NTFS 3G / Paragon safe for NTFS storage?

[Pngwyn]

I just received my 3TB external hard drive for my iMac running Mountain Lion. I'm considering partitioning the drive into a HFS+ and a NTFS, but I'd rather have it all on one partition so I could access the same files on both OSX and Windows via Bootcamp.

I found there are a few programs like Tuxera, Paragon, and NTFS3G that will help allow OSX to read/write to NTFS drives, but how reliable are they? Can I expect my data to be 100% safe? Is it any more likely to cause issues than using a separate partitioned drive?

Any input is appreciated thanks!

[nightmars]

I used NTFS3G from 2008 to 2010 and have been using Tuxera since I got my MB Air in 2010. I have never had any problems with both. Can't comment on Paragon though,

Cheers

[designs216]

I've used Paragon NTFS for a few years now and never had a problem. It allows me to write to Windows drives on the network, which is everyone else.

[blueroom]

Or format it to exFAT.

[MisterMe]

Originally Posted by designs216

... It allows me to write to Windows drives on the network, which is everyone else.

No. An NTFS driver such as Paragon NTFS or NTFS-3G allows a Mac to write to directly-attached NTFS volumes. For network volumes, a client-side NTFS driver is not necessary. The Windows networking protocol is built-in to OS X. The server handles file system issues, not the client.

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by Pngwyn

I found there are a few programs like Tuxera, Paragon, and NTFS3G that will help allow OSX to read/write to NTFS drives, but how reliable are they?

Some have reported problems with Tuxera. Paragon is the only one I'd recommend.

Format A Hard Drive Using Disk Utility (which is in your /Applications/Utilities folder)

Choose the appropriate format:

HFS+ (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Don't use case-sensitive)

• Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X
• Required for Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper! backups of Mac OS X system files.
  
• To Read/Write HFS+ from Windows, Install MacDrive
  
• To Read HFS+ (but not Write) from Windows, Install HFSExplorer
• Maximum file size: 8EiB
• Maximum volume size: 8EiB
• Mac OS X: Mac OS Extended format (HFS Plus) volume and file limits
• You can use this format if you only use the drive with Mac OS X, or use it for backups of your Mac OS X internal drive, or if you only share it with one Windows PC (with MacDrive installed on the PC)

NTFS (Windows NT File System)

• Read/Write NTFS from native Windows.
• Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X
  
• To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X, here are some alternatives:
  • For Mac OS X 10.4 or later (32 or 64-bit), install Paragon ($19.95) (Best Choice for Lion and Mountain Lion)
  • For Mac OS X 10.5 and later, including Lion, FUSE for OS X
  • For 32-bit Mac OS X, install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free) (does not work in 64-bit mode)
  • Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx $36), which is an enhanced version of NTFS-3G with faster performance.
  • Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and later versions, but is not advisable, due to instability.
• AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS
• Maximum file size: 16 TB
• Maximum volume size: 256TB
• You can use this format if you routinely share a drive with multiple Windows systems.

exFAT (FAT64)

• Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
• Not all Windows versions support exFAT. See disadvantages.
• exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
• AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support exFAT
• Maximum file size: 16 EiB
• Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB
• You can use this format if it is supported by all computers with which you intend to share the drive. See "disadvantages" for details.

FAT32 (File Allocation Table)

• Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
  
• Maximum file size: 4GB.
• Maximum volume size: 2TB
• You can use this format if you share the drive between Mac OS X and Windows computers and have no files larger than 4GB.

[jpxdude]

Tuxera works on ML, but annoyingly when active, the Bootcamp option disappears from the Startup in Sys Prefs. Can still boot into Windows fine holding the option key though.