Big Sur and NTFS issues

[texaseve]

I have a new Mac Pro laptop that came with Big Sur on it. I downloaded with the help of Adobe the new LR and PS. That was tricky with permissions, however, was accomplished. Now LR will not read all the files (or write at all) on my Toshiba external, even with Tuxera installed and iBoysoft. I'm sure the 3rd party apps need to get with the program and update on their end, however, Apple refuses any help.... other than telling me I have to partition my new drive for Windows Bootcamp. What a bunch of baloney... I have read on the internet that the Terminal can be rewritten a bit with a couple commands, the second sentence being LABEL=NAME none nfts rw.ato.nobrowse. First I'm not comfortable writing on the "Terminal" and second, I have several external drives that need to be read and written to (if necessary) all with different names! This is a real problem for me! help!

 

[MacInWin]

I'm a bit confused by your post as you sort of wandered all over the ranch. But if you want to read NTFS, Big Sur will do that. If you want to WRITE to NTFS, you will need to get something to do that. NTFS for Mac, from Paragon Software, is one option. You mentioned Tuxera, which I have heard of but don't know if it's been updated to APFS and Big Sur, and iBoysoft, which I never heard of. However, I have NTFS For Mac and it works.

 

[texaseve]

I'm a bit confused by your post as you sort of wandered all over the ranch. But if you want to read NTFS, Big Sur will do that. If you want to WRITE to NTFS, you will need to get something to do that. NTFS for Mac, from Paragon Software, is one option. You mentioned Tuxera, which I have heard of but don't know if it's been updated to APFS and Big Sur, and iBoysoft, which I never heard of. However, I have NTFS For Mac and it works.

Sorry about the ranch, however, it is a long story and I have been round and round with it. I will try Paragon, although I have read that it is not doing the trick, totally. (Just like iboysoft) I do need to read and write to NTFS. The system will read MOST of the files in my pictures file on my Toshiba External while in Lightroom. It does not read all. Yes, sounds odd. However, when I plug the external in to my old laptop (2013) and open LR, low and behold ALL files are read and written to - it is running Mojave. I have Tuxera on that computer which works fine. This new system I just got is causing me to pull out hair! I have been on with Adobe, Apple and written to Tuxera, with no luck. Thanks.

 

[MacInWin]

Does anything here help? https://www.saintlad.com/read-and-write-ntfs-drives-on-macos-big-sur/

I can't try any of the suggestions as I don't have a naked NTFS drive available and I do have Paragon installed, so it takes care of NTFS for me.

 

[texaseve]

Does anything here help? https://www.saintlad.com/read-and-write-ntfs-drives-on-macos-big-sur/

I can't try any of the suggestions as I don't have a naked NTFS drive available and I do have Paragon installed, so it takes care of NTFS for me.

I just downloaded Paragon and allowed all permissions. I still cannot read ALL (only some pictures files) and write at all. I'm afraid to write on the Terminal..... since I'm not real computer savvy.

 

[MacInWin]

If you can read/write to the drive, the system is working. If some files are not working, there is something different about them in particular. Do you have a Windows system to which you can attach the NTFS drive? If you do, try making duplicates of the questionable files and then see if the Mac, with Paragon, can open those file copies. Don't just move the files, what you want is a freshly written new file for each one. My thinking is that something in the troublesome files is at play here, either something in the file directory or something in the files themselves. But copying them should fix anything in the directory and maybe even in the files themselves.

And I am with you on the Terminal commands. That's a last resort. Terminal is pretty powerful for a novice user to be meddling with.

 

[texaseve]

I cannot write at all and it reads all but a few files (under like certain dates) in my pictures folder. I still have the camera cards though I don't have a windows computer with me. The problem is odd because the files that are missing, actually show missing whether or not in LR, and yet, when I plug it in to my old MacBook they ALL show up!

 

[MacInWin]

If you can't write, the software isn't working. macOS can read NTFS just fine, but it cannot write natively, which is why you need third party software. So, if you can't write, the third party isn't working properly.

Here is a thought. If you can see them in your old MacBook and if you can read/write with it, you could try transferring all of them to a different drive, maybe one formatted in APFS for the Mac. Or Fat32, which can be read and written by both macOS and Windows natively.

 

[texaseve]

I did have a guy try that yesterday and it still is not writing. I'm thinking I will either call Toshiba or try and upload via CrashPlan or something (on old computer) and then see if I can download it? These 3rd parts apps aren't working. So frustrating with a new computer and I can't work! I need access to all the files to read and write.

 

[MacInWin]

Do you have space on the older Mac's drive to hold everything on the external drive? If you do, use the older machine to copy them all off to the internal disk, then reformat the external and use FAT32, with Master Boot Record, and then copy them all back to the newly formatted drive. Now you should not need any NTFS third party software at all. I try to avoid using NTFS on my Mac for the reasons you are seeing. Given that macOS can handle FAT32 as can Windows, it's a much better format for drives that have to go back and forth.

 

[texaseve]

What I did was get a brand new Toshiba drive and formatted it in FAT32. Then I went to Lightroom (on old machine) since it wants things moved through it, not outside the program, and I experimented with one picture file and moving it onto the new disk in a pictures folder I made, and named external Toshiba 5. Then I went to the new computer, opened LR, created and chose Toshiba 5 and it said something about "Toshiba 3" where the file had come off (from), and said it would use just the folder instead and add it to the catalog. I needed it to READ and me be able to write to Toshiba 5. (I already know it won't let me read most of or write to Toshiba External 3.) I really don't need to use windows any longer - I used to several years ago, and never thought about formatting differently because the NTFS program worked. This is going to be a real problem for me, as I don't know HOW in the heck I am going to get access to my photos and data on my external #3! I am so stressed out.

 

[chscag]

I have a new Mac Pro laptop that came with Big Sur on it.

Don't want to get in the middle of this but the fact that you have a new MacBook Pro that came with Big Sur on it, makes me believe your new MacBook Pro is an M1 machine? If it is, then likely Paragon is not going to work until it has been updated.

 

[texaseve]

Don't want to get in the middle of this but the fact that you have a new MacBook Pro that came with Big Sur on it, makes me believe your new MacBook Pro is an M1 machine? If it is, then likely Paragon is not going to work until it has been updated.

Yes, Paragon, Tuxera and iBoysoft all need to be updated. I guess I have to go back to my old machine and use my old LR and PS. I get orders online and have to be able to get in to those files! So frustrating. I bought a new machine because the battery swelled, ruined my left speaker, needed newer editing programs - mine are very old and last iOS on Mac would not run old LR & PS.

 

[texaseve]

I appreciate you guys trying to help me.... and Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays. Stay safe! I'm a retired RN.

 

[chscag]

Okay, that helps us to understand why you could read/write with your older machine but not with the new one.

And a Merry Christmas to you.

 

[texaseve]

I am able to get some data off the external (Toshiba#3) on the new mac. I just can't put it back on. :-( Some picture files not being read (can't see them unless on other old mac), so I can't work on my LR & PS stuff at all. Stinks. I was able to fill order I just had.

 

[texaseve]

It Is indeed a Merry Christmas although, I didn't think so last night when the power went out (in the mountains of NH). This morning I was re-examining everything I did yesterday and discovered I had not fully activated the Paragon App. I activated it and viola! My drives are now being read and written to. Thanks so much for sticking with me and trying to figure it out. So.... on any new externals I should format to what? FAT32 or EXFAT? What's the difference? I'd love if they could be read/written by windows, even though I guess it doesn't matter.

 

[MacInWin]

If you want to move back and forth between Windows and Mac, the best format is FAT32. It's compatible with both natively and you don't need any third party software.

 

[chscag]

Some info regarding Paragon NTFS:

Paragon NTFS is now called "Microsoft NTFS" (apparently MS has purchased it or licensed it) and it now supports Big Sur and the M1.

@texaseve: If you have not already done so, be sure to upgrade your copy to the latest.

 

[MacInWin]

That's curious, Charlie. My Paragon got changed to "NTFS For Mac" and is at version 15.5.106. Nothing about Microsoft at all. Where did you hear about the MS involvement? I'm on Big Sur, and according to NTFS For Mac, there are no updates or upgrades for me.