Can't transfer files from a mac external hard drive to a windows hard drive

Today I went to a friends house to try and take some of his music from his external hard drive. So we plugged his mac converted hard drive into my computer, which is operating on windows 7, and my computer could not read that anything was there. So we plugged in my windows converted into his Macbook Pro, and his computer was able to read it, but for some reason, we could not transfer files from his hard drive to mine.
I was just wondering if I am doing something wrong, or if it could be because I am using a hard drive that I bought in China, and any information would be great.

NTFS is readable in Mac OS, but can't be written to.
HFS+ is not readable in Windows, though Apple now has a (somewhat problematic and buggy at times) service to allow Windows on mac to read HFS+ to make it easier and more convenient.
There are drivers (free and commercial) to add the ability to read and write to each.

Similar Messages

  • How can I transfer files from my mac to my iPad, e.g., mp4 files.  Do I have to use iTunes?

    How can I transfer files from my mac to my iPad in an easier way?  I'd like to put some movies on, and I can use iTunes, but is there another way?  I have transferred epub books using Dropbox.  Movies eat up a lot of dropbox space and the iPad has trouble getting them.

    USB disk. You still have to go through iTunes.
    Connect device to computer/mac
    Select your device in iTunes menu.
    Apps...
    At thebottom of the page you will see the app.
    Select it and the Add for windows and + for mac
    Hope that helped.
    In the long run there is no way to access or uplood data on your device without iTunes unless you JailBrake....

  • I can't transfer files from my mac to an external hard drive. what can i do?

    i have tried to transfer files from my mac to my external hard drive but i just couldn't.. help me

    leemamacita wrote:
    i have tried to transfer files from my mac to my external hard drive but i just couldn't.. help me
    More information would help. How is the external connected? Does the external appear on your Desktop? Has the external been formatted for a Mac? What method do you use to transfer files? When you try to move a file to the external, what does happen?

  • Can I transfer files from a Mac and PC that are both on my wireless LAN?

    I've a number of Macs connected to my Wirelesss LAN and also have a PC (Windows XP) that I want to connect to the network. That isn't going to be a problem but I want to know if I can then move files from the "Mac environment" onto the PC.
    If it's possible, how is it done?
    Regards,
    Cliff

    Yes. Just enable the file/folder sharing for each computer. They'll treat it as a network share. I did need to set the options for the Mac folders to use SMB for the PC to see it.

  • Can't transfer files from mini mac (10.4) to new imac

    While setting up my father's new imac, the imac suggested selecting send files "to your new computer" ,or something to that effect, from the Migration Assistant in the mini. The only options on the mini were to transfer files from another computer to the mini. The mini is running system 10.4.11
    Do I need to upgrade to system 10.5 before I can transfer the files?

    I have a dsic for 10.5; do you think it will help if I install it? How else can I update Migration assistant?
    I do not have access to a Mac with 10.4 on it to test this. However, It certainly would not hurt to upgrade the OS, and it might help.
    Good luck.

  • If i use a usb flash drive which is both os and windows compatible can i transfer files from my mac to a windows pc using the same usb flash drive?

    if i use a usb flash drive which is mac os and windows compatible can i use it to copy files from the mac to a windows machine. i have to do some training abroad and wnat to take the files on a usb from the mac but they will only have a windows operating system available to me.

    Generally, it's not the flash drive that makes it compatible, but the formatting used on it.  In Disk Utility on a Mac, the format is called MS-DOS (FAT).  In Windows, I believe it is called FAT32.
    A USB flash drive formatted that way should be readable and writable on both Mac OS X and Windows.  But you may want to try a "trial run" before relying on it for the trip.

  • How can I transfer files from my macbook pro hard drive to another target drive

    The hard drive on my Macbook is corrupted and so I am trying back up files from the hard drive on my Macbook to a target disc so that I can wipe the hard drive on my Macbook and re-install the system software. I am only able to access the Macbook via disc utilities using the start up system DVD. Is there a way of accessing the files while I'm in disc utilities so that I can transfer to the target disc?

    Some MacBooks have Firewire, while others do not.  See this tip:
    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2502
    If both of yours have Firewire, you can use the Target Disk mode described at the end of the tip.  Otherwise, you'll need to pull the hard drive out of the machine that it is in, and put it in a 2.5" hard drive case that supports the ports that are on the other machine.
    Note, if you can't read the data on the other machine, using a data recovery tool to a hard drive at least as large with no data on it is recommended.  This tip explains how to do data recovery:
    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-1689

  • 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

  • Why am I unable to transfer files from computer to external hard drive?

    I am unable to transfer files to an exteral hard drive, as the computer is not allowing me to drag the files across to either the icon on the desktop or in Finder - I have 3 different hard drives (including an Apple time capsule) and none of these is allowing transfer. I'm using version OS X 10.6.8. Any ideas?

    Besides the TC, what format are the externals?
    Fo a Get Info on the External drives, what rights do you have?

  • How can I transfer files from an old PC hard drive to my Mac?

    I have an old PC from which I removed the hard drive.  It is an old WD 40 circa 2001.  I would like to transfer all my old documents and pictures to my IMAC.  I obtained a USB Universal drive adapter from OWC, but I can't get my IMAC to recognize the drive.  Can anyone help me.

    angelpup wrote:
    It just doesn't recognize the drive.  Will the first solution you provided work?  The drive has been physically removed from the PC.
    It should work with your Mac.  If you have access to a PC, plug it in and see if it can be read, and if so just copy the files to a flash drive to transfer to your Mac (Better than spending your day trying to get your Mac to read it for a 1 time transfer of files)
    The problem could very well be that the adaptor you got from OWC is defective.

  • Can't transfer files from one mac to another

    I keep getting error messages saying the file is already there and there is nothing on the drive then after I dismiss the error message a file shows up that has 0kb and doesn't work. I am getting real frustrated with this situation.

    I have run disk utility and fixed permissions on both computers. I connect via air port and a Linksys router. I have no problem connecting both computers and their files show up on both with no problem I can even go over to one computer and grab a file while on the other computer but if I try to save it back to the original location (on the other computer) I am told it can't do that. I used to be a permissions issues but now If I try to just drag a drop a file on the other computer (or save it there) I am told that it already exists (there isn't one there), do I want to replace it with the new file. I click replace and then am told that it can't complete this operation because the file is already in that location, it's not but after I clear the error message it shows up as a 0KB file that can not be opened because it is corrupted. I have reinstalled the snow leopard system software on both computers with no improvement.

  • Can not copy files from computer to external hard drive

    Have tried to copy thru drag and drop and also by edit copy files to folder ... I even tried copy of the files and paste but get the same error message which is in a little box that says Error copying file or folder Cannot copy file: and a OK button.
    How can I get the folder to copy?

    Try this tool and check : http://longpathtool.com/ 
    Also, can you format the HDD and check?
    Arnav Sharma | Facebook |
    Twitter Please remember to click “Mark as Answer” on the post that helps you, and to click “Unmark as Answer” if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members
    reading the thread.

  • How can I transfer files from one external HD (WD My Passport) to another external HD (Seagate Backup Plus)?  WD drive was improperly ejected and Finder no longer recognizes it.  Tried fixing with Disk Utility but failed.

    How can I transfer files from one external HD (WD My Passport 2T) to another external HD (Seagate Backup Plus 2T)?  WD drive was improperly ejected (although we did tell it to eject) and now Finder no longer recognizes it.   Using MacBook Pro and I just upgraded to Yosemite before this happened. Was told at Apple Store to use Disk Utility to repartition, but it failed.  It says to backup files and restore.  But how do I backup files?  Or would appreciate any other suggestions to repair drive.

    You may drag & drop between external hds. 
    Should you run into trouble.
    Take the exernal drive appart.  Take out the harddrive.  Try reading the data via a usb adapter. Put a household finan on the hd.
    http://www.cablewholesale.com/products/usb-firewire/usb-2.0-products/product-40u   2-01000.php?utm_source=Nextag&utm_medium=cpc&zmam=54972865&zmas=1&zmac=4&zmap=4 4 77

  • HT4796 Can I transfer files from a PC to Mac Book Pro using an ethernet connection cable and if so what kind

    Can I transfer files from a PC Windows 8 based operating system to a MAC Book Pro using an ethernet cable and if so what type of cable. The wi-fi system where I am temporarily located is very slow and thus the transfer may take hours.

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/22337928#22337928

  • How can I transfer files from an old Mac onto my new one?

    As outlined on this thread, I am trying to get data from my 1995 Performa 630 to my recently delivered MacBook Pro.  All suggestions gratefully received.
    Also, are ClarisWorks files instantly readable by modern office software, or do I need to save in RTF or some other format, first, on the older machine?

    Hi...
    Your new MacBookPro has Mac OS X Lion v10.7.x installed on an Intel processor and cannot open or read ClarisWorks files as such.
    However, you may be able to reformat to RTF >  AppleWorks: Document Recovery Techniques
    The issue is going to be migrating files since you can't use Migration Assistant to transfer files from another Mac
    edited by:  cs

Maybe you are looking for