Can't create new folders in WD passport external hard drive..

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Level 1

1 points

Can't create new folders in WD passport external hard drive..

Hey everybody, I'm really new to apple computers and have just purchased my first MacBook after years of debating whether to make the switch from PC. I am confidant I made the right decision. The only problem I've had thus far that I've not been able to find a solution for is that of not being able to create new folders on my external hard drive.

I have a 1TB WD my passport, and so far it's been working as expected. I've got my iTunes music & video library all p to scratch with what it was on my old computer, my one problem though is creating any new folders whatsoever on the MacBook inside the passport folders itself. I was looking to create a new folder so I can archive any new CDs I burn, music I d/l though iTunes and otherwise, into my pre existing music folder that is located on my HD passport. But it won't let me!

I've looked over the site for the best possible solution, but I'm not really sure what I need to do. It won't let me add any new folders into my hard rive whatsoever and I wondered if it was a case of formatting it. If that is the case I need to do it in a way that doesn't delete any of my pre existing files as I have 7+ years of photos, home movies and music I have collected and to lose it would be a real kick to the gut! Is there anybody that can help me with this matter because I really want to get started using my MacBook properly! It's like opening a Christmas present and being told you can't play with it until after dinner!

Thanks very much to anybody that can help me!

Ross

MacBook Pro

Posted on Jul 19, 2011 2:36 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 19, 2011 3:40 AM in response to Remy22

Your WD drive is most likely formatted with the NTFS file system which is the default for Windows. OS X can read from an NTFS drive but can't write to it. There are several add on drivers that can give OS X the ability to write to NTFS drives. One of them is

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/ntfs3g.html

I don't know how well it works.

I hope that drive is not the only place your 7+ years of data is stored. A hard drive can fail, without warning, at any time.

If you have left the PC world behind it would be best to reformat the drive using the OS X filesystem. Of course that means you need some place else to store your data during the format operation.

Get another external drive that is big enough to hold your data.

Format it with the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) file system.

Copy your data from the existing WD disk to the new disk.

Verify that the data on the new disk is all there.

Format the WD disk with the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) file system.

Copy the data from the new disk to the old disk.

You now have two copies of your data on a file system that OS X supports.

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Answer 2

Oct 24, 2015 11:33 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

To anyone who comes across this thread today,

I actually came across this same issue after recently purchasing a WD My Passport. The solution to reformatting the HD (NTFS to ExFAT) to make it editable on a Macbook is right here: http://support.wdc.com/KnowledgeBase/answer.aspx?ID=291 Hope this helps everyone ~

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Answer 3

Team 2

Level 1

0 points

Jul 20, 2013 9:56 AM in response to Remy22

The more I try to use this MacBook Pro, the more I am confounded with issues. I hate MAC and will never have another one. Here is but one more. I will bop over to the next link to discover a 'workaround' to make this thing marginally useable. The only question is, how many spinning beachballs of death will force a restart.

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Answer 4

Nov 5, 2015 2:25 AM in response to calherrer

Thanks buddy this is great!

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Answer 5

johnl927

Level 3

594 points

Jul 19, 2011 3:43 AM in response to Remy22

What format is the external HD in? NTFS, FAT, HFS/HFS +? Since retired engineer posted this the same time I did, refer to his post, your drive is most likey in NTFS format, if you need your Windows, Linux and Mac to read and write to the drive then it has to be formatted as FAT not HFS / HFS+, not NTFS!!!

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Answer 6

Jul 20, 2013 10:32 AM in response to Team 2

first, dont use WD drives with a mac, secondly make sure same is formated for use WITH a Mac. Format said drive for Mac OSX extended journaled or EXFAT. Steer away from all WD drives, but if you have one already, format it for a MAC to write to. No need for frustration.

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Answer 7

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Jul 20, 2013 12:12 PM in response to Team 2

Team 2, greetings; Your dissatisfaction is noted. Why don't you list the issues you are having with you MBP and post them one at a time and you may find that other users can assist you in solving them..Perhaps things are not as dire as you seem to believe.

Ciao.

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Answer 8

Dec 16, 2015 4:28 AM in response to Retired Engineer

For some reason for me the Partion Part is Locked out?

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Answer 9

Remy22 Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 19, 2011 10:39 AM in response to Remy22

Thanks for your suggestions guys. I'm going to give that add on drive a go first and then see what happens! I will post what happens just in case anybody else comes across the same problem.

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Answer 10

Nov 18, 2015 11:41 AM in response to calherrer

Thanks. I was having the same problem and this link provided the instructions for proper fix.

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