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Question

Transfering files from desktop to external hard drive

Mar 26, 2016 1:32AM PDT

Hello;

i have WD external hard devices. . i'm trying to copy files into my external hard drive but it's not working. I made some research,I found out that I have to format my external hard drive. Unfortunately, this is not possible for me because I have for about 1Tb on it.

My question is, is it possible to transfer files into my external hard drive without passing through the formatting process?

Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: format
Mar 26, 2016 2:51AM PDT

Indeed, Mac's can't write to an NTFS formatted drive, unless you buy some extra software. http://www.howtogeek.com/236055/how-to-write-to-ntfs-drives-on-a-mac/ tells more. That might be the preferred route.

If not: having no backup of the data on that external hard disk means you will lose them sooner or later. Why not go ahead and lose is now?

If you prefer to keep that data and format the drive to another filesystem:
- First make a backup of the data on that external drive. Preferably two backup copies.
- Then format it.
- Then restore your backup.
- Then add the files from the Mac.

A nice alternative is to buy another drive and use that for the Mac. But of, course, we still recommend making a backup of both your NTFS and your new Mac drive, if you plan to store data on it in stead of using it just a backup.

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Transfering files from desktop to external hard drive
Mar 26, 2016 2:56PM PDT

Thank you so much Sir for your support. I Find myself obliged to take this way.

Thanks.

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While you are in a receptive mood,
Mar 27, 2016 7:20AM PDT

please consider using Time Machine on your Mac to backup your data.

The software is already on your Mac, you just need an external drive to store the backup on


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