Best way to backup 6GB file for Mac/Windows?

[2012Tony2012]

What's the best way to backup a 6GB file that can be read on both Mac and Windows?

[hallux]

Are both computers linked with a network?

If so, you could create a share on the Windows computer and copy to that share from the Mac.

[sk1wbw]

Dropbox or Skydrive?

[turtlez]

ExFat filesystem is supported by os x /win7 and later iirc

[dakwar]

Originally Posted by turtlez

ExFat filesystem is supported by os x /win7 and later iirc

And with the right updates (e.g http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl....aspx?id=19364) even Win XP/Vista will support ExFAT.

[2012Tony2012]

Originally Posted by hallux

Are both computers linked with a network?

If so, you could create a share on the Windows computer and copy to that share from the Mac.

Not linked.

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Originally Posted by sk1wbw

Dropbox or Skydrive?

Too big, 6GB, would take months to upload.

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Originally Posted by turtlez

ExFat filesystem is supported by os x /win7 and later iirc

Does ExFat support 6GB file?

[roblegs]

You can make a .dmg file on disc tools with the size of 6 GB and store your back-up files in it. I have done so with my most important files and saved them on a USB. You could save them on a DVD or whatever.

[2012Tony2012]

Originally Posted by roblegs

You can make a .dmg file on disc tools with the size of 6 GB and store your back-up files in it. I have done so with my most important files and saved them on a USB. You could save them on a DVD or whatever.

I need a backup of the 6GB zip file so that it can be accessed on a windows PC in case my Mac dies.

[maflynn]

Why not a usb thumb drive?

[Macman45]

Originally Posted by maflynn

Why not a usb thumb drive?

Best way as maflynn says use a USB stick. I frequently use high capacity sticks to transport large files when I just need to take the project and not a Mac.

[2012Tony2012]

Originally Posted by maflynn

Why not a usb thumb drive?

Cause Windows can't read ExFAT can it?

[MFL2012]

Format a USB drive as exFat. Readable and writable by both systems.The largest file I have put on a stick was around 15 GB, so your 6 would be no problem.

[2012Tony2012]

Originally Posted by MFL2012

Format a USB drive as exFat. Readable and writable by both systems.The largest file I have put on a stick was around 15 GB, so your 6 would be no problem.

I never knew ExFat was readable on MS Windows. Are you sure?

http://superuser.com/questions/30253...x-disk-utility

Do I need to go into Disk Utility and select Options and "Master Boot Record"?

[phoenixsan]

if I am wrong, but ALL the FAT versions of file systems can not support a file more than 4 point something GB? I was confronted with a problem like this, a time ago. My solution? Format an USB drive as NTFS (voiding the size limit of FAT) and downloading a utility to read the NTFS....outdated I know....but works for me in the far times of Tiger....(Mac OS X 10.4)...

[MFL2012]

Originally Posted by 2012Tony2012

I never knew ExFat was readable on MS Windows. Are you sure?

http://superuser.com/questions/30253...x-disk-utility

Do I need to go into Disk Utility and select Options and "Master Boot Record"?

Yes, I'm sure. I use one every day. As far as formatting using a Mac, I don't know. I formatted my USB drive on my Windows laptop as I am pretty new to Macs, and my new Mini reads and writes to it just fine.

[CylonGlitch]

Originally Posted by 2012Tony2012

I never knew ExFat was readable on MS Windows. Are you sure?

Yes ExFAT is supported by Windows, and with the updates as someone else mentioned, supported all the way back to XP.

ExFAT supports files up to 16EB! So you shouldn't have any problems what so ever.

[simsaladimbamba]

Originally Posted by phoenixsan

if I am wrong, but ALL the FAT versions of file systems can not support a file more than 4 point something GB? I was confronted with a problem like this, a time ago. My solution? Format an USB drive as NTFS (voiding the size limit of FAT) and downloading a utility to read the NTFS....outdated I know....but works for me in the far times of Tiger....(Mac OS X 10.4)...

FAT 16 and FAT 32 have a file size limit of 4 GB minus 1 Byte,
exFAT can have files of up to 16 ExaByte.

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Overview of the four major file systems (called "Formats" in Mac OS X) used on Windows and Mac OS X, compiled by GGJstudios. You can use Disk Utility to format any HDD to your liking.

Any external hard drive will work with PCs or Macs, as long as the connectors are there (Firewire, USB, etc.) It doesn't matter how the drive is formatted out of the box, since you can re-format any way you like. Formatting can be done with the Mac OS X Disk Utility, found in the /Applications/Utilities folder. Here are your formatting options:

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 (approx $20) (Best Choice for Lion)
  • For 32-bit Mac OS X, install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free) (does not work in 64-bit mode)
  • For 64-bit Snow Leopard, read this: MacFUSE for 64-bit Snow Leopard
  • Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx $36).
  • Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and Lion, 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.

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