Drive formats that the Mac Mini can read???

[scottw324]

I wanted to check on something now before it gets too late and I find out when the Mac Mini arrives. I just bought a 2.6 Ghz mini with 16GB of RAM and Fusion Drive. I am currently using a Lenovo laptop (Windows 7 Home) with a Intel Pentium Processor T3400 (1M Cache, 2.16 GHz, 667 MHz FSB) Socket P with 3 GB of RAM (Windows is a 32-bit version).

Anyway, I am currently using a 3TB Seagate external that is formatted as NTFS. Will my new Mini be able to read the data that is on there? Sorry for the noobish question. This mini is my first Mac computer (have always used Windows in the past) so there is going to be a lot of learning for me going on. All my other devices are idevices (ipads, iphones, ATV3).

Thank you very much for your time and help. I really appreciate your input.

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by scottw324

Anyway, I am currently using a 3TB Seagate external that is formatted as NTFS. Will my new Mini be able to read the data that is on there?

Yes, Mac OS X can read NTFS-formatted drives natively. They can't write to them natively, however. You need an app for that, such as Paragon. (see under NTFS below)

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.

[scottw324]

Ok that is going to take a little reading to get through that. Glad I asked now. I have this model http://www.seagate.com/external-hard...s/goflex-desk/

It says it is compatible with Mac but requires a reformat to HFS+, which I assumes that the data on the drive is erased during that process. So I would need to backup the movies and TV shows on there along with anything else, reformat the drive, connect it to my Mac then connect the backup as well and proceed to copy/transfer the files to the HFS+ drive. Then reformat the backup drive.

I guess I shouldn't have thought it would be super easy to transfer everything. I have 1.67 TB of movies and video on the drive.

Plus once I format the drive the windows laptops I have won't be able to read it right?

EDIT: Disregard, I see what you mean I think with the Paragon or Tuxera software, just use that and I should be able to keep the drive as is and still be able to read/write to it. This sounds like a much better idea since when I travel I will be bringing either my laptop or netbook both of which run Windows 7. Found both and will wait until the mini arrives to download and install the trail software and see which one works better.

[Billit]

Somehow, someway, I am able to read/write to a shared NTFS drive on a Windows 7, 64 bit computer from my new mini without installing any software or by "enabling NTFS support" within OS X (unless it's on by default). According to what GGJstudios posted, it should be read only.

Can anyone explain why this is?

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by Billit

Somehow, someway, I am able to read/write to a shared NTFS drive on a Windows 7, 64 bit computer from my new mini without installing any software or by "enabling NTFS support" within OS X (unless it's on by default). According to what GGJstudios posted, it should be read only.

Can anyone explain why this is?

If the drive is shared across a network, you don't need to worry about the format, since the computer sharing the drive can read/write to the shared drive. The format restrictions apply only if the drive is directly connected.

[Billit]

Thanks for the reply. The read/writes are across the network.

[scottw324]

Good info. Thanks for sharing. I went ahead and started using the Tuxera free trial for the last few days and it seems to work just fine. So far I haven't noticed any issues with being able to access and write to my NTFS 3TB ext HDD.

Is there any reason to try Paragon at this point? I mean is there a write speed difference between the two?

My 3TB is USB 3.0 hooked up to the 3.0 ports in the back of the mini.

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by scottw324

Is there any reason to try Paragon at this point? I mean is there a write speed difference between the two?

If Tuxera is working for you, there's no need to switch. Some have reported problems with it, so I recommend Paragon as first choice. There is little or no performance difference between them.

[scottw324]

Any ideas on what type of problems people saw with tuxera.

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by scottw324

Any ideas on what type of problems people saw with tuxera.

If you search the forum, you'll find threads on it.

[scottw324]

K thx

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by scottw324

K thx

Here's a sampling:
Tuxera NTFS drivers causing loginwindow to crash
Mac Newbie help me get rid of annoying NTFS 3G messages
NTFS Formated HDD won't free up Storage when items get deleted!
Tuxera NTFS Error