I can no longer write to or delete from my external hard drive. can anybody help to solve this problem

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Level 1

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I can no longer write to or delete from my external hard drive. can anybody help to solve this problem

I am using a version of MacOS Sierra 10.12.6. I can't write or delete to a external hard drive any longer, which is connected through a USB port. It used to work fine. I think it might be because of a recent upgrade, but i cannot find out a solution. I can access the drive but only as 'read only'. Going to Get Info doesn't help as there is no lock or options to amend permissions under 'Sharing & Permissions'. Can any body help?

iMac

Posted on Sep 8, 2017 4:46 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Sep 9, 2017 2:15 AM in response to Albanian44

If that drive worked good before, you probably have a NTFS driver software on your mac (look in the SystemsPreferences): that driver should be updated, go to the Developer site for that (Paragon, Tuxiera, or wherever you got that software).

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Answer 2

Albanian44 Author

Level 1

10 points

Sep 8, 2017 5:06 PM in response to John Galt

This is what is next to Format: Windows NT File System (NTFS)

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Answer 3

John Galt

Level 10

155,744 points

Sep 8, 2017 4:53 PM in response to Albanian44

How is that drive formatted?

To find out, describe what appears adjacent to Format in that Get Info window.

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Answer 4

John Galt

Level 10

155,744 points

Sep 8, 2017 6:39 PM in response to Albanian44

macOS can read, but not write NTFS formatted volumes.

If you don't use Windows, reformat the volume for the Mac using Disk Utility. Doing so erases its contents, so if its contents are important to you, copy them first.
- To learn how to do that, read Disk Utility for macOS Sierra: Erase a volume using Disk Utility.
- Choose either Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or (Journaled, Encrypted) format.
If you require that drive to be formatted Windows NT File System (NTFS), whatever software you used in the past no longer works. Research its vendor for an update.
Be prepared for that software to break again and again, with every macOS update or upgrade.

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