External Hard Drives Changing Permissions to Read Only

I've been having this same problem off and on with different firewire drives connected to my computer, all in Mac OS Extended format (not NTFS). I couldn't figure out a solution until coming here and reading through the posts - and simply "verifying" the disk (doing nothing else) did the trick. Make sure you verify the partition itself, not just the root drive. Kappy has no idea what he/she is talking about... you CAN resolve the problem with a simple 'verify.' Hope this helps others who may (still) be experiencing this frustrating problem.

this worked for me

http://www.makeuseof.com/answers/change-permissions-external-hard-drive/

I couldn't figure out how to do this either, but then I found the eHow page for it!

http://www.ehow.com/how_5103741_reformat-flash-drive-mac.html

This works! it's great 😀 It's really simple - just go into 'utilities' -> 'disk utility' -> 'erase' -> then it should be all good

N.B. Before you 'erase' they external drive, make sure you have a copy of the files elsewhere, otherwise they will be 'erased'

HWNewbie - I know I am like 18 months past this post date however I did the verify disk and surprisse surprise, it actually changed my permissions. It states "You can read and write". Thank you so much.

Hi, hope this help. Go to Seagate and download:

NTFS Driver for Mac OS

The NTFS Driver (5MB) allows you to mount the NTFS partition on both a GoFlex and Backup Plus drive as read and write (NTFS would normally be read only in MacOS), so the drive can be used to drag and drop files between a computer running Mac OS and one running Windows.

This will solved your problem.

Doing "Verify Disk" and then "Repair Disk" completely did the trick.

Had the same problem, and 'verify' from Disk Utility fixed it. YAY!

Thanks so much. I had a good laugh while reading the insults in this thread but it looks like you came up trumps....Well Done!

I have the same problem, but with more problems added to it:

I'm a noob to so I'll try to cover all the details

My EHD was working untill recently

Worked in both Windows and Mac

is formatted in MS-DOS FAT32

The added problem is that it keeps ejecting and connecting. When I tried backing up, copy window froze, then closed, prompted another one saying some data cannot be read and finder window closed. HD disappeared from desktop and then reappeared. So I cannot backup my info.

Tried the DU verify, stopped midway and shows a message saying DU stopped verifying HD click repair disk. Meanwhile HD ejected and connected again, and the option for repairing disk is not active, so this did not work. Also I cannot edit anything on the erase or partition tabs, but the Raid and restore tabs are available.

Tried opening Info and all I can edit is the shared folder option, name and extension are blocked and the permissions tab says "You can only read" nothing more.

I don't want to format my HD because I NEED to backup my info.

Any help will be greately appreciated.

A suggestion I'd like to offer is go to your System Preferences and open Sharing. In that window, you can click on each Service (the name, not the checkbox) and you'll see the permissions for each kind of device. In the cases of these postings, click on File Sharing and you'll see your connected hard drives and other storage with their corresponding permissions.

This is where things can get a little weird. A couple of years ago I transferred a bunch (as in GB's) of old files from a couple of old antiquated hard drives onto a new drive I'd just purchased. Things went well for a while then all of a sudden I had difficulty accessing it. I checked the permissions described above and was amazed to discover there were new additional users and those and the other users had an array of priveldges; some Read Only, some Write Only, some No Access, etc. Using the + and - , I mirrored the permissions of other connected hard drives I had. After restarting everything, the drive ran without problem.

My guess is the plethora of files I'd transferred from those old drives, some formatted FAT, had somehow screwed up the permissions.

This may or may not cure everyone else's problems, but it might be something to check out when you run into a problem.

I'd really like to see Apple rewrite its Disk Utility to allow for the repairing of permissions on files and drives other than boot drives. You should be aware that the utility doesn't fix permissions of files on boot drives that aren't directly related to the operation of the computer. I think this is crazy. Allowing Disk Utility to fix these issues would go a long way towards fulfilling their policy of providing users with a good experience.

This problem occurs whenever you DONT unmount your usb flash/drive from Windows properly. NTFS being smart filesystem locks itself up, so MAC will mount it read-only. That's when the "check" or "repair" trick works.

i try but the verify disk button is not highlighted or disable. what shall i do? thanks

memarc123, please be more specific. When you say you can't use the verify button, is it the Verify Permissions or Verify Disk?

If it's Verify Permissions, you can only verify the permissions of your startup disk, usually the hard drive of your computer.

If it's Verify Disk, you can verify any disk that's mounted. Just make sure you're selecting the disk's partition and not the disk itself. For example, a disk might be listed as Toshiba_HD4759-66 but that drive had to be formatted to be used and will have a name immediately below, for example MyExternalHD. You have to be sure to select the latter name to effectively verify the disk structure.

Thank you so very much 'Itzawrap'. I reformatted my external so I could upgrade my iMac to Maverick and experienced 'read only.' I experienced the vapors BIG TIME. I did exactly as you wrote and repaired my external, and the result is now it is back to 'read & write.' Thank you for taking time to post this. My vapors have vaporized. Thank you.

HWNewbie wrote:

I am sorry I seem to have upset you by my response! However, your abuse is completely uncalled for and I am afraid I will have to report you for the abuse. You have also been abusive and bullying to another person on the discussion board.

My solution worked for me and it is a pity all your four or so posts were - how should I put it - less than helpful.

I'm on an iMac, not a MacBook Pro, but your solution worked exactly the same way for me, too, so I really appreciate your posting this. It was a terrifying few moments. My two crucial external drives have worked fine for a long time and then suddenly became "Read only" with no rhyme nor reason. I found your post and as a long shot tried it. DiskUtility reported that they both were fine—and then suddenly the permissions were not grayed out any more in the Info window, and their windows didn't have the crossed-out pencil down in the lower left corner any more.

I don't know why the guy was so abusive to you, but maybe he should pay attention to what happens in the real world.

Hi...Lo,

I have NEVER done this before as I am a NEWBIE to this procedure and the whole FORM help. For ALL new readers of this form, what will fix this problem is to download from the following website, the "NTFS Driver for Mac OS" from Seagate: http://www.seagate.com/support/downloads/item/ntfs-driver-for-mac-os-master-dl/ -

This solved my whole problem from READ ONLY to both R&W.

I hope this HELPS all who read this and has this PAINFUL problem with little or NO good answers that I could find.

May GOD and HIS Son JESUS, bless and keep you all.

RonJammer(s)