Can't copy files from Macbook to External Hard Drive

Hi:
I have an external hard drive for backup, works fine at the office with mssoft -- but for some reason I am told by Macbook that I cannot modify the External hard drive when trying to copy files and folders to the drive from the Macbook.
I'm thinking "read only" because I know how to change attribute in Windows - but this is my first MAC (and generally I love it).
HELP -- how do I copy to the External Drive?
...Dan

This drive is probably formatted as NTFS for use with the PC.
Your options are:
1) Install NTFS-3g on your Mac (available here: http://macntfs-3g.blogspot.com/2010/06/ntfs-3g-for-mac-os-x-2010522.html)
2) Reformat the external drive as FAT32 (you'll have to save the data elsewhere, then use either OS X's Disk Utility to reformat the drive, or use a Windows tool to do the same thing). FAT32 has a 4GB maximum file size limit.
3) Reformat the drive as HFS+ on the Mac (saving the data elsewhere first) and install MacFuse on the PC. HFS+ does not have a maximum file size limit, but MacDrive is not free.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/File-managers/MacDrive.shtml
~Lyssa

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