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albert2k
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Joined: 15 Sep 2011
Posts: 53
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 Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 7:27 pm Post subject: Best format option for external hdd to use with mac and win |
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| What is the best format of the partition for use an external hdd with mac x lion and windows xp/windows7? |
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philiparcario
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Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 4566
Location: Howell NJ USA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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fat - dos
but files max at 4gb
_________________
2010 Mm 2.4 C2D oem 320gb hdd 8gb ram
2012Mm base 2.5 with 16gb ram diy fusion drive
2012Mm quad with 8gb ram oem 1tb hdd
promise pegasus r6 3x 3tb + 3x 4tb =21tb hdds
lacie little big disk 2x 512gb ssds
synology 2tb disk station |
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albert2k
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Joined: 15 Sep 2011
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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| philiparcario wrote: | fat - dos
but files max at 4gb |
Then, is better to keep one external HD for mac and another to windows files? |
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philiparcario
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Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 4566
Location: Howell NJ USA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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You may get away with one drive and 3 partitions
one for mac (gui)
one for windows (ntfs)
and one for sharing (dos fat)
_________________
2010 Mm 2.4 C2D oem 320gb hdd 8gb ram
2012Mm base 2.5 with 16gb ram diy fusion drive
2012Mm quad with 8gb ram oem 1tb hdd
promise pegasus r6 3x 3tb + 3x 4tb =21tb hdds
lacie little big disk 2x 512gb ssds
synology 2tb disk station |
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albert2k
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Joined: 15 Sep 2011
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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| philiparcario wrote: | You may get away with one drive and 3 partitions
one for mac (gui)
one for windows (ntfs)
and one for sharing (dos fat) |
great Idea |
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ankh
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Joined: 20 Aug 2007
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 6:51 pm Post subject: Re: Best format option for external hdd to use with mac and |
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| albert2k wrote: | | What is the best format of the partition for use an external hdd with mac x lion and windows xp/windows7? |
I have an older Passport formatted NTFS that I used to carry files between my older Mini (OSX 10.6) and a Windows box and a Linux box.
When I got the 2011 Mini, that Passport wouldn't mount until I installed a third party NTFS driver.
This works fine: www.tuxera.com/products/tuxera-ntfs-for-mac/ |
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mmedia
New Member
Joined: 03 May 2012
Posts: 7
Location: UK
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 6:47 am Post subject: |
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| philiparcario wrote: | fat - dos
but files max at 4gb |
Indeed, as I found out the hard way when I'd created a DVD ISO and then couldn't save it to my external drive  |
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DonCarlos
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Joined: 23 Feb 2008
Posts: 190
Location: Las Vegas
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| Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:09 am Post subject: |
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I have found it easier to have separate externals for each OS.
I have my Mac OS via firewire to a 1TB Lacie external (HFS+). I have a section for time machine and then also just drop files in the rest of the drive.
I also have a USB slot on my Mac to a separate 500GB external enclosure for Windows 7 (NTSF).
Both are 3.5 drives and 7200RPM hard drives. They are pretty snappy.
Works great for my purposes.
_________________
'08 MacMini C2D/2.0/RAM4GB
HD:Hitachi 7200/16MB/500GB
OS:LION 10.7/WIN-7
Apple wireless keyboard and Magic Magic mouse .
EXT. HD:Lacie D2Quadra-1TB. Firewire.
Monitors: SONY Bravia 32" and
Dell Ultrasharp 2007WFP (Dell makes something right). |
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Grover Time
Senior Member
Joined: 06 May 2007
Posts: 344
Location: Californication
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| Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 3:57 am Post subject: |
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| I have a 500GB portable FreeAgent drive from Seagate. It's formatted FAT 32 for sharing. I know there are limits, but it works with both operating systems for free. |
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infinitespecter
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Joined: 19 Jun 2009
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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| philiparcario wrote: | fat - dos
but files max at 4gb |
The best format to use is something called exFAT. It doesn't have the limitations of the old FAT format but it is still cross platform compatible unlike NTFS. Alternatively you can install NTFS drivers in OS X. |
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Smallwheels
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Joined: 06 Sep 2008
Posts: 241
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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How do I learn what format is on my external hard drive? I bought it in 2008. It was supposed to be formatted for Mac. It must be because it works. My Linux computer can read the files I've stored on it, but it can't alter any of them. That is something I really need to address.
Smallwheels |
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Bandit Bill
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Joined: 07 Jun 2005
Posts: 5793
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Smallwheels wrote: | How do I learn what format is on my external hard drive? I bought it in 2008. It was supposed to be formatted for Mac. It must be because it works. My Linux computer can read the files I've stored on it, but it can't alter any of them. That is something I really need to address.
Smallwheels |
Run Disk Utility (It's within Applications>Utilities) and examine the drive. You'll see the format. |
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Smallwheels
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Joined: 06 Sep 2008
Posts: 241
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Bandit Bill wrote: | | Run Disk Utility (It's within Applications>Utilities) and examine the drive. You'll see the format. |
I see one line where it says "Partition Map Scheme: GUID Partition Table". Is that it?
Smallwheels |
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Bandit Bill
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Joined: 07 Jun 2005
Posts: 5793
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Smallwheels wrote: | | Bandit Bill wrote: | | Run Disk Utility (It's within Applications>Utilities) and examine the drive. You'll see the format. |
I see one line where it says "Partition Map Scheme: GUID Partition Table". Is that it?
Smallwheels |
GUID means that the partition is bootable.
When you look at the drive, there are two parts, the drive itself and then the partitions. The partitions are indented a bit and located under the drive. Likely you only have one partition (ie. Macintosh HD). Click on the actual partition it will have a Format: area.
p.s. Don't worry about clicking on things in the left pain of the window you can't do any modify or format a drive from there, you can only access information about your drives by clicking on them. |
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Smallwheels
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Joined: 06 Sep 2008
Posts: 241
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for telling me where to look. I clicked on one of the partitions and it says Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled). All of the partitions say that. What does that mean?
The partitions are one for storage directly to the drive from the desktop via the Mac, Windows, or Linux. There is the Time Machine section, and then there is the Carbon Copy Clone section.
My goal is to be able to alter the files that are just regular storage using the Linux computer. Some came from the Mac and some came from XP via the Mac Drive 7 program. Right now it won't allow deletion or adding things into some folders. I don't expect the Time Machine backup or the Carbon Copy clone to be readable. It is that other section that I used to store files on that needs to be modifiable not just readable.
Smallwheels |
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