How can i format an external drive to be used for both windows and mac

i recently bought a macbook pro and used bootcamo so as to be able to run win7 and mac. I now wish to have an external usb drive so as to backup and tranfer files between the two os's. How can I do this?

Firstly,
There is a forum for MacBook Pro - not this. And for Boot Camp.
You can:
add Paragon HFS driver to Windows which works
add Paragon NTFS for Mac OS X
USB is of course slow and while people use it for backups and TimeMachine, that is one place where FW800, eSATA or USB3 would be better served.

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External hard drive filesystem to use for both pc and mac

hi everyone,
i've got a 120 gig portable WD passport harddrive that i'm planning on using to move files between my pc and macbook.
it is recognized fine on both and I am able to copy files to my macbook but cannot write files to it, i'm assuming it has to do with the file system it's using (not sure what it is off hand bought it used and preformated)
any suggestions on how to get it working on both platforms?

Important Note: Reformatting a HD will overwrite all existing files.
Before attempting Reformat,Be sure to Back-up important files to another HD,iPod,CD or DVD.
Jim
PowerBook G3 500 Mhz "Pismo"/ 2.0Ghz BlackBook 2GB OWC RAM Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Can i use exfat format for my external western digital harddrive so that i can use in both windows and mac?

can i use exfat format for my external western digital harddrive so that i can use in both windows and mac?
thanks in advance.
<Email Edited by Host>

Yes you can. OS X version 10.6.6 and later can read/write exFAT. Windows XP SP3 and later can read/write exFAT. As posted by Radiation Mac, you can do it from Windows or from OS X.
However, I've noticed Windows to be somewhat picky about drives formatted on a Mac. So, if Windows can't read it, try formatting it on the Windows machine, and see how it works on the Mac.
Posting your email on a public forum isn't a very good idea. It will likely be harvested by spambots and used as the reply-to address for spam it sends out.
Also, most people are not going to send an email to you for similar reasons. Nobody knows who you are, so sending an email to you could be giving a spammer a valid email address.
The forum is set up to automatically notify you when there are responses to your questions. When you get one, you would log back into this forum and check to see what the answer was.

External hard drive for both windows and mac

hello, all - just bought a western digital 500gb my book premium edition external hard drive. will be using for both pc and macbook, not necessarily to share files (though i may on occasion), but rather as a backup. been researching the discussion boards and concluded that i should use it as pre-formatted fat32. few questions...
1) if i do use to share files, from what i understand i will be able to read windows files with my mac but i can't read mac files with windows (unless i have macdrive installed). is this correct?
2) since mac can read/write to fat 32, is it necessary to partition the drives and keep the files separated? i talked to a "computer guy" earlier today and he said i should consider having two completely separate external hard drives as having files from two different operating systems on the same drive could cause major problems for both... i didn't really believe him.
3) i have seen different posts stating using fat32 format for mac limits file size to 4gb. another post said 32gb. which is right? i have os is 10.4.7 if that makes a difference.
thanks in advance for any insight.

2 - i don't mind partitioning at all. but he strongly suggested not even partitioning but using two completely separate hard drives. yeah, the 500gb was a bit overkill, so if i can use it for both as opposed to one and buying an additional, i'd rather.
2/3 - if i partition, is it best to divide it into ntfs and hfs+? or should i keep the pc portion fat32? if the mac portion is hfs+, can i store any size file? i have videos that are anywhere from 10-20gb, and i'd like to get them off my computer and into the external drive.
thanks.

How to export for both windows and mac users

I'm new to the video stuff, so i have a few questions. i am planning to post videos on my blog. I want to have them in a format that both windows and mac users can play. is this a possibility or will i have to export .wmv for windows and quicktime for mac? i realize that windows users can download quicktime, but i either want the video to be viewable in a format that can be read by all without having to download anything (might be too big a wish :o) ). if i can't do that, then i'd like to have 2 links - one for quicktime and one to the .wmv. in this case, how to i export a .wmv file? i don't see that option anywhere on the share menu? do i need to buy quicktime pro? that leads me to another questions - if i have imovie, do i need quicktime pro? so far i'm having a hard time figuring out what quicktime pro has that imovie doesn't....thanks in advance!

I'm new to the video stuff, so i have a few questions. i am planning to post videos on my blog. I want to have them in a format that both windows and mac users can play. is this a possibility or will i have to export .wmv for windows and quicktime for mac? i realize that windows users can download quicktime, but i either want the video to be viewable in a format that can be read by all without having to download anything (might be too big a wish :o) ).
Posting to YouTube and providing a URL link might be the most universal method of playback although quality may be on the weak side.
if i can't do that, then i'd like to have 2 links - one for quicktime and one to the .wmv. in this case, how to i export a .wmv file?
WMV is a proprietary compression format. You will either have to purchase the authorized QT components from Flip4Mac or purchase a separate open source converter application like Visual Hub.
i don't see that option anywhere on the share menu?
Any you won't even if you purchase and install the QT component -- iMovie '08 only exports to QT compression formats.
do i need to buy quicktime pro?
It wouldn't help. Getting QT Pro only unlocks editing and conversion features. It does not add any additional codecs which don't already have installed.
if i have imovie, do i need quicktime pro? so far i'm having a hard time figuring out what quicktime pro has that imovie doesn't.
As indicated above, QT Pro allows you to convert to/from any compression formats for which you have working import/export QT components. This can already be be done using GarageBand and iMovie. GarageBand allows you to access any installed QT import/export component while iMovie '08 restricts you to Apple QT components. In addition, QT Pro allows you to create player displays with multiple audio/video tracks, gives you ability to layer graphic elements (e.g, create watermarks, create pictures-within-pictures, etc,), allow the viewer to switch between alternate audio and/or video tracks, and may other things.
ADDED: If you really want to see what QT Pro can do, check out QTKirk's examples on his DotMac account.
Message was edited by: Jon Walker

I bought Photoshop Elements 12, and I saw that it comes with a Windows and a Mac DVD. How many installations do I get from each disc (I have both Windows and Mac machines)?

Please reply ASAP

You can activate the software on a maximum of two computers at the same time.
Your serial number works on both Windows and Mac.
Your choice on how you mix and match the activations: Win/Win or Mac/Mac or Win/Mac.

How do i format an external hard drive for use on both windows and mac book air?

how do i format an external hard drive for use on both windows pc and mac book air?

Use exFAT on the PC.
(71374)

Can i partition an external drive that im using for time machine? its not an actual apple TM....

I'd like to partition my drive to make a separate place just for itunes music , is this possible? if so, how ?
thanks!

tamckellar wrote:
im just trying to make a separate area on the ex drive that i use for tm, to store just my itunes library .
Not a good idea...If that drive fails (and they All do at some point in time) you will lose both your TM and iTunes Backups.
Invest in another EHD for iTunes.
Moving iTunes > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751
Also...
Have a look at these 2 Videos...
http://macmost.com/moving-your-itunes-library.html
http://macmost.com/moving-your-itunes-media-to-an-external-drive.html

How can i format an external drive so as to read and write from both windows and mac side

i recently bought a macbook pro and used bootcamp so as to be able to run win7 and mac. I now wish to have an external drive so as to backup and tranfer files between the two os's. Specifically to read and write form either windows or mac. How can I do this?

Format it as FAT.

How to transfer iTunes Music stored in an External Drive that I use for my Windows PC and use it in iTunes on Mac?

Hi just bought my first Mac (a 2013 13' MacBook Air). Before I owned this computer I used (and still use) a Windows Desktop. My Windows Desktop (which runs Windows 8.1) has a 1TB Hard Drive that was getting pretty full so I moved all of my iTunes Music, Movies, and TV Shows onto a 2TB external hard drive. This meant that iTunes would open/work even if the external hdd was not plugged in, but only when the external HDD is plugged in do I see all of my downloaded/ripped music/movies/tv shows. Now that I own a Mac I would like to do the same thing - have all of my media on an external drive that is plugged in via USB. So my question is (A) how do I make my itunes media stored on this external HDD accesible to the iTunes on my MacBook, (B) do I need to partition the external HDD to do this, and (C) because I fully intend to keep using the drive with my Windows PC (it stores a complete backup as well as a ton of Steam videogames), will I need to totally erase the drive in order to create such a partition?

Before we can help you, you must tell us how you are backing up your data.
Allan

Can I use Airport TimeCapsule's internal hard drive as a network-based backup solution for both windows and mac?

Does the following scenario work??? :-
A Windows PC is connected to Airport TimeCapsule (ATC) wifi.
A Mac is connected to the ATC wifi.
The Mac's Time Machine software is set up and automatically backs up to the internal HDD.
The Mac can browse files on the internal HDD, and drag and drop files to and from.
The PC can easily see the internal HDD as a device on the network. The PC can drag and drop files to the internal HDD. The PC can read and write to the files that the MAC has placed on it. The PC has some automated backup software installed, which recognises the ATC internal HDD as a backup storage device.

You are right.. you cannot partition a TC.
Nor can you use NTFS..
And you can corrupt the TM backup but you can do that from Mac just as well.. the TC is better with one disk used for data or TM and another disk.. a USB plugged in for the other.
Windows compatible means.. all names are short, no spaces and pure alphanumeric.
You used to be able to set workgroup but Apple haven't bothered with that of late.. there is no upgrade to the airport utility for windows.. although one should be coming. Windows can have issues.. it was no problem on the older 5.6 utility and that still partly works but I have no idea if it will work on the AC model.

What external hard disk will work on both windows and mac?

I need to buy a hard disk that will work in both mac and windows. i live in India and will buy it from ebay.in
Can you please suggest a 2 TB hard drive (external)

best options for the price, and high quality HD:
Quality 1TB drives are $50 per TB on 3.5" or $65 per TB on 2.5"
Perfect 1TB for $68
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B005J7YA3W/ref=sr_1_ 1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379452568&sr=8-1&keywords=1tb+toshiba
Nice 500gig for $50. ultraslim perfect for use with a notebook
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-External-Drive/dp/B009F1CXI2/ref=s r_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1377642728&sr=1-1&keywords=toshiba+slim+500gb
2.5" USB portable High quality BEST FOR THE COST, Toshiba "tiny giant" 2TB drive (have several of them, LOT of storage in a SMALL package) $117
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Connect-Portable-HDTC720XK3C1/dp/B00CGUMS48 /ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379182740&sr=1-4&keywords=2tb+toshiba
*This one is the BEST portable external HD available that money can buy:
HGST Touro Mobile 1TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive $88
http://www.amazon.com/HGST-Mobile-Portable-External-0S03559/dp/B009GE6JI8/ref=sr _1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383238934&sr=8-1&keywords=HGST+Touro+Mobile+Pro+1TB+USB+3.0+7 2 00+RPM
Most storage experts agree on the Hitachi 2.5"
Hitachi is the winner in hard drive reliability survey:
Hitachi manufacturers the safest and most reliable hard drives, according to the Storelab study. Of the hundreds of Hitachi hard drives received, not a single one had failed due to manufacturing or design errors. Adding the highest average lifespans and the best relationship between failures and market share, Hitachi can be regarded as the winner.

Can a single Sun IDM gateway agent be used for both Dev and QA machine

We have three different machines - one for IDM QA, one for IDM DEV and one remote machine where Sun IDM gateway is installed.
If we run the Dev and QA gateway on the same server, we won't be able to test any updates in an isolated environment before rolling out to QA..right?
Is it possible to have a Sun IDM gateway agent instance on the same remote machine? or do we have to install gateway separately on DEV and QA? Any ideas??

Hello Manidhar,
You have three different machines -
QA,DEV and IDM Remote gateway.
If we run the Dev and QA gateway on the same server,
we won't be able to test any updates in an isolated
environment before rolling out to QA..right?
you are right. you won't have an isolated environment for testing. it creates interdependancy between DEV/QA environments.
on the other hand, if DEV or QA server goes down, you end up loosing both the enviroments Gateway. it creates a SPF ( Single Point Failure) and it's not a best practice to do so from archicture point of view if you indend to maintain HA ( High Availability) 99.99% up-time.
Is it possible to have a Sun IDM gateway agent
instance on the same remote machine for DEV/QA?
this also creates a SPF situation.
or do we have to
install gateway separately on DEV and QA?
Since you have 3 different machines for 2 +1 Environments,
it is best practice to have
1. Seperate Gateway(s) for each Environment
1. For Dev, 1 For QA
so you have two isolated enviroments for testing, but also gives you the flexibility of keeping the QA Environment closer to Production possible without disturbing Dev
let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Sam
We have three different machines - one for IDM QA,
one for IDM DEV and one remote machine where Sun IDM
gateway is installed.
If we run the Dev and QA gateway on the same server,
we won't be able to test any updates in an isolated
environment before rolling out to QA..right?
Is it possible to have a Sun IDM gateway agent
instance on the same remote machine? or do we have to
install gateway separately on DEV and QA? Any
ideas??

How can i format my external hard drive to write files from Mac without loosing the files that i alredy have on my external hard when i used it with windows?

How can i format my external hard drive to write files from Mac without loosing the files that i alredy have on my external hard when i used it with windows?
I have been using Windows to write files to my 1TB WD external hard drive and I do not want to format to loose the files capacity of around 500GB
Someone, Please help

Hi Allen,
Is there any way to store the back up to Mac and restore after formating?

How can a format an external hard drive to Fat 32 format

how can i format an external hard drive to a Fat 32

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 MBR then click on the OK button. Set the format type to MSDOS (FAT) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.

How can i format an external drive to be used for both windows and mac

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