Can't erase external HD!

daniel · 10-12-2009, 05:48 PM

So when I was thinking I was going to have to take my computer in (my thread "Computer does not see modem") I decided to be extra careful by backing up my Documents folder onto the older external HD, even though everything is also backed up on the regular backup HD via Time Machine.

That old HD had the backups made by Genie backup from the old Windows PC. I don't need those backups any more. So I wanted to erase them and free up the space.

But it would not let me delete the old backups. Even logged into my admin account, it would not let me delete files from that HD. I tried to format, and got the error message that it could not unmount the drive (apparently it wanted to unmount the drive before formatting???) When I try to rmdir the directories it tells me they are read-only system.

Any ideas what's going on?

I opened a terminal and tried to chmod the permissions, but I don't seem to know the syntax.

There's got to be a way to erase or reformat the drive???

jayman · 10-12-2009, 06:19 PM

Might be because the external drive was formatted FAT or NTFS for the Windows machine. I know NTFS causes issues if I try to mount such a drive for Ubuntu

Dave_PH · 10-12-2009, 08:05 PM

Oh Crap. Get that porn off there before you bring it in

a_gray_prius · 10-12-2009, 09:11 PM

Wow man, for all the supposed superiority of Apple/OSX you seem to have a lot of problems.

* used to be an Apple tech a long time ago

daniel · 10-12-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayman

Might be because the external drive was formatted FAT or NTFS for the Windows machine. I know NTFS causes issues if I try to mount such a drive for Ubuntu

So, what do you do if you have a former Windows HD and you want to wipe it for use on a different system?

BTW, OS X can read the drive and copy files from it. The problem is that I have read-only permission, and even logging on with my admin account the drive won't let me delete files.

I presume the backup program set the permissions so only it could delete files. But it's MY drive and I have a right to wipe it!!!

daniel · 10-12-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a_gray_prius

Wow man, for all the supposed superiority of Apple/OSX you seem to have a lot of problems.

Actually, I think these two are my only problems: ethernet died (that's kind of a biggie) and the old HD that I used for backups on the Windows PC won't let me wipe it for re-use now on the Mac.

Compared with the unending mountain of problems I had with Windows, this is nothing!

daniel · 10-12-2009, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_PH

Oh Crap. Get that porn off there before you bring it in

What a dirty mind you have. Must be that bunny fixation.

dogfriend · 10-12-2009, 11:13 PM

Daniel,

You should go into Applications >Utilities and launch Disk Utility. In the window on the left select your external drive. You want to Erase. Choose HFS+ as the file type. It should reformat to Mac HFS+.

You can only read NTFS, so that is why you can't just delete the Windows (NTFS) files.

daniel · 10-13-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogfriend

Daniel,

You should go into Applications >Utilities and launch Disk Utility. In the window on the left select your external drive. You want to Erase. Choose HFS+ as the file type. It should reformat to Mac HFS+.

You can only read NTFS, so that is why you can't just delete the Windows (NTFS) files.

WOW!!! That was easy!!! Thanks dogfriend!!!

a_gray_prius · 10-13-2009, 10:29 AM

Hey, it looks like all you have to do is login to the guest account and then the admin account to delete all your data!

Fanbois howl over data-munching Snow Leopard bug ? The Register
Apple acknowledges Snow Leopard data loss issue | Circuit Breaker - CNET News

10-12-2009, 05:48 PM	#1
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 11,278 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 59 Thanked 201 Times in 127 Posts Friends: 0	Can't erase external HD! So when I was thinking I was going to have to take my computer in (my thread "Computer does not see modem") I decided to be extra careful by backing up my Documents folder onto the older external HD, even though everything is also backed up on the regular backup HD via Time Machine. That old HD had the backups made by Genie backup from the old Windows PC. I don't need those backups any more. So I wanted to erase them and free up the space. But it would not let me delete the old backups. Even logged into my admin account, it would not let me delete files from that HD. I tried to format, and got the error message that it could not unmount the drive (apparently it wanted to unmount the drive before formatting???) When I try to rmdir the directories it tells me they are read-only system. Any ideas what's going on? I opened a terminal and tried to chmod the permissions, but I don't seem to know the syntax. There's got to be a way to erase or reformat the drive??? __________________ Daniel Primary car: 100% Electric 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera. Estimated range at 55 mph: 81 miles total or 64 miles to 80% discharge. Top speed 70 mph. Secondary car: Zap Xebra SD, also 100% electric. 1.9 cents per mile. Range: 40 miles total, or 32 miles to 80% discharge. Top speed 35 mph. Faster downhill. Both EVs use electrons generated from water power. Gas guzzler for when I have to travel farther than 60 miles: 2004 Prius. "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." -- Emma Goldman "Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think long and hard before starting a war." -- Otto von Bismarck

10-12-2009, 06:19 PM	#2
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 11,562 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 35 Thanked 185 Times in 168 Posts Friends: 12	Re: Can't erase external HD! Might be because the external drive was formatted FAT or NTFS for the Windows machine. I know NTFS causes issues if I try to mount such a drive for Ubuntu

10-12-2009, 08:05 PM	#3
Dave_PH Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Florida & DC Posts: 2,416 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 31 Thanked 75 Times in 52 Posts Friends: 1	Re: Can't erase external HD! Oh Crap. Get that porn off there before you bring it in

10-12-2009, 09:11 PM	#4
a_gray_prius Rare Under-30 Priuschat Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 538 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: N/A Package: #3 Touring Thanks: 9 Thanked 32 Times in 23 Posts Friends: 9	Re: Can't erase external HD! Wow man, for all the supposed superiority of Apple/OSX you seem to have a *lot* of problems. * used to be an Apple tech a long time ago

10-12-2009, 11:13 PM	#8
dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Carmichael, CA Posts: 4,963 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 282 Thanked 175 Times in 147 Posts Friends: 11	Re: Can't erase external HD! Daniel, You should go into Applications >Utilities and launch Disk Utility. In the window on the left select your external drive. You want to Erase. Choose HFS+ as the file type. It should reformat to Mac HFS+. You can only read NTFS, so that is why you can't just delete the Windows (NTFS) files.

10-13-2009, 10:29 AM	#10
a_gray_prius Rare Under-30 Priuschat Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 538 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: N/A Package: #3 Touring Thanks: 9 Thanked 32 Times in 23 Posts Friends: 9	Re: Can't erase external HD! Hey, it looks like all you have to do is login to the guest account and then the admin account to delete all your data! Fanbois howl over data-munching Snow Leopard bug ? The Register Apple acknowledges Snow Leopard data loss issue \| Circuit Breaker - CNET News

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