Formatting an external HD for mac AND pc?

I need to use my 500g external hard drive on both macs and pcs for mostly music files.
I cannot modify ntsf files on my mac and my pc will not even read the mac format.
I heard that the FAT32 is supported by both systems but how do i use disk utility to change it to this format? Is there a better format?
Thanks,
Andrew
Macbook

I just bought my first Mac this afternoon and I wondered the same thing. A quick Google search brought me to this video:
http://www.ohiou.edu/aac/lab/techies/episode21.html
According to the video, use the MS-Dos formatting option in Disk Utility. The guys in the video say it's like the FAT32 file system and is for use on both Windows and Mac computers.
So far it seems to be working for me.

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How to format an external drive for mac AND pc use

i want to format my external drive so i can use it on my mac and on pc's as well. i've gathered that the MS-DOS format is the way to go. my question is this: would this create any problems for my mac then?
can i partion one part for ms-dos and part for macos extended?
cheers
-j-

MS-DOS format (or FAT32) will be fine for both Mac and PC. However there is a 4GB file size limit with FAT32.
You could use a dual partition, however the HFS+ partition would not be readable by the PC unless you installed the third party MacDrive.
Look at this page for more information on a dual partition drive for Mac and Windows.
http://macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20030613121738812
iFelix

How to format external drive for mac AND pc use

hi
i want to format my external drive so i can use it on my mac and on pc's as well. i've gathered that the MS-DOS format is the way to go. my question is this: would this create any problems for my mac then?
can i partion one part for ms-dos and part for macos extended?
cheers
-j-

There are a couple of disadvantages with formatting a
disk as FAT32. Firstly, there is a limit on the file
size for FAT32. I think it like 2 GB so if you
capturing video the results will probably not fit
into this file limit. Secondly FAT32 will not be
bootable. I alway clone my system to a backup disk as
bootable. That way if anything goes wrong with my
system, I can just boot from my backup disk and fix
it.
The problem with doing this though is that the drive will not be usable with Windows (which was in the original posting) unless you use the third party MacDrive software on the PC.
iFelix

Format external drive for Mac and PC?

Can I format an external Drive to have 1 partition for OS X and another for my wife to use with her PC?
thanks!
ray

Yes, just use Disk Utility under OS X to create two volumes on it, one Mac OS Ext, the other FAT. Use a Master Boot Record partition scheme (also known as “fdisk”).

Is there is common format for an external harddrive for Mac and a PC?

I'm planning to have some 8mm film digitized, and would like the result to go on an external drive that could be used on both a PC and a Mac.
I think that FAT 32 would work, but that it has a file size limitation that might be a problem with video files.
My questions are:
First, is there a way of formatting an external hard drive which that it would work both both a Mac and a PC for transferring/working with video files?
And two, what codex should the film to video be saved in, to work with iMovie?
And three, does it matter now is the hard drive is USB, or must it be FW?
Thanks,
Hal

First, is there a way of formatting an external hard drive which that it would work both both a Mac and a PC for transferring/working with video files?
FAT32, unless the drive needs to contain files which are 4GB or larger, in which case, no.
And two, what codex should the film to video be saved in, to work with iMovie?
DV.
And three, does it matter now is the hard drive is USB, or must it be FW?
It doesn't matter.
(55447)

Itunes library on external hdd for mac and pc

I want to store my my iTunes library on an external hdd and use it with a Mac and a PC. All changes made on the Mac should be recognised on the PC and all changes made on the PC should although be recognised on the Mac - one library for both.
I already tried to store my library from my PC on an external HDD and then started iTunes on the Mac, pressing "alt". But I wasn't able to open the library. When I choose library.itl, the Mac just opens iTunes without opening my iTunes library.
Any ideas, how I can put all my music, videos and podcasts on the external and then use it on Mac and PC?
Kind regards,
Matthias

The only format drive that will work with both a Mac and a PC without you using additional drivers is an older format called FAT. Disk Utility can create this. Otherwise if you use Windows' NTFS you need something like NTFS3G or MacFuse, and if you use OSX's HFS format you will need MacDrive on Windows (others may also work for both PC and Mac -- those are just the ones I could remember).
Theoretically the Mac should have been able to read the .itl on the Windows NTFS drive but maybe since it found it could not write to it, it reverted to default.
Note, if anything happens to the FAT32 drive you will need to repair it using Windows. I also assume you aren't usign this drive for huge files because FAT32 has a 4GB filesize limit.
You will have to completely erase the drive to partition and re-format it.
iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
do not confuse moving your whole folder and library with moving just media files as in
iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449
Quick answer if you let iTunes manage your music: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Start iTunes with the option key held down and guide it to the new location of the library.
Macworld - How to transfer iTunes libraries between PC and Mac - http://www.macworld.com/article/46248/2005/08/shiftitunes.html

Backup on external HD for Mac and PC

I'm planning to use LaCie's Silverkeeper to do a backup of my Mac onto an external hard drive that is formatted as MS-DOS (to use with both Mac and PC). I also have a PC in my household that I'd like to backup a few things onto this external drive. I've been reading these discussions about people having problems with not being able to copy certain Mac files due to some characters not allowed on Windows (such as "/"), and restoring issues due to the drive not being Mac Extended format. So is there a way I can confidently use this drive to backup data from both the Mac and PC, and be able to restore? If I reformat the drive to Mac Extended, will I be able to copy any files from the PC onto it?

An MSDOS formatted drive should not be used for OS X backups. If you need to do PC backups then I would suggest a separate external drive. Otherwise, format the drive for use with OS X (Mac OS Extended.) Get MacDrive (Media Four) for the PC which enables Windows to read/write Mac drives.
Alternatively if you think you are sufficiently skilled you can try the technique outlined here for creating HFS+ and FAT32 partitions on one drive.

New external drive for mac and windows

Hello,
I am looking to buy a 500gb maxtor external drive. Partition it 250gb for winxp and 250gb for my imac. I am really looking to make these drives as backup drives. I currently have an old 250gb (not all used) formatted as os x entended. I use it for all my itunes, photos, movies... photoshop, you get the picture... I just want to drag and drop to that drive. The same for my windows.
Does this sound correct? Has anyone done it this way?
Another way, would be to have it formatted for windows and drop and drag into two different folders : win and imac. But then I will be losing the naming conventions from the os x? isn't that why and want to use os x extended?
Thanks for all ideas,
Charlie

Piece of cake!
For those who want to know:
usb connection to imac first. I started disk utility. Split the partition to two parts and formated only one partition as OS X extended. After done, copied my directories as a bkup.
usb connection to windows. I started computer management and saw that the usb disk had two partitions: the first was healthy but unknown. That was ok, I wanted the second partition to be NTFS and formated. Then copied my directories to that drive as well.
Connected back the imac and saw both partitions, imacbkup and winbkup. I forgot, just like what I do with the imac and winxp, I can see the c: drive via the mac.
Very cool and easy. Maxtor drives are very reliable and easy to use.
Thanks,
Charlie Cooperman
If anyone wants more detail info, you can email me at [email protected]

External HD for Mac and PC

I unfortunately will be using a PC in my new job. I would like to use my iTunes music library at work (that is currently on my Mac). I have bought an external drive to copy/back my music library.
1. What formatting do I use with my new external drive that will allow me to backup the Mac music library then use with a PC?
2. Is there anything else to keep in mind with the PC/Mac shared files with iTunes?
I just want to make sure that the PC will recognize the files on the new HD.
Thanks!

Format the drive as FAT32, this is the same formatting used by Windows iPods. Your Mac will read a Windows formatted drive but Windows won't read a Mac formatted one without the aid of a third party helper program such as MacDrive. You can format the drive for Windows using Disk Utility on your Mac, choose the MS DOS Setting. Have a look at this article for some more information, particularly this section in case you ever want to use the drive for more than music "If you plan to work with large files, such as digital video, the largest file you can write to a disk in MS DOS format is 4GB. The MS DOS format is also known as FAT32" : Sharing a drive between a Mac and a PC

Partitioning External FW for Mac and Vista

want to be able to also backup my kids laptops (vista) on my bootable mac external
when i checked formats on my external my win xp partition done through boot camp says NTfilesystem
when i go to format in disk utility it gives ms-dos format option
i just want to make sure i can keep my bootable mac partition and be able to back up kids computers (vista) to a partition in ms-dos format
id rather not do it through win xp ( bootcamp) if i dont have to
id like to just plug in kids comps and do what i have to do
i only use xp for games on my mac
i hope i explained this right LOL
thanks
Bryan....................

ive thought about it and im getting another external 500gb i think
use that for my mac and xp clone and use my current 250 gb lacie for all kids stuff (and also Father inlaws Vista DEll peace of junk ! LOL ) had many issues with that system ! Finally get his up and going then mine decided to crap out LOL !
it just makes better sense there so cheap now and after the problems ive recently had i dont want to play around at all with my mac clone drive
i guess i just like to tinker to much !
if it aint broke dont fix it ! LOL
i like the fact that i have the option to do it all on one drive thou.
and im a firm believer in backing up the back up LOL
thanks for the info Dennis
and i wish i could afford macs for the kids this year but LOL
later
Bryan........................
Message was edited by: bmoraski

TimeCapsule as external harddisk for Mac and PC

Hi,
we set up TimeCapsule as basestation for our wireless network yesterday. We chose TC over Airport E. in order to use it as a backup with Timemachine for me (Mac), and at the same time use it as storage for shared files and music (hubby has windows). At the shop the told us we could partition the disk and reformat (part of) it for FAT32, so that we both could read it.
How do we do this? DiscUtility doesn't even show Timecapsule, and neither does 'my computer' on the PC.

to partition the disk you must remove the hard drive and place it in a docking station or external enclosure or internal to a Mac Pro.
Also even if you partition you can only have one file system at a time. It either or....not both.
Message was edited by: Smokerz

External drive for MAC and PC?

My client wants to be able to view all the .mov files I've shot for them and due to file sizes, I need to deliver them all on a hard drive.
Is there any easy fix on my end or their end to facilitate this?
Thanks!

I was assuming that with Quicktime they'd be able to view full size .mov files
QuickTime .mov is a container, the video inside could have been made with any one of a number of codecs. If they do not have that particular codec, they won't be able to play the video. Not even all Macs have the same codecs, many are installed by FCP and unavailable elsewhere.
Also - do you know someone that has had success with MacDrive 8 on a PC?
It goes exactly what it says on the tin. Another alternative is for you to install the MacFuse/NTFS 3G package, which will enable your Mac to write files to a Windows NTFS formatted drive.

Formatting SimpleTech external drive for Mac

Many, many apologies if this is a repeated question, but I've looked for a while and not found a solution.
I am trying to format my SimpleTech prodrive for my PowerBookG4 Mac. The error "could not unmount disc" keeps appearing.
This is despite some of the fixes I've seen online (i.e. using Partition1 instead of the 'erase' as the instructions do, and also changing from Master Boot Record to GUID partition or Apple partition)...
Nothing I've tried seems to work.
Does anyone have any other advice? It would be greatly appreciated. And apologies again if this is somewhere else on the forum...
J

Odd. Which interface between computer and drive are you using?

In disk utility, how do i format new external ssd for mac mini?

In disk utility, how do I format a new external SSD for late 2009 Mac Mini?

Format it as: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

How to format WD external drive for Mac

Just got the WD MyBook 2TB. It's not the one specifically for Mac. It says it is compatible, needs to reformat. How easy is it to reformat? It is for Time Machine. Thanks.

Connect it, power it up, go to Disk Utility (in Applications/Utilities), select the WD disk on the left, go to the Erase tab, and choose "Mac OS Extended". Click Erase. That should do it.
You should then a) see it mount on the desktop, and b) automatically get a prompt to use the drive for Time Machine - if not, you can go into the Time Machine menu (top right of the screen), go to TM Preferences, and select it.
Matt

Formatting an external HD for mac AND pc?

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