Moving files from mac mini to external hard drive

Question

Moving files from mac mini to external hard drive

I am trying to move some files off an iMac onto a FREECOM HDD. (external Hardrive) When I attempt to drag the files off the mac into the hardrive window, I get the error message:
"File" could not be moved because " FREECOM HDD "cannot be modified

This is also the case with a Mac mini that I have. Files can be dragged off the hardrive into a finder window but not the other way round. This is frustrating as I can move files between PC laptop and hardrive without any error messages.

Im guessing that my permissions on mac systems are read only, but I dont know how to change them. Im desperate to get some old photos off the iMac onto the hardrive and would really appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks kindly

Mac Mini, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Oct 18, 2010 3:03 PM

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Answer 1

Fortuny

Level 7

21,455 points

Oct 18, 2010 8:37 PM in response to Peter Cziborra

Hi Peter and welcome to Discussions,

sounds to me that the Freecom HDD is using NTFS (NT file system) which is a native filesystem for Windows PCs.
Use Disk Utility to verify this.

OSX itself can only read from NTFS harddisks but not write to them.

For write access to NTFS harddisks you would need either the free NTFS-3G http://macntfs-3g.blogspot.com/ or the commercial Paragon NTFS for MAc or Tuxera NTFS for Mac.

Regards

Stefan

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Answer 2

Star1

Level 2

465 points

Oct 19, 2010 12:26 AM in response to Peter Cziborra

Hi Peter,
if you're going to use the external HD only for your Macs, then wipe it clean (w/h 'Disk Utility' app.) and change it to 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)'.

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Answer 3

Oct 19, 2010 5:10 AM in response to Fortuny

Hi Stefan

Thanks for your help. Im away with work at the moment but shall follow your advice tomorrow and let you know how i get on.

Regards
Pete

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Answer 4

Fortuny

Level 7

21,455 points

Oct 19, 2010 5:16 AM in response to Star1

Star1 wrote:
Hi Peter,
if you're going to use the external HD only for your Macs, then wipe it clean (w/h 'Disk Utility' app.) and change it to 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)'.

Does not help much if the OP (Pete) still wants to use the ex HD with his Windows laptop !

Stefan

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Answer 5

Star1

Level 2

465 points

Oct 19, 2010 2:51 PM in response to Peter Cziborra

Hi Peter,
I'm using the external HD enclosure (4-hard drives) for the Windows and Mac too so I installed the Paragon NTFS & it works without any problems.

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Answer 6

Oct 20, 2010 5:16 AM in response to Peter Cziborra

Hi
I installed the NTFS-3G drive on my mac mini. It has worked, i can now transfer files to the hardrive.

Im still having trouble with my iMac.
NTFS-3G drive requires minimum requirements of mac osx 10.4 operating system. Unfortunatley my G4 iMac is running Panther, version 10.3
I tried installing Tiger, version 10.5 off the install discs but got the following message:

"Mac os x cannot be installed on this computer
This software cannot be installed on this computer"

how can i solve this problem?

Many, many thanks

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Answer 7

Fortuny

Level 7

21,455 points

Oct 20, 2010 6:34 AM in response to Peter Cziborra

Hi Peter,

if you try to use the OSx disc that came with your Mini (the gray label ones) then this don't work.
These gray labeled OSX disc are machine specific and don't work with other Macs.

Btw. Tiger is OSX 10.4 not 10.5 (which is Leopard) 🙂

Stefan

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Answer 8

Oct 20, 2010 7:42 AM in response to Fortuny

thanks Stefan. Yes they were the grey discs! thats a shame!

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Answer 9

Fortuny

Level 7

21,455 points

Oct 20, 2010 9:27 PM in response to Peter Cziborra

Hi Peter,

Peter Cziborra wrote:
thanks Stefan. Yes they were the grey discs! thats a shame!

if your G4 iMac meets the specifications http://support.apple.com/kb/SP517 you can still get OSX 10.5 Leopard from Apple or Amazon or the like for $ 129

Or use a second external harddisk to get the needed files from the G4 onto it and then onto your Mini.

Stefan

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Answer 10

Oct 22, 2010 3:54 AM in response to Peter Cziborra

Thanks for all the suggestions, very useful

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Answer 11

Fortuny

Level 7

21,455 points

Oct 22, 2010 8:38 PM in response to Peter Cziborra

You're welcome anytime.
Glad to be of help.

Happy computing

Stefan

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