Best filesystem format to use on External disk for windows and OS X access?

I have a external harddrive (250GB) that I want to be able to access in Windows Vista (through bootcamp) and also in OS X. Whats the best format for the filesystem on that drive so that I can access it both OS's?

Hi,
I have been looking for this post!.
My girlfriend has a windows based laptop. I have a macbook pro and we both need to share an external hard drive (Maxtor 3200, 300gb). The external hard drive is currently formatted as NTFS. When I tried to access the drive from my macbook pro, it gives me an error, basically asking me to initialize the drive, which I won't do (got lots of data in it). After some net research, and reading this post I now know that I have to format it in fat32. I guess that my questions are:
Is this the only solution? How stable is the fat32 format? Can I use another file format for two different environments Mac OS and Windows?
MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.6) Intel Core Duo, 2.16 GHz, 1 GB Memory, 120 GB HD

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How to use an external drive for windows and mac

I recently got an external hard drive (2 TB seagate expansion) and I need to be able to use it with both my mac and my windows computer. I have read numerous forums and tried downloading various third party programs but nothing seems to work! One of the things i have read was to create a partition on the drive, this is easy enough and i did try it so i do have one side i can add stuff from from windows and one side i can add stuff to from my mac but then i cant access the other side. So say i need to get a file from my mac to my windows. I add a file to the mac side of the partition from my mac but then when i plug it into windows i cant retrieve that because its on the mac side of the partition (and vis versa). Is there some sort of easy way around this? or some way in which i can format the drive where i can move files back and forth from windows to mac without any expensive third party programs?
Thanks!
Bryan
PS. I did notice when i originally got the hard drive i had a bunch of files on it that were added from windows. When i plugged it into my mac i could see and copy these files but i could not add new files. Is there anyway to get around this "read only" type formate if i were to reset my drive back to its factory settings?

Three ways to go;
Repartiton the drive (1 partition) as MBR and with FAT32 file system. This is readable and writable by both Mac and Windows, but has a file size limit (which I think is 4GB).
The alternative is to leave the drive formatted as NTFS for Windows (this is not normally writeable from Mac) and employ a third-party software application which can write to NTFS. NTFS-3G, Paragons NTFS for Mac and Tuxera NTFS have all been recommended elsewhere.
Or you can repartition as GUID with HFS+ (Mac OS Extended Journalled) file system. This would not normally be accesible to the Windows machine, but once again there is 3rd-party softwsre available to enable Windows to read and write to it. MacDrive is the only one I'm aware of, but there are probably others.

How is the performance of Mac Pro if i use it as host for windows and linux virtual machines.

How is the performance of Mac Pro if i use it as host for windows and linux virtual machines.
I am planning to buy a high performance PC to run my Windows and Linux servers as vitrual machines for my testing purposes.
Initially i planned to build my own computer with recommended configurations but considering space constaints and cooling factors i think Mac Pro can be a choice. But need some inputs if Mac pro (Intel Xeon E5, 12 GB RAM) is good for running virtual Machines.

You could even run Windows natively and still run your VM servers.
I have seen reports and such on MacRumors and elsewhere - run Windows natively as well as VMs (can also do testing and run Mavericks in a VM under Mavericks)
The fast internal PCIe-SSD, plus 6 or 8 cores, and 32-64GB RAM. Of course for $5,000 for 8-core, some Thunderbolt storage and 32GB/64GB RAM you can buy some serious hardware.

Can i use 1 external disk for TM with several Macs ?

Hi,
is it possible to use 1 external disk with TM for several macs ?
Would it result in something like that in this case:
Backups.backupdb -> Mac1
Backups.backupdb -> Mac2
or am i forced to have a single TM disk for each mac ?
best regards
fidel

Hi,
thank you both for the quick reply.
The partition idea is not that bad, but as i am not using TM to do a full-backup, nor do i run it daily the disk-usage is not that important for me.
Till now i have done about 15 backups on my mac pro and the data is < 30 gb
(based on the excludes)
basicly i want to use TM only for the case that i need to reinstall Leopard (cause of a broken hd or similar) as i assume that i can use the TM-data in this case.
the idea to setup TM for restoring deleted files is nice, but i dont really see a reason in my case
best regards
fidel

Use external drive for windows and mac

Hello,
I just bought a external 320Gb Western Digital Drive. I would like to use
the drive for windows and mac.I will not like to make partation on the drive
to use it on both operating systems. Is there any formating system with which i can use in both operating systems? I would like to use time machine feature on that drive also.
Thanx.

If you want to use a disk for both PC/Mac file storage and Time Machine, you will have to create two partitions. Partitioning is sort of like creating multiple virtual disks on the same physical disk. One partition should be formatted for PC (which the Mac can also use) and the other should be formatted for HFS+ (Mac only) which is what Time Machine requires. The Disk Utility application makes partitioning and formatting very easy.

Can i use my external drive for TM and files i don't want on my mac HD

my hard drive has a total of 232.57g which is not nearly enough space to save all my pictures, movies, etc. i've been using a 300g external drive to save my pictures, movies, etc. which is now full so i bought a maxtor one touch 4 750g to hopefully back up my computer using time machine, my 300g external drive, and whatever new pictures, movies, etc.
if i set up my new external drive for time machine can i still put the pictures, movies from my 300g external drive and whatever new pictures, movies, etc. on my new 750g external drive?
do i need to make a partition? if so can you tell me how?
should i not use time machine?
any information is appreciated

mac HD
capacity: 232.57g
available: 170.29g
iomega
capacity: 298.02g
available: 14.29g
one touch 4
capacity: 698.51g
available: 698.36g
thanks for the quick reply but i need to explain it better or ask, once all is backed up from my mac HD and my iomega external drive to my new one touch 4 i want to stop using the iomega since there isn't much room left on it
will i be able to add files directly to the one touch 4 without having those files saved to my mac HD like i do now?
or will TM remove my files the next time it backs up my mac HD since i won't have the iomega on anymore?

External Drive For Windows And OSX

Hello!
I'm using an external USB/FW drive for back up. It's formatted as "OSX Extended".
1) If I copy the data off this drive, what format would I need to re-format it in, so as to be able to back up from both OSX and Windows?
2) Will I be able to reload the first set of data, once I re-format it in the other format?
Thanx!

I don't recall either of those being mentioned in the OP's question, Niel. Only "backup" which does not necessarily mean Time Machine.
You might mention how much it will cost to buy MacDrive: Standard is $50 and Pro is $70.00.
BTW, I know you can't use FAT for Time Machine nor bootable backups. But FAT is not limited for use as a backup drive using other utilities that haven't the limitations or reliability issues of Time Machine.

TS3642 It is really unacceptable that I cannot transfer my garageband format songs from iPad to iTunes for windows and then add them to my new iPad. Any ideas?

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3642 tells me that this is not possible because garageband format songs are saved as folders.
I just want to transfer songs from one iPad to another. Why does Apple make things so hard?

Perhaps turingtest2's fix works for you to transfer your project to iTunes for Windows, see:
Re: Import a proyect from garage band to ipad
But if you want to transfer between two iPads, you could use iCloud to transfer directly between the devices, if the iPads support iCloud and you are using the same Apple ID on both iPads.
If you save the project (or better a duplicate of the project) to iCloud, you will be able to import it on the second iPad from the cloud.
Regards
Léonie

How can I use an external player for MP3 and MP4 fomats without disabling native HTML5 playback support for mpeg formats that are embedded in webpages?

The Application options were poorly implemented, resulting in multiple instances of handlers for some formats in a long and confusing list. Now Mozilla seems to have solved that problem by preventing users from choosing how various media formats are to be handled -- the cure is worse than the disease! I am getting damned tired of researches into how this or that poor new decision in Firefox's development can be overruled, circumvented, or lived with. How can I choose how an .mp3 file is to be played, and what is going on at Mozilla that I have to ask?

Right-click the link and choose Save Link As to download the file. Afterwards, click the Downloads button on the navigation toolbar and left-click the downloaded file. This will open it with the associated application.
* [[Find and manage downloaded files]]
Setting ''media.windows-media-foundation.play-stand-alone'' to '''false''' in [http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config about:config] is the only way to prevent files like MP4 and MP3 being played inside the browser when left-clicking the links, until the preferences for handling such files are properly fixed at some point in the future. That will happen whenever a developer finds the time to write a patch.

Using same External drive for iMac and iBook

Hello all,
I have a 15" FP iMac 10.2.8 and iBook 10.3.9 and a wireless Linksys router which is about 4-5 years old. All work on the Linksys network. Currently my LaCie external is hooked to the iMac.
I want to have my external LaCie accessible to both computers for storing Final Cut video files. Is this as simple as connecting the LaCie to the router? I can connect to the LaCie via the ibook through the wireless network now but for accessing video files I assume this is not sufficient; need a physical connection.
Thanks,
Al

You'd get problems. The ports are equal though.
http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/firewire/topic2199.html
You could connect an Ethernet-based Hard Disk to the router but it's going to be pretty slow compared to the Firewire connection you're accustomed to. If I were you I'd just hot-swap the Firewire drive between the two Macs.
mrtotes

Want to use a Lacie External Hard Disk with Windows and Mac? Can I?...

Hi, I've just purchased a Lacie Extreme D2 external hard disk, I'm looking to use it to move film clips from my Mac G5 to my Sony Vaio laptop. I'll connect the Mac using Firewire 1 and the PC using USB 1.
I understand there is an issue with setting the compaitibility of the hard disk to either Mac or Windows format but I'm wondering if I can set it to both, so it's possible to transfer these files? The hard disk is Windows and Mac compatible but does it have to be partitioned a certain way?
Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks,
Alex

Format the drive as FAT or use the Mac format (HFS Extended) and install MacDrive on the PC.

Question about Formatting Buffalo USB 1TB external drive for use with Mac Book Pro Mountain Lion HD

Hi there, Have Mountain Lion HD operating system (not sure if it is 10.8 or 10.8.1. or 10.8.2) and have a Buffalo USB 3.0 1TB hard drive. When go to utilities to try and format with Mac OS extended, following 3 files show. DriveNavi. exe, Slm.exe and Mac. The option to left click and erase menu is not there. Or at least not as shown in all the help videos.
It is USB connection so will take ages but want to use drive to store video footage and also partition to back up Time Machine. ( travelling in South America and no other Ext Drive option available too buy) how much space should i assign to Time Machine when partitioning? Is there anything else i need to think about? as new to formatting. Any thing else i can do to make process of transfering footage to Buffalo quicker?
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Use Apple's Disk Utility in the Applications/Utilities folder to format the drive.
The programs on the drive given to you by the manufacturer is likely backup software (or malware) and essentially worthless, it will be wiped when you format the drive.
I do NOT advise you partition that drive for TimeMachine, rather I advise you not to use TimeMachine at all for your purposes because TM is just a backup, not a bootable drive.
Rather do this.
Get another hard drive that is equal to or slightly larger than your boot drive.
Format the drive in Disk Utiltiy > 1 Partition, option: GUID, Format: OS X Extended journaled, click Erase and move the slider one spot to the right and click Erase. This will take some time as it's going to map off any failing sectors it can BEFORE you lay data on the drive corrupting it.
Next, pay for and download Carbon Copy Cloner, use the default settings and simply clone internal drive to the external drive. this will also take some time the first time.
Next use Disk Utility to Repair Permisisons on both drive. Now reboot the machine and hold the option key down, you can select the external drive clone to boot from!!
You can update the clone the same way by using CCC, but it doesn't take as long, only copying changes.
This is better than TimeMachine as a bootable clone is bootable in case your internal drive fails to boot the machine.
Use the first drive for storage and be very gentle with it while it running, like you should do for all hard drives as they are subjective to shock damage.
The objective with the clone drive is you keep it safe, and not carting it around where it can be more subjective to damage like the other drive will be.
Remmeber you need 2 forms of hardware backup at all times.
Most commonly used backup methods

Help, I installed parallel and windows, and opened videos (on an external hard disk) with windows, and now cannot open them with Mac, and use i movies. How do I reverse this?

Help, I installed parallel and windows, and opened videos (on an external hard disk) with windows, and now cannot open them with Mac, and use i movies. How do I reverse this?

Paragraphs help the reader, just saying.
What are you actually trying to do? Why do you need "DVD size" folders if you're creatng an Archive on an external hard drive?
Also, I understand burning folders instead of individual photos or albums gives you more space on a DVD.
It makes no difference at all.
How can I keep the captions on my photos (not events) when I print or transfer to a new folder?
You can export while writing the metadata to the file in most cases.
Tne only way I know is to copy photos from the Windows to folders on my HD, then copy and paste photos or albums or events to HD, then create a new folder and fill it to the appropriate DVD size.
HD? Another HD? You use HD there in a way that makes no sense. What's the point of 'DVD size'?
I also thought I should download future photos to my Canon programming that comes with EOS cameras and edit and then decide which photos to save to iPhoto library and which to save only to my archival HD?
Does this have any relation to the previous questions? You know you can delete from iPhoto, right?
You're somewhat confused and you need to
1. Decide what exactly you want to do
2. Then go about it.
If I understand you correctly - and there's no guarantee that I do - the easiest thing is to bring all your Photos into iPhoto and do everything from there.
You can have an archive on an external disk, you can sort and select and edit with or via iPhoto
Regards
TD

HT3275 I am using an external drive for backup. I am now getting a message that the drive needs a disk repair, but when I run disk repair it just seems to freeze.

I am using an external drive for back up. Yesterday the backup failed and I received a message that the external drive( a passport drive) needed a 'disk repair", when I ran disk repair nothing happened it seemed to freeze. Suggestions? should i simply erase the external drive and start over-my computer is fine.

Get a different drive for backup.
In the meantime, once you are backed up some drive safe, then you can attempt to repair the backup drive using the repair the directory link.

Best Video format to use for Windows

I am creating a CD ROM (for Windows) that will show 3D animation. I need to make sure that the animations will play on user's computers without any problems.
What is the best video format to use?

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Best filesystem format to use on External disk for windows and OS X access?

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