     

    Ciao.

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Jan 12, 2015 12:57 PM in response to DubyaB
    Level 5 (7,746 points)
    Notebooks
    Jan 12, 2015 12:57 PM in response to DubyaB

    What format is the disk?

    Select the disk in Finder (possibly use the 'Go menu > Computer' to see the list of disks), Get info on it via the File menu.

    The format will be listed in the General section.

     

    Also open the disk & show the status bar from the view menu, is there a pencil icon with a line through in the bottom left of the window?

     

    Disk Utility will also tell you if the disk is writable, select the volume in question & click the Info button in the toolbar, does it say Writable: yes in the dialog?

     

    FWIW a reboot may be worth a try

  • by DubyaB,

    DubyaB DubyaB Jan 12, 2015 1:13 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 12, 2015 1:13 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Hi again...all types, right now MS Office files.   I think now it must be something to do with the HDD itself...

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Jan 12, 2015 1:21 PM in response to DubyaB
    Level 9 (52,686 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 12, 2015 1:21 PM in response to DubyaB

    Follow the suggestion by Drew Reece.  The format of the HDD may be the problem.

     

    Ciao.

  • by DubyaB,Helpful

    DubyaB DubyaB Jan 12, 2015 2:08 PM in response to Drew Reece
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 12, 2015 2:08 PM in response to Drew Reece

    Drew, thanks, pretty new to Macbook...Your remarks:

    What format is the disk? Under General listed as a NTFS file.  Noted at the bottom under 'Sharing and Permissions' quite "you can only read"  I haven't discovered how to change that yet (??)

     

    Also open the disk & show the status bar from the view menu, is there a pencil icon with a line through in the bottom left of the window? Well, couldn't find the 'status bar' from the view menu....

     

    Disk Utility will also tell you if the disk is writable, select the volume in question & click the Info button in the toolbar, does it say Writable: yes in the dialog?

    Does say Writable: Yes.

    FWIW a reboot may be worth a try  I did try that....

    My problem likely (maybe?) is to do with 'sharing and Permissions' (??)

    Thanks Drew

  • by Drew Reece,Helpful

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Jan 12, 2015 2:36 PM in response to DubyaB
    Level 5 (7,746 points)
    Notebooks
    Jan 12, 2015 2:36 PM in response to DubyaB

    Mac OS X only supports read only mode on NTFS volumes by default.

     

    You have a couple of choices to resolve this…

     

    Install third party software to enable read & write support (see below).

    Move the files to another disk, reformat the disk as HFS Extended or possibly FAT if you need Windows or Linux support.

     

     

    OS X Fuse is a 'filesystem plugin system' that can add support for NTFS, you need OSX Fuse & NTFS3G installed.

    https://osxfuse.github.io

    https://github.com/osxfuse/osxfuse/wiki/NTFS-3G (this is a free version from Tuxera).

     

    NOTE: I haven't used the next 'paid for' versions & do not vouch for them…

    Tuxera is a paid for alternative that may be simpler to setup…

    http://www.tuxera.com/products/tuxera-ntfs-for-mac/

     

    Paragon is another non-free option

    http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/

     

    It may be simplest to reformat the disk if you don't need to use it with other OS's, these plugins are operating at quite a low level, so it's important to keep them up to date. Personally I prefer to handle NTFS on OS's that already support that format if I need to copy or edit large amounts of data e.g. do it on Windows.

  • by DubyaB,

    DubyaB DubyaB Jan 12, 2015 2:45 PM in response to Drew Reece
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 12, 2015 2:45 PM in response to Drew Reece

    Thanks Drew.I think I'll just go with moving the files and reformatting.  I was aware thast there is some requirement for that for a Mac but hadn't bothered to do it then. Will now though.  Regards Brian

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Jan 12, 2015 2:58 PM in response to DubyaB
    Level 5 (7,746 points)
    Notebooks
    Jan 12, 2015 2:58 PM in response to DubyaB

    No problem, that's the safest option

    Disk Utility calls it 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)'.

     

    It's also worth checking the 'partition map scheme' is a GUID Partition (it's noted at the bottom of Disk Utility with the disk selected).

    It can be set in the options button under the partition if you need to change it.

     

     

    Good luck

  • by DubyaB,

    DubyaB DubyaB Jan 12, 2015 4:43 PM in response to Drew Reece
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 12, 2015 4:43 PM in response to Drew Reece

    Thanks Drew...and Ogelthorpe