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.

Similar Messages

  • Best external hard drive format for use with mac and windows?

    This is more of an apple operating system combined with windows operating system question, but being that my OS will upgrade an fluctuate there is not option to choose in the operating system section.
    Anyways to the question(s)
    This whole prbolem came about when my computer started having issues, I want to back it up and whether I can continue to use my laptop or not I will still be owning an apple in the future. I went to buy a hard for back up and got told that it is not as easy as one would think to transfer files from mac OS to windows OS and vice versa. I have a mac, my boyfriend has a windows computer; we share files. Mostly I just copy his files, but once in a while I give him files too. I have read up and talked to people and only found one solution so far to format the external drive to fat 32 or exfat. I think only mac has the exfat option, but works well between both OSs, correct me if I am wrong.
    What is the difference between fat 32 and exfat?
    A user posted some good info about formatting. More specifically .Drives, partitions, formatting w/Mac's + PC's
    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3044
    If I do not want to use fat32 or exfat is there a format type that works great for mac saving that I can still at least save files to that were originally on a windows computer? Such as I copy his files from his external drive to my computer and then save them to my external drive.
    Is there a better format for file sharing between mac and windows that does not set a 4GB limit?
    And a silly question, Can you dual format a hard drive?
    Note: This format is for an external hard drive.

    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.

  • 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.

  • Portable Hard drive formating for use with windows and mac operating system

    Just bought a verbatim sure fire 500g 800 firewire portable hard drive for my new macbook pro. I have not did bootcamp yet because I am deciding on wether to use Vista or the new windows 7 that will be coming out soon. The drive is already formated HFS+, how do I format the drive so I can write both windows and mac files to it. Help!!!

    how do I format the drive so I can write both windows and mac files to it.
    Either format it to MS-DOS from the DIsk Utility, or install a tool such as MacDrive into Windows and keep the drive in its current format, or install the NTFS-3G driver into Mac OS X and format the drive to NTFS in Windows.
    (45687)

  • 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.

  • Can I view photos and movies from my external hard drive? I used Time Machine and a WD Passport for backup. Since my drive on my MacBook Pro is filling up I was planning to delete some of the movies and photos.

    Can I view photos and movies from my external hard drive? I used Time Machine and a WD Passport for backup. Since my drive on my MacBook Pro is filling up I was planning to delete some of the movies and photos. I wanted to see if I could view them from the hard drive. Thanks

    Hello, eco1. 
    Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities. 
    This sounds like you are wanting to move your iTunes media folder to an external drive and have iTunes this folder from this location.  If this is the case then I would recommend taking a look at the article below. 
    iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449
    Cheers,
    Jason H. 

  • 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

  • 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

  • External hard drive question for using iTunes -- iPod

    Hello, I have my music stored on an external hard drive and want to keep it there (it's too much for my laptop). I can drag the music into itunes on my laptop and create playlists then get the music to my ipod during the same session.
    However, if I come back weeks later then try and access the music on my external hard drive via iTunes, it does not recognize the file location. It asks me to locate EVERY single song, which is ridiculous.
    Is there any way so that I can keep my music on my external hard drive and keep any songs and playlists intact so I don't have to start from scratch every time?
    The only thing I can think of is just putting a small amount of music on my laptop, which would work but defeat the goal of only storing it on the external hard drive.
    The other option I saw on one of the other posts was by consolidating the library on a new folder on the external hard drive, but I don't have enough free space on the external drive to make a duplicate copy of everything.
    Can anyone help me?
    Thanks!
    DK

    Make an alternate iTunes library and have it stored on the external drive.
    Now, every time BEFORE you start iTunes on your laptop, make sure the ex HD is plugged in and recognized by the laptop's Windows operating system.
    If you open iTunes before connecting the ex HD, guess what - you'll get a new blank library or corrupt library that can't find the files.
    The directions for making a different iTunes library are here
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iTunesWin/7.5/en/15502.html

  • Recommended hard drive enclosure for use with FCP?

    I will be doing capture and editing from my main HD, but want a firewire HD for backup. ANy recommendations on enclosures?

    I agree with David. Don't capture to your boot drive. External firewire drives are cheap and you also install an extra drive within you G5 case if that is what you are using. If on a laptop.. then firewire drives are the way to do.
    I know you asked about enclosures but I always love to pass along my current drive fav... G-Raid.
    http://www.g-technology.com/Products/G-RAID.cfm

  • I recently bought my first mac and am wondering if my external hard drive that I used with my pc will be compatible?

    I know that it will not be formatted for a mac, so does that mean I will be able to pull up information but not change or add to the content at all?

    MelK1983 wrote:
    How do I know that?
    Use Disk Utility which can be found in Applications - Utilities.  Select the external drive in the left-hand sidebar and info will appear at the bottom of the window, including formatting information.

  • External hard drive format for use in both OS9 and OSX

    I have never use OS9. A friend of mine wants to transfer their files from an OS9 computer to an OSX computer. Is there a hard drive format that can be used on both OS9 and OSX. It would be great to be able to transfer the files over on my Firewire hard drive.
    Many thanks,
    Beaglebrain.

    Beaglebrain,
    Should have added that you should check the size of your HD. OS9 won't recognise anything beyond about 190GB.
    Michael

  • Hard drive drivers for use with system repair disk

    I've been through the mill with my Satellite A665 S6085...it started its life with a bad CD/DVD drive in the really dark customer service days and spent more of the first two months of life in the shop waiting for the arrival of a new drive than it did in my hands.  Then the CD/DVD failed just at the end of the warranty period (and Toshiba replaced it a second time very quickly, and without charge!)
    Since then it has been working reasonably well, but within the last few weeks it has gotten really sluggish (it was taking about 20 minutes to completely power up), and last week refused to start at all (repeated start-up failures).  I created a system repair disk from another laptop we have, managed to get it to start up - but accompanied by an even more dramatic slow down.
    I  was unable to create an image of the system, but I did manage in safe mode to copy all but about 20 unimportant files (whew!.), and was working on doing what I could to get it spiffied up enough to create a system image.  Unfortunately, in the middle of running the disk checking routine it hung.  It ran for about 20 hours and got to stage 4 (16% done the 23rd file) and stopped all activity.  (Prior to that time the drive light had been flashing on and off periodically - but when I had watched it with no activity for over an hour I did a hard power down . . . I know, bad idea, but it really did seem to be at a complete standstill). 
    It started once in safe mode then froze, and has not started since then. 
    When I boot from the system repair disk, the operating system doesn't come up - and the instructions are to load the hard drive drivers and try again.  So the immediate question is where the heck do I find the drivers since I can't power up to determine the hard drive manufacturer (and the drivers available through the driver download portion of the Toshiba site don't seem to do the trick)?
    But I'd also welcome any hints as to how to get far enough along to at least get a system image before I give up and let the professionals handle things...

    Hi ! You should have created a system image a long time ago I'm tired of this thread. You seem to know all about this so why even ask for help here on the forum Good luck friend. I hope you solve your problem. I don't think I can help you an further
    I Love my Satellite L775D-S7222 Laptop. Some days you're the windshield, Some days you're the bug. The Computer world is crazy. If you have answers to computer problems, pass them forward.
    Attachments:
    Capture48.JPG ‏186 KB
    Capture49.JPG ‏186 KB
    Capture50.JPG ‏187 KB

  • ITunes Library on an external hard drive to be used by Mac and PC

    I have my music library on my PC and am willing to do whatever it takes to have it be read by both computers from the external drive. The external drive is already formatted properly so I don't need to worry about anything there.
    I transferred all of the files from iTunes Media folder to the external drive and am currently loading everything into the Mac's iTunes library, but I feel like I may have missed a step along the way. As it stands, both machines are pointed to the external drive from the Preferences > Advanced tab.
    What else has to be done to assured that they are both read and can be used interchangeably? Also, by doing this does the start-up time of iTunes suffer? As in it will have to load and reload the library every time my external drive is taken in or out?

    And after doing this, what if I wanted to add some more songs to my library? Would I have to go through the entire process of having to rei-mport the updated library or is it just a matter of throwing them in the folder with the rest of the music?

Maybe you are looking for