Can anyone tell me how to delete the files and folders from my external HDD?
I heard some people mention full format, but I don't need that!! I need to know how to delete individual files on my external HDD.
The OS is not letting me delete files that are on the external HDD.
Help? 😀
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch,Early 2015), OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)
Macs can only read NTFS drives unless using 3rd party software.
NTFS For Mac – Read/Write an NTFS formatted drive
You can reformat the drive to MS-DOS (FAT) or ExFat and it will work with both OSs. Reformatting requires erasing the drive, which will erase the data. If I remember correctly, ExFAT is preferred.
Greg Sahli,
Yes its formatted for Windows NTFS. What does that mean? Do i have to format it some other way?
Will formating to any other type make problems when I use it on my Windows Desktop?
Eric Root. Yes it says for Permissions "You can only read". There is no "ignore ownership" option.
What happens when you try?
Go a Get Info (command - I) on the hard drive and make sure you have read/write permissions. Then select the gear at the bottom and Apply to enclosed items. If there is an Ignore Ownership option, you can check that.
I guess your External is formatted for Windows (NTFS format - check by doing get info on the drive).
Macs can read but not write to NTFS, without some added software. (deleting a file is a write operation)
Delete files from external HDD Mac
