What should I format my wd external hard drive to to use with my new Mac Pro?

What format should my wd external hard drive be in order to use with my new Mac Pro?

If you're going to use it only with Macs, use Mac OS Extended (Journaled). It's the fastest filesystem to use on Macs.
If you're going to use it with PCs and Macs, use exFAT or FAT. I recommend exFAT because it hasn't got limitations as FAT and it's faster, but you need Windows XP Service Pack 3 or later to use it on PCs

Similar Messages

  • External Hard Drive to be used with windows and Mac

    I shall paint the picture;
    I have a very nice mobile hard drive on it's way to me, and I shall be upgrading to leopard at some point soon after receiving it, my MBP has a 120gb internal HDD and the external on it's way is 160gb .
    I will be using it as a time machine HD , but will also be using it to transfer from my mac to college/university PCs.
    So, do any of ya'l out there know a good way of going about it? My thoughts are along the lines of creating a separate windows/mac partition because Time Machine I assume uses HFS+ and as far as I am aware, windows is unable to use this.
    I am not 100% sure on this so any help or corrections or indeed alternate solutions are welcome.
    Only requirements are that it's with my MBP and G-Tech G-Drive mini only, no extra bits and bobs.
    Thank you in advance

    A 160 GB drive may be a bit small to use to back up a 120GB drive with TimeMachine... and have a separate partition to use for Windows files. While your MacBook Pro's 120GB drive may not be close to full yet... it will likely continue to grow in time. TimeMachine keeps multiple copies of files that you change allowing you to go "back in time" to various points. It will use as much space as is available on the drive. You may want to keep a larger external desktop drive for your TimeMachine backup... or dedicate your entire 160GB to it.

  • What should i do if my external hard drive is not detected by my mac

    what should i do if my external hard drive is not detected by my mac?
    need to have the files saved on it and be able to backup via time machine

    Hi:
    Here are some of the options I've read about on here that may or may not work:
    1. Reset the NVRAM as it may need to be reset to recognize the drive. See below:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379
    2. If the drive is a USB drive, put a USB hub between the drive and the unit. As ridiculous as that may sound in some cases it works.
    3. If you have some types of hardware problems and want to test them this works:
    http://scsc-online.com/Scannerz.html
    That's a test tool only. It isn't going to fix anything just diagnose a bunch of possible hardware problems and it costs money, too.
    What format is the drive in? Is it a Mac native format like HFS or is it some other format, like NTFS or FAT?

  • What should I put on an external hard drive?

    So I have a 13" Macbook Air with a 128 GB SSD. I installed a few games and I'm now at half full. I wanted to install WoW today (I know macs aren't meant for gaming) but seeing how it takes up 20GB, I decided against it.
    Now I want to get an external hard drive to put any excess stuff on there so I can free up my SSD space and install WoW and SC2.
    What should I put on my external hard drive? How would I go about putting the stuff on there? Obviously it'll load slower but for example I'd put photos and music.
    Can you run games from an external drive? I know it'd be best if I just left the games on the SSD for the load time and to not have any lag but I'm just wondering.
    Can you run programs such as iTunes from an HDD?
    Finally, can make a windows partition on the SSD and put all my windows stuff on the same HDD that I'd use for my OSX?

    Yep:
    http://www.cultofmac.com/172491/move-your-iphoto-library-to-an-external-drive-to -save-space-os-x-tips/

  • On imac 10.6.8 using current version of Aperture.  How can I access the Aperture Library  on my external hard drive that I use with time machine for backup?  I can only access the application but not the library..

    On imac 10.6.8 using current version of Aperture.  How can I access the Aperture Library  on my external hard drive that I use with time machine for backup?  I can only access the application but not the library..

    Go into Time Machine (the program not the bundle on the extrnal disk) and using Time Machine's browser go to the Folder where the library lives. You could look in the library bundle in Time Machine but that won't really tell you much,
    If you want to make sure it truely has backed up your library you will need to restore it and open the restored library with Aperture.
    If all this still has you confused you need to read up on Time Machine in order to get a feel for how it works, for what it is doing and for how to restore files from it.

  • I am new to a MAC.  I have an external hard drive that I used with my Windows XP computer.  Can I reformat it

    I am new to MAC.  I have an external hard drive that I used with my former computer running Windows XP.  Can I reformat it to use with my new MAC?  If so, how do I do it?

    Yes you can. See the following:
    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.
    4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
    5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
    6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.

  • I have my iTunes music folder stored on an external hard drive.  I recently purchased a new Mac.  After attaching the external hard drive, all the songs imported without any problem except my Playlists.  Any clue about where they are or how to revive them

    I have my iTunes music folder stored on an external hard drive.  I recently purchases a new Mac.  After attaching the external hard drive, all songs imported without a problem except my playlists.  Any clue about where they are or how to revive them for use on my new Mac?
    Thanks!

    Rysz wrote:
    To retain your playlists, artwork, play counts, etc, you need to move the entire iTunes folder, not just the music files..
    Correct.
    After that just select the new folder location in iTunes> Advanced settings.
    Incorrect.
    Hold Option and launch iTunes.
    Select Choose library and select the iTunes folder.
    This will read the iTunes library.itl file in this folder and the library as it was previously will be opened.

  • I want to Connect my Mac Mini as a Slave to a Mac pro Server while at the same time using the Mac mini's thunderbolt ports peripherals ( ie monitor, Sound Card, Hard drives) Creating a poor man's new mac Pro. Can this be Done?

    I want to Connect my Mac Mini as a Slave to a Mac pro Server while at the same time using the Mac mini's thunderbolt ports peripherals ( ie monitor, Sound Card, Hard drives) Creating a poor man's new mac Pro. Can this be Done?

    Well, I really would love the new unreleased mac pro however , I'm not sure of the expected cost , Everyone speculates from $3,000 to $8,000, in which I may have to wait a while to purchase.
    To the point .... I want fully functional thunderbolt ports to be on the current mac pro's .... wonder if anyone had workarounds yet?...  or could I chain the the current mac pro to a mac mini to make that happen?

  • My external hard drive is not being recognized by my MAC Pro.  The icon does not appear on my desktop when I connect it to the MAC.

    My external hard drive that I use as a backup is not being recognizedc by my MAC PRO.  Usually I get the icon for the backup, when I attach it to my computer, but that isn't happening.  What can I do?

    Well, I tried all of your suggestions and they didn't work -- no surprise because I was trying to backup to my external c.d. disk.  Duh!  The application for the home is in the mail.

  • I back my music and photos from my windows laptop before it broke on a external hard drive . I just got a new mac book can I use the hard drive to put my wave files and JPEG files on to my mac book

    My old lap top broke I save all my music what is wave and my pitches is jpeg on external hard drive
    the old laptop was a window base laptop
    so I got a new mac coming and I been told my hard drive won't won't on the mac and I lose all my photos and music
    any help
    thanks

    If your external drive has the right ports, you should be able to plug it up to your Mac and copy over your photos and wav files. You'll probably (I don't know this for sure as it's been a long, long time since I've dealt with wav files) need to convert the wav files to MP3 or some other format (but I would try opening them directly from iTunes, first - wait a second... yes, iTunes will open wav files).
    There are only a fixed number of ways that Windows drive can be formatted and a Mac can read (though not necessarily write) them all. So you should have no trouble with that.
    Good luck,
    Clinton
    MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011), OS Mavericks 10.9.4, 16GB Crucial RAM, Crucial M500 960GB SSD, 27” Apple Thunderbolt Display

  • Why is my Toshiba external hard drive not being recognized by my new Mac?

    So: When I moved from Colombia I packed my stuff in an external hard drive, that was at the end of last year, Today I got my new MacBook Pro and I can't transfer my stuff because it doesn't even pop up anywhere. I read some other people's post and no: It doesn't appear in any of the two places people say it should appear (or I am not seeing it) whenever it doesn't automatically appears in desktop.
    Funny story: It appears that my Mac's hard drive is a toshiba, the same brand as my 1tb external hard drive.
    Suggestions?

    I'm having the exact same problem... I have my Toshiba 1TB Hard Drive which I formatted to FAT32 so I was able to watch films on my PS3 off of it and recently got a MacBook Pro 13" i7 8GB RAM 750GB HDD, which is unable to read it (and I'm experiencing the same White Light when used with a PC and PS3 - which is when it works, and Blue Light when it is plugged into my MacBook and unable to open).
    I've tried to follow as many instructions as possible that I've found on the internet but nothing seems to work - it won't even appear in Disk Utility, I don't know what to do. All I need to know is whether this a problem that can be fixed or not - otherwise I'll just get a new Hard Drive.

  • Recommendations for an external hard drive I can use for both the Mac and PC

    Hello,
    I’ve used PC’s for nearly most of my life, and recently Imade the leap to using a Macbook Pro (the 15” Intel i7) as I got tired of theconstant crashes.  Long story short – Ineed to have a common external hard drive that I can use with both the PC’s andthe Mac I own.  Mostly I need theexternal drive to save my Microsoft Office documents, and family photos (aswell as Mp3’s and other programs).  I’vegone to the Mac Store in town, but I keep getting told that you cannot have acommon external hard drive between the two computers.  I’m just having a hard time excepting that,as I keep reading on Apple’s own website making the sales pitch of how PC userswho switch to a Mac wouldn’t have to purchase replacement hardware.  Are there recommended external drives thecommunity could recommend?  Also, wouldit be best to create a network drive to accomplish my goal? Any advice isgreatly appreciated. 

    Only one computer can be connected to one drive at a time without a server being involved or a NAS drive.
    I don't think your needs are along those lines it's too complex.
    Just a external drive formatted exFAT will do between Mac's and PC's.
    Swtich the cable and connect to one or the other as needed or get two drives.
    There are some hacks floating around that create a portable wireless shared storage so anyone with a wif can connect and share files with at like coffee shops.
    Is that what your looking for?

  • WD My Book 1 TB External Hard drive firewire cable won't fit into Mac Pro

    Hi the firewire cable that came with my Western Digital My book External Hard Drive won't fit into my Quad Core Mac Pro. Is it the wrong cable? What's the correct cable that would connect my Western Digital External Hard Drive into my Quad Core Mac Pro? Any help is greatly appreciated

    If you have a port that looks like this one, it's FW400. If it looks like this one it's FW800. If you have one of each it supports both. If you don't have either then it's USB only.

  • External hard drive /storage for use with mini and XP (bootcamp)

    Never purchased an external hard drive (storage) before so not sure if this is possible.
    Basically I have an intel mini with 60gb hard drive, which I have now allocated 20 to xp via boot camp. I'm quickly using up the 20gb with a few games so I want to purchase an external storage device that will work with both osx and windows - is this possible?
    My mini hasnt 'seen' a few USB devices, can anyone recommend one which is compatible with the intel mini?
    would any external drive have to be partinioned as well?

    I still do not know which format would be the best. That is so that I can use it easily between mac OSX and windows. Is FAT32 the only true option? How limited is it? I heard it is limited to 4GB file size for windows and 32 GB for Mac. Are there other sources I have not found with more concrete information on the limitations of this format?
    I really do still need this information and I need to back up my drive before I can take the computer in for service.

  • Which external hard drive can I use with my Macbook (2009)?

    I'm looking to purchase an external hard drive for my 2009 Macbook os x 10.6.8 (the heavier, white laptop). It looks like most hard drives are compatible for Macbook Pro and newer.

    If your MB is an early model 2009 you can use either Firewire or USB 2 drives, late model 2009's don't have firewire so you're limited to USB.  I'd stay away from WD and Seagate externals, their enclosures aren't very reliable. The Toshiba Canvio drives work well. Pretty much any drive from OWC is top shelf http://eshop.macsales.com

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