moving files between OSX and windows in bootcamp

mhml92 said:

Hi i'm about to buy my first mac but unfortunately i need to use windows from time to time. So I am currently trying to figure out whether to go with virtulization or bootcamp.

So here is my question: Can OS X see the windows partition and if so can you move files without any problems?

Click to expand...

Yes, I can see the Windows partition on my OS X desktop. I can drag and drop some files, such as jpegs, gifs and the like and use them in my OS X apps. For any Windows-specific files, you can't. I like Boot Camp and use it quite a bit. HTH.

mhml92 said:

Hi i'm about to buy my first mac but unfortunately i need to use windows from time to time. So I am currently trying to figure out whether to go with virtulization or bootcamp.

So here is my question: Can OS X see the windows partition and if so can you move files without any problems?

Click to expand...

Yes, but Windows can not see your OS X partition.

mhml92 said:

Okay (???) but is there some sort of clever apple application that allows you to do this then? or do I have to use a usb drive

Click to expand...

Nothing by Apple, but MacDrive will do what you need.

I use bootcamp quite a bit; I have windows installed on a FAT32-formatted partition, and you can read/write all these files on OSX

On my desktop in OSX I have a few folders, that act as shortcuts directly to certain files on my WIN-partition. Like photos, documents, music etc. Thus; these files are easy accessible from either platform.

This works fine for me, dont have the need for any special apps. (as long as you keep your WIN-partition FAT32, and not NTFS.)

ZballZ said:

I use bootcamp quite a bit; I have windows installed on a FAT32-formatted partition, and you can read/write all these files on OSX

On my desktop in OSX I have a few folders, that act as shortcuts directly to certain files on my WIN-partition. Like photos, documents, music etc. Thus; these files are easy accessible from either platform.

This works fine for me, dont have the need for any special apps. (as long as you keep your WIN-partition FAT32, and not NTFS.)

Click to expand...

Yes but your stuck with a old file system and a 4GB file size limit

I don't transfer much but when I do, I just open the Windows folder on the Mac desktop and then go to:
Documents and Settings>AllUsers>Desktop
and drop files there, then when I boot into Windoze they are on the desktop. Same in reverse, just drop it on the desktop on PC side and I know where to find it.

Probably not the best way, but it works for me , and I don't need to use the PC much anyway.

4GB limit solved

When installing windows (i used windows xp pro sp2) you can actually format the Bootcamp drive to NTFS before proceding to the installation. Then just need to install NTFS app in your Mac OS X to read the windows files straight from Mac OS.

Here is the link to download NTFS 3G for mac, it's a freeware!
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/ntfs3g.html

Hope this helps

Macbook 13"3' 2.4Ghz, Snow Leopard

breakthesystem said:

When installing windows (i used windows xp pro sp2) you can actually format the Bootcamp drive to NTFS before proceding to the installation. Then just need to install NTFS app in your Mac OS X to read the windows files straight from Mac OS.

Here is the link to download NTFS 3G for mac, it's a freeware!
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/ntfs3g.html

Hope this helps

Macbook 13"3' 2.4Ghz, Snow Leopard

Click to expand...

I don't know if you realised it yet, but the thread is two and a half years old.

And Mac OS X is capable of reading NTFS volumes just fine. NTFS-3G is meant for adding NTFS write capabilities to Mac OS X.

GGJstudios said:

FAT32

• Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
• No individual file larger than 4GB.

NTFS

• Read/Write NTFS from native Windows.
• Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X
• To Read/Write NTFS from Leopard: Install MacFUSEand NTFS-3G. You can install both with NTFS-3Gfor Mac OS X.
• To Read/Write NTFS from Snow Leopard: Guide: Enable native NTFS Read/Write in Snow Leopard
• (Be aware that some are of the opinion that enabling native NTFS in SL is unstable/unreliable, and favor the MacFuse/NTFS-3G method for Snow Leopard)

HFS

• Read/Write HFS from native Mac OS X
• To Read/Write HFS from Windows, Install MacDrive
• To Read HFS (but not Write) from Windows, Install HFSExplorer

Click to expand...

So I'm trying to figure out how to best set up my new MBP to read and write files when in SL and Boot Camp Win7.

Sounds like this NTFS-3G will allow me to read and write a NFTS partition while in SL. But what about when in Win7 and I want to read and write to the SL partition...can I do that automatically? Or do I need a special program to run while in Win7?

Or, should I make a 3rd partition on my MBP hard drive where I would then store all my files and then access that "files" partition from either OS? Thanks!