External Drive - Best Format?

Please help me recall what each kind of format's pros and cons are.
I know that the Mac OS Extended formats cannot be read by PCs. My drive needs to be able to be read by PCs. I recall that one of the other formats (Fat32?) cannot use large files. Which is that? So, now that we have excluded the Mac OS Extended & that one PC format, what is left? Which is best?
Thank you for your insight.

Thank you for that detailed explanation. The PC is not mine. I am dumping a ton of files from an event to a drive to put everything in one place. I'm mirroring that drive to another to give to two different people. I have no idea who will be using the drive, on what computer, or for what purpose. So I'm trying to make it compatible across the board.
So the only options for formatting are FAT16, FAT32, MS-DOS, and MacOS Ext?

Similar Messages

I really need to speed up my IMAC. I purchased a new external drive specifically formatted for apple. I also would like to move some other media (movies and music) to this external drive. What is the best method for this?

Please help...I need to delete iphoto pictures and back up to external drive without losing pictures. I have the external drive and would like to start this process. Can you help?

Formatted for Mac is not a format - for iPhoto you MUST verify that it is formatted Mac OS extended (journaled)
and putting your iPhoto library on an external drive is NOT a backup - you MUST have a good backup plan like Time Machine running or you are 100% guaranteed to lose your photos sooner or later
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 then trash the old library on the internal drive (test one more time prior to emptying the trash)
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
other media questions need to be ask in the forum for the software you use for them - this forum is only for iPhoto and the above instructions are only for iPhoto
LN

Formatting external drive: best practice?

Hi
I want to erase and reformat an external drive used for video editing with my MBP. I do this so rarely I had a couple questions.
First, in Disk Utilities, where the drives are listed, I should choose the size/mfgr.'s line, not the line where my name appears, rt?
Then, I believe 'Mac OS Extended' is the best choice, not 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)', rt?
Any other tips, tricks or suggested best practices?

Drive Preparation
1.Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
To just format a drive select the volume (sub-listing under the drive heading) then click on the Erase tab in DU's main window. Select the desired format scheme and click on the Erase button.

Best external drive and format?

What's the best external drive for backing up
imovie files and disc images? What format should the drive
be set up in for Mac usage and to accept the imovie projects?

If you simply talk about the spec and functionalities, caldigit's VR should have better spec over others
Interesting unit and something I will keep an eye on over the next year. Thanks for the links
I am primarily a LaCie d2 triple interface user (3-year old 320 Gb, 2-year old 500 GB, 1-year old 1 TB, and 1-month old 2 TB drives currently in use). For the most part I have been well satisfied with these drives even after having a power supply on the 1 TB model "weaken" on me to the point where the unit no longer worked in the "auto" mode. Since LaCie support provided a correct diagnosis of the problem within one work day, I was able to confirm the problem immediately, and they had a new replacement power supply in my hands in about 3 days, I have naught but high praise for their support people and remain a satisfied customer.
As I will probably need to replace the 2 TB drive in Oct or Nov of '09 as my iTunes/TV storage drive, I was looking at the LaCie 4 TB multi-drive unit but must admit I prefer the look of the CalDigit 3 TB unit. However, I am not sure I am willing to spend that much extra for the CalDigit's smaller configuration. Still, only time will tell and it is much too soon to make an preliminary, let alone, final decision.

Backup to external drive - best method?

Hi -
Just got a backup drive for a mac without Time machine. What is the best way to do a full backup? Can the Mac HD icon be dragged & dropped to the drive to copy everything? Also - is there a way, without Time Machine, to only add new/changed files on subsequent backups?
Thanks!

You can do a drag and drop to copy just her user account home folder. That is just her personal data, so you can back it up that way with no problem. If you do the same thing with the rest of the drive, it would not be worthwhile because you could not restore properly from it. However, if you have at least her user home folder (assuming she stayed organized and kept all of her user data there), TO RESTORE, you would reinstall her system from the Mac OS X installation disc, reinstall her apps from their original sources, run the necessary updates for the OS and apps, then restore her data from the backup.
To back up the complete startup volume, you need to use a cloning utility.
Alternately, you can use Disk Utility to make a disk image of her complete startup volume and save the disk image file to another drive. However, I do no think you can make a disk image of the volume that is currently used for startup (you can try it to see if it works). Therefore, you would need to start up from her Mac OS X installation disc (or an external drive with a bootable system if she has one) and run Disk Utility from there. The disk image file can later be used to restore the original volume using the Disk Utility Restore tab. Make the disk image file the Source and the internal drive volume the Destination.
Another alternative method using Disk Utility is to use that Restore tab to make the duplicate itself. Again, you may need to start up from another system (such as the Mac OS X installation disc) and run Disk Utility from there. On the Restore tab, you can make the Source the volume she wants to back up; and make the Destination the volume to back up to. Check the box that says +Erase Destination+ to make the copy an exact duplicate. Click the Restore button. I'm explaining this using the current version of Disk Utility; I do not remember if the one that came with Jaguar has the same configuration or not.

How to Format external drive previously formatted for NSLU2

Windows XP.
I've had two external hard drives connected to my NSLU2 for several years. Always worked properly. Nevery any problems accessing files from either drive. Now, I'd like to remove one external drive and no longer use it with the NSLU2 (Disk 1). I just want to use it as a "regular" external drive and connect it directly to my PC by USB. When I plug it into my PC, it is not visible in Windows Explorer. When I right click "My Computer" and select "Manage", I can see it in the "Disk Management" section, but there is no drive letter assigned to it. It has partitions. When I right click on any partition, the "Format" option is grayed out and cannot be selected. Also, the "Change Drive Letter..." option is grayed out and cannot be selected. How can I format this disk back to whatever it needs to be in order to use it as a regular external drive? NOTE: I do not need to keep any files on the drive. I've already transferred the files I need to another drive. Thanks!

Never mind. I figured it out. I downloaded a free utility for formatting large drives in FAT32. The utility ran a quick format in just a few seconds and then the drive became available in Windows Explorer where I can now perform a complete format or just use as-is.

Mac mini core2 duo 10.7.2 not seeing files on usb external drives - mac formatted - ownership ignored- until finder refresh - any idea

finder has problems showing folders& files on external drives on mac mini with 10.7.2
this is affecting 2 external usb drives both mac formatted - ownership ignored
i click on the drive and see nothing
a refresh of the finder window will make the files appear
if i click on a disclosure arrow, the arrow turns down but no files are displayed
if i double click on the folder it opens that folder in an empty view - a refresh will bring the files visible
interestingly if i eject the drive and plug back it , it will usually display the contents of folders already visited last time but not folders i hadn't looked at - they require a refresh
programs such as iTunes can link to those files when they are not visible in finder
anyone else run into this - any suggestions
oh and drives seem to be working fine on my macbook pro with 10.7.3
cheers folks
Simon

John -I'm pretty sure it the mac mini thats having the issue
the two drives - each with their own cable - seem to work perfectly with my other mac
the mac mini is having no problem reading the files itunes and other programs access the files on the drives without a problem
its just the finder is not displaying the files without a refresh of the view
but thanks anyway

Moving iPhoto to external drive; have formatted external disk to Mac OS Extended (Journaled), moved the iPhoto library to external drive; when trying to change the library, the iPhoto file on new external is greyed out can't be selected.What went wrong?

Must have done something wrong..
1. formatted external disk to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) - required a partition, but that went fine. Entire new external disk was included in the partition formatted to Mac OS Extneded (journaled).
2. moved iPhoto library to new external disk
3. Holding Option key down, opened iPhoto
4. Choose library feature appeared, however when new library function option appeared and "choose library" selected, the iPhoto folder appearing in the new external drive was greyed out and not able to be selected. Therefore the default library remains the original iphoto library on the Mac.
I've moved the original iphoto library to the trash and then tried to start iPhoto. A message comes up that the iPhoto is in the trash and needs to be pulled out before iPhoto can start (clearly the new iphoto library on the external drive is not being seen.
Can anyone suggest where I went awry? Thanks!

Try trash the com.apple.iPhoto.plist file from the HD/Users/ Your Name / library / preferences folder.
(On 10.7 or later: Hold the option (or alt) key while clicking on the Go menu in Finder to access the User Library)
(Remember you'll need to reset your User options afterwards. These include minor settings like the window colour and so on. Note: If you've moved your library you'll need to point iPhoto at it again.)
What's the plist file?
For new users: Every application on your Mac has an accompanying plist file. It records certain User choices. For instance, in your favourite Word Processor it remembers your choice of Default Font, on your Web Browser is remembers things like your choice of Home Page. It even recalls what windows you had open last if your app allows you to pick up from where you left off last. The iPhoto plist file remembers things like the location of the Library, your choice of background colour, whether you are running a Referenced or Managed Library, what preferences you have for autosplitting events and so on. Trashing the plist file forces the app to generate a new one on the next launch, and this restores things to the Factory Defaults. Hence, if you've changed any of these things you'll need to reset them. If you haven't, then no bother. Trashing the plist file is Mac troubleshooting 101.
Then try select it again.

External Drives - Best Practice?

So I have a MBP that doubles as our Television. I have the MBP connected to an external display and two external HDD as well as usb hubs for keyboards and mice. This is all on my desk.
Frequently I unplug everything to take the laptop to bed to watch video and less frequently I take the laptop on the road.
My question is about how I'm treating my external devices - specifically my HDD. I have a FW800 cable connecting one drive and I have a second FW400 Device daisy chained to the first. I always unmount all the drives before unplugging the cable. I leave the HDD enclosures running all the time. The drives are for Time Machine and my iTunes library as well as general storage.
Is there any problem with this model? Is the mount / dismount - plug in / unplug routine causing any damage to the equipment?
What do others do in this situation?

Most modern external drives will typically go into a standby mode shortly after they're unmounted or disconnected which will spin down the drive. They'll still use some power, but your drive won't be doing anything so you don't need to worry about wearing it out. I'm a bit anal about stuff. I usually go so far as to unplug my external drives when I'm not using them as the power supply still consumes some juice... but, in your case, as it seems like you probably go back and forth quite a bit... just powering it down would be the best thing. It really doesn't take any extra effort when connecting your MacBook Pro to just switch it back on again.

External drive re formatting....different issue!

i want to reformat an external hard drive recently bought to use with a mac....its an iomega prestige 320gb...the instructions are clear enough, i could do with advice though....
i have used it once with a pc to put some some music files on it...how can i erase the music files as they are no longer needed....i don't really want any partitions......just for macs...
i have connected the hd to my imac...it shows in Disk Utility as an orange hd with a usb on...
its in the left hand column twice as:
the orange icon plus 298.1 GB ST932032 5AS M....
below it is an indent then the orange icon plus disk1s1
i have been told to click in the left hand column on the orange drive icon, not the volume icon....since the next step is select the partition tab and the partition tab only shows in the longer (and former) of the 2 entries i click on that....is that right?
select the partition tab..yes...
select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the Format drop down menu..
i can't select from this menu...but the above option i want is already there...what does this mean?
click on the options button..can't do this....
if i select a volume scheme other than "current" eg 1 partition then options and format become available.....but i dont want a partition...
...there's a bit more ...but that's a start!
thanks
ps the drive ships as NTFS formatted and the instructions for mac are to reformat the drive..
Message was edited by: David Barker7
Message was edited by: David Barker7

You should use +Mac OS Extended (Journaled)+ as the format type, no matter what you select as the +partition map scheme+. Format and +partition map scheme+ are two separate settings.
I can see how that wording may be confusing. What it is really saying is that
GUID Partition Table - This option is preferred if your Mac is Intel. However, you can use the disk on a PowerPC Mac, as long as it runs Mac OS X 10.4 or later AND that PowerPC Mac does not need to boot from the disk. To be bootable on a PowerPC Mac, the disk must use Apple Partition Map.
Apple Partition Map - This option is preferred if your Mac is PowerPC. However, you can use this disk on an Intel Mac. An Intel Mac can can even boot from the disk (but the Installer will only install Mac OS X on a disk that uses GUID Partition Table).
Master Boot Record - Use this option only if you need to use the disk on both Mac OS X and Windows computers.
Not sure if that is actually more clear or not. I'm sure Apple spent more time on the wording that I just did. The bottom line is, either GUID Partition Table or Apple Partition Map will be fine if the drive is just used for storage. Apple Partition Map may be the better choice, because you may want to make the external drive bootable later on (and there is no downside to using Apple Partition Map on a PowerPC Mac). In either case, the format type needs to be +Mac OS Extended (Journaled)+.

WD USB External Drive - file format

OK, I've taken the plunge and bought a Macbook I've got a WD external drive formated in NTFS for back-ups. I've sussed this can only be read from the MAC - is there a format that can be used to both read and write by both Mac and XP?
Thanks
Mapper

*"is there a format that can be used to both read and write by both Mac and XP?"*
FAT

External Drive HFS+ format Crash?

Hi,
I'm had an external harddrive formatted as HFS+ for the mac.
Yesterday I was trying to zip up an huge folder, which failed with a zip error, but created a zip file, which i tried to drag it to the trash. When I did that my computer when on a wait state - the spinning cursor - and i did not get any reponse from my iMac.
Mistake - I just powerdown my external drive, I got the external harddrive disconnected warning - in a moment i got back my cursor, then i rebooted the mac also.
Now when I'm trying to connect my external hard drive, nothing happens, i don't get any errors and my external hard drive does not mount, when i go to the diskutil i could not even see the hard drive.
I may have crashed, i've lot of data on it - it was my backup store - is there a way to restore it
Regards
Sajid
When i

Hopefully. First inplugg the external and try resetting the SMC: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303446
Next try resetting the P-RAM by holding down the Option/Apple/p/r keys while booting until you hear the boot chime at least 3 times. Afterwards you will need to check your date and time and also make sure your startup is selected in System Preferences/Startup Disk.
If this works once you get your drive mounted open up Disk Utilities and Repair the Disk.
George

HT202807 I have a MB Air 128gb and a Time Cap.802.11AC. My HD is maxed out because of 30GB of photo storage after migration to 10.3.3 Photos. Please recommend an external drive best for connecting to TC and moving the iPhoto Lib off my HD

I have a 13" mid 2011 MB Air 128gb and a Time Cap.802.11AC. My HD is maxed out because of 30GB of photo storage after migration to 10.10.3 Photos. I have reduced apps and files as much as possible so the only thing left is to move the photos. Please recommend an external drive compatible for connecting to my TC 802.11ac and moving the iPhoto Lib off my HD which will free approx 15 gbs. of space. I don't plan on using it for any other purpose so a small capacity drive will suffice. I know the "optimization" is supposed to adjust for this condition but I don't trust that assertion.I only have 2gb free space remaining.

I don't plan on using it for any other purpose so a small capacity drive will suffice.
If you really only want such a small capacity drive.. what about just buying a 32GB or 64GB USB memory stick.
You should still have a back up to the internal hard disk of the AC TC.
Or just buy a WD Passport.. don't waste your money buying 500GB as it is only a bit more to buy 1TB and a bit more again for 2TB.. For future use if you do buy a USB hard disk buy 2.5" type.. and buy 1TB or if the budget stretches 2TB..

Events only to external drive best option?

Hi, I have read the following below on how to move events to an external drive.
karsten.schluter - iM08 tricks
I want to make room on my macbook internal drive and just wanted to make sure it was safe to just relocate my events only to my external drive and keep my projects on the internal drive.
Thanks,

once i started iMovie I just told all of my videos to be loaded on the External Hard-drive. So it automatically copies everything to my Ex. HD.

MB Pro & External Hard Drive - Best format for Mac/Windows use?

My external hard drive is currently formatted as FAT 32. I need to use it between Mac and Windows. However, I have many files that are 4 GB or larger.
Should I reformat as HFS? Will that at least be readable on Windows?
I thank you in advance for any thoughts.

There's no really good choice.
Regardless of the filesystem you choose, you will need additional software to read/write it on one of the operating systems. MacDrive for Windows will permit you to read/write HFS+ formatted volumes on Windows -- it's $50. MacFuse + NTFSng allows Mac OS X to read/write NTFS formatted drives -- it's free, but a little awkward.

External Drive - Best Format?

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