I'm not able to copy any type of file to my external hard drive, why?

I am trying to copy files (photos, documents, music, etc) to my external hard drive to free up space but when I drag files to the icon it gives me a crossed out circle logo and it doesn't let me move it. I use this drive for my pc as well.

If the drive is formatted as an NTFS then Macs cannot write to it. You can try using 'NTFS-3G', its free and you can download it at: http://mac.softpedia.com/get/System-Utilities/NTFS-3G.shtml

Similar Messages

  • Error - 36 can't copy any of my files to a external hard drive

    Can somebody help me? I'm trying for many days to copy all my info and it's imposible, error -36 can't read or copy to my external hardrive. First it was my iphoto library bur now is with itunes and all data.... i'm desperate, i have 145gb of photos and i need to delete hard drive because the system is too slow.
    I have a copy in time machine of all my hardrive but i don't know if the error is there as well

    Depends
    If yoou only want copies of your pictures ten export to the external drive (see the user tip on exporting for details on the options available)
    If you want a backup for your iPhoto library it is buest to use ongoing, constant backup software like Time Machine
    If you want a one shot copy of your iPhoto library then
    Moving the iPhoto library is safe and simple - quit iPhoto and drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity to the external drive - depress the option key and launch iPhoto using the "select library" option to point to the new location on the external drive - fully test it and thenrepeat to switch back to the main libary
    And be sure that the External drive is formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) (iPhoto does not work with drives with other formats) and that it is always available prior to launching iPhoto
    And backup soon and often - having your iPhoto library on an external drive is not a backup and if you are using Time Machine you need to check and be sure that TM is backing up your external drive
    LN

  • I am not able to delete or write my files to my external hard disk drive what shall i do?

    i am teja i brought a new mac book air here i am not able to write or delete the files that are present in a external hard disk drive what shall i do now to enable required permisions................plz reply me i am new to mac

    I guess your external drive is Windows (NTFS) formattet.
    By default you were only able to read from that drive, as Mac doesent support NTFS write.
    If you want to have read/write access to a NTFS volume you have to use add-in tools like MacFuse or Paragon on your Mac.
    Not having write or delete permissions on the external drive may also preventyou from changing existing files on that drive.
    Right click on the drive in Finder and choose "Information" from the menu will give you more information about the reasons of your problem.
    Lupunus

  • How do I back up my itunes library within itunes? I just purchased a new HP laptop and my library did not fully load from my back up files on an external hard drive (HP Simple Save).  I was told yesterday by a tech to back up library within itunes

    How do I backup my itunes account on my old laptop within itunes so I can access on my new laptop.  Both are HP's

    While the above sorts you out for a one time transfer this is what I would recommend...
    Backup the library with this User Tip.
    Restore the backup to your new computer using the same tool used to back it up.
    Deauthorize the old computer if you no longer want to access protected content on it.
    Keep your backup up-to-date in future.
    tt2

  • How can i copy specific music files to an external hard drive?

    I'm trying to copy selected artists from my itunes music library to an external hard drive.  I don't want to relocate any of my files to the external hard drive for regular use with itunes, I simply want to back up my files.

    Open Finder. Go to Music>iTunes>iTunes Music. The folders are organised by artists. You can copy and paste them to your external hard drive.

  • Not able to copy Wage types

    Hi, I am not able to copy wage types while configuring 0008. It says tables are locked for the user. I am not able to scroll down nor click on any function like Copy. When I click on any text, an error message flashes down in red as entry already copied. when I click on Execute Define Wage types and select Copy, I get a message that the tables are locked for this user. Help me understand what caused and how to resolve.
    Thank you.
    Sudha

    Hi
    Kindly close other sessions in your SAP System or check whether any other user using the same table

  • HT1414 I am not able to view any type of video on my iPad????

    I am not able to view any type of video on my iPad????

    Then reboot your iPad and see if that fixes it.
    Reboot the iPad by holding down on the sleep and home buttons at the same time for about 10-15 seconds until the Apple Logo appears - ignore the red slider if it appears on the screen - let go of the buttons. Let the iPad start up.

  • My hard drive failed. I was able to restore my files from an external hard drive. I have my bookmarks saved but am not able to import them into Firefox as the only option is to import them from another browser. Any suggestions?

    -My hard drive failed.
    -I was able to restore my files from an external hard drive.
    -My bookmarks are saved to a folder on my new hard drive.
    -I am not able to import them from this folder on my hard drive into Firefox.
    - the only option Firefox offers for importing bookmarks is to import them from another browser...is there another way?

    In Firefox the bookmarks are saved in a database file called places.sqlite in the profile folder. If you have got this file from the external hard drive you can restore the bookmarks by copying this file to your current profile folder. For details of the location of the profile folder see either https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Profiles or http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox

  • Time Machine will not let me restore from backups after June, 2013.  I can see the files on the external hard drive but Time Machine skips all of them and goes back to June, 2013. Does anyone have any idea what the problem is?

    Time Machine will not let me restore from backups after June, 2013.  I can see the files on the external hard drive but Time Machine skips all of them and goes back to June, 2013. Does anyone have any idea what the problem is?

    rtilghman wrote:
    telling me to buy a new router is NOT a solution.
    And why not? Apple is selling these things like BigMacs. They can't make enough of them. You've been suffering since May because you refuse to get a decent router.
    Can you imagine if a company that makes a refrigerator told me that I needed to upgrade my electrical system to rectify a problem with their device? What kind of response IS that?!?!
    What if the problem with their device is that it requires a new-fangled "grounded" outlet and your circa 1890 house doesn't have grounded outlets. Would you refuse to purchase a $ 25 adapter on principle?

  • Not able to write file on my external hard drive attached to router

    I have Mac Book Pro with most updated OS.  I have Belkin Router Monitor with most updated firmware.  I have external hard drive with MS DOT (FAT) format. 
    I would like to use my router for home network so I have attached external hard drive to my belkin router to share data with my Macbook and my TV.  I noticed that I could detect my external drive in my mac book and my  TV (I could open the files from my external hard drive and view it in my mac book and TV).  However, when I try to copy data from my mc book to my external drive (which is connect with the router) it shows me the message ‘Items can’t be copied to XX (my hard drive name) because you don’t have permission to read them’.  I have also seen the permission request by attaching external hard drive with my Mac.  It shows me that I have read and write permission.
    I am looking forward for some solution so I can copy data from mac book to my external hard drive when it is attached with my router.
    Please help me.

    You probably have to format the drive for Mac. If you don't have write permissions sounds like its formatted in the Windows NTSC category.

  • I get error 8062 when trying to copy files from one external hard drive to another. It starts out copying files, but after 10 minutes or so it stops and I get the error 8062. The hard drive tech support says the problem is in my Macbook Air.

    I cannot copy my doc and photos and videos from one external hard drive to a second external hard drive -- both plugged in to my MacBook Air -- I get Error 8062 and the copying (which seemed to be going on for 10 minutes) stops and nothing gets copied.
    As any Macbook Air owner knows, there is SO LITTLE storage capacity on the computer that you have to back up big files onto an external hard drive to avoid getting the other annoying error that says you have no more memory/storage capacity/whatever the proper term is, and you cannot use the computer.
    Backstory: Before this error cropped up, I had backed up lots of files to an external drive and then removed them from my computer. But then the external hard drive got corrupted and I could not access my entire photo library. Had to pay $850 to Kroll Ontrack to recover those files. I have now bought 2 new external 1 Terrabyte  hard drives as protection against another such disaster. BUT I cannot copy the files from the first hard drive where all my reovered files now sit, to another backup hard drive.
    Feeling vulnerable. Please help.
    SusaninNY

    From the menu bar, select
     ▹ System Preferences ▹ Energy Saver ▹ Power Adapter
    and uncheck the box labeled Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible, if it's checked.
    If the drive has more than one interface (USB, FireWire, Thunderbolt, eSATA), try one of the other interfaces.
    Check that the data cable is securely inserted at both ends.
    Try a different cable.
    If you're connecting the drive through a hub, connect it directly to a built-in port on the Mac.
    If you're connecting it directly, try a different port.
    Disconnect all other devices on the bus, or as many as possible.
    Test the drive with another Mac. Test another drive with this Mac.
    If the drive is bus-powered, but has an AC adapter, connect the adapter.
    Start up in Safe Mode and test.
    If the drive doesn't work under any of the above conditions, and if another drive does work with the same Mac, then the drive has failed. You may be able to salvage the mechanism by removing it from the enclosure and installing it in another one, or in a drive dock.

  • I upgraded MacbookPro 2009 from 10.6.8 to Yosemite.  Beforehand I made a backup copy of my Iphoto library onto an external hard drive. Lets call it BU. I also deleted half of my photos from the default library on my laptop, lets call it DE. I then in

    I upgraded MacbookPro 2009 from 10.6.8 to Yosemite 2 weeks ago. My iphoto is now a nightmare. i went to our local apple retailer but they could not help either. Perhaps someone can help. Beforehand the OS upgrade I made a backup copy of my Iphoto library onto an external hard drive. Lets call it BU with 50GB. I also deleted half of my photos from the default library on my laptop, lets call it DE, now with about 20GB, to gain space. I then upgraded to Yosemite.
    I have also installed since a long time Iphoto Library Manager 3.8.6. (this may be the cause of the problem as it was not upgraded and perhaps thus not compatible with iphoto 9.6 which I have now after the upgrade to Yosemite) It all worked fine before the upgrade, switching in iphoto between the two libraries DE and BU.
    It also worked fine after the upgrade for a few days. At one stage Iphoto asked me to upgrade the iphoto version as it otherwise could not read the photos when I tried to load the BU library into iphoto. I did click yes to upgrade iphoto. As a result I became a brand new but totally empty library, no photos.
    BU was still on the external disc, however the "Master" file was empty. We fortunately discovered all photos were in another file called Old Master, also under BU. We made another copy of the Old Master file onto the external disc. Lucky we did, because shortly afterwards we could not open anymore the BU file thus had no access to anything in there. Now I have 17000 photos in a file called Old Master on my external disc and another smaller library  DE on my laptop. When I tried to import the photos from Old Master into a new iphoto library it was very messy. All events dates were mixed up, many photos were imported twice. I have no idea whether all my 17000 photos have been imported.
    Can anyone suggest what is the most time efficient way? How do I best import my 17000 into a new library ensuring I don't loose any in the process. I do not wish sorting through 17000 photos for a week or so. Shall i also get a new iphoto library version now? Thank you for anything that may work.

    Yes, the Old Master file has a folder for each year where I find all photos from that specific year. I am attaching a screen shot of the file.
    In the meantime i have managed to download all photos (it did not download any video files though in mpg, avi, 3gp, m4v,mp4 and mov format) to a new iphoto library. Unfortunately the photos are quite mixed and often doubled up. I ma considering to purchase iphoto library which checks all duplicates in iphoto. this will save me a lot of time. What do you think?

  • Why Can't I Copy Files from an External Hard Drive or SD Card?

    Major problem here... Why when I try copying files from an external hard drive or an SD card onto my internal iMac hard drive, it doesn't work?  The status bar that pops up, shows that it completes the transfer of the files to 100%; however, when it does in fact finish, the files actually do not appear on my hard drive.
    Any help would be greatly appreciated.  This is one of many problems I have been finding with OS X Lion and am very much on the verge of going back to Snow Leopard.
    Thank you.

    Have u tried the usual? Safe boot. Delete finder plist files? etc. And the drives are formatted for mac yes?

  • How do i copy my files from my external hard drive onto my imac

    how do i copy my files from my external hard drive onto my imac

    You should be able to 'migrate them' without having to do so during a reinstall, from an external drive. In some cases, you may be able to use TimeMachine software even if the drive had not been used as a backup.
    The usual way, though, is to drag & drop copy from one to another (volume or folder) you created in there and have open. Or drag an item on top of the icon of a hard disk drive when it is mounted on the desktop. I'm used to working with open folders and windows, because that works best; and then see if I want to change how things look inside their destination. This helps should I later want to burn them to a DVD and have it correct. And I want to know where they are.
    I had more links to some information about importing or migrating data into a Mac from an external, a week ago, but can't find them now. A few good links to pages, but I think I posted what I did find directly to answer someones question about it; and believe the info was in an Apple Support article about TimeMachine, near the lower part of the page with blue words with a disclosure triangle, so you could read more in that page. But I don't believe these two are correct in that TimeMachine (some versions) only allow wireless backup to a drive in a base station unit such as Apple sells, for this. The link I saw simply said how to work around not using the wireless stuff. Maybe it was a dated item, not in these?
    See a main general portal to TimeMachine support,
    here: http://www.apple.com/support/timemachine/
    Or basics that may not provide optional copy methods:
    Mac Basics - Time Machine backs up your mac:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1427
    Perhaps a search of Apple Support database (or even ASC discussions?) would yield ideas, and perhaps find what may work for the kind of files you want to copy, and where they can be found & used later. Are the files for specific applications? Or images, music, etc?
    Good luck & happy computing!
    edited.

  • I have a external hard drive connected, Finder will not let me search for files in the external hard drive how do i search in a hard drive

    i have a external hard drive connected, Finder will not let me search for files in the external hard drive how do i search in a hard drive

    What are you using to search? You should be able to search any drive in from the Finder. If you're having trouble, try "EasyFind" from the App Store (free). You can search any volumes with it.
    Clinton

Maybe you are looking for