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condenser

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 20, 2009
8
0
So I just made the switch from PC to Mac, bought an external hard drive and transferred the files from my PC to my external HD.

My problem is that I had to format my external HD as a PC to get the files off of that computer.

While using my Mac, I can access my files via the external HD, but I am not able to save anything TO the external HD without reformatting it to the Mac format.

So, I know that I need to reformat my external HD to the Mac format

My question is: How do I get my files from my PC to my external HD, reformat it to the Mac format without erasing everything?
 

danpass

macrumors 68030
Jun 27, 2009
2,689
475
Glory
transfer everything to the Mac, format HD, transfer back?

Though I'm guessing you want both OSs to read AND write to the one drive .....?
 

condenser

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 20, 2009
8
0
Once I get the files off of the PC, I only want to use my external HD for the Mac.

The issue is how to get the data to the HD, format it for the Mac and then use it for the Mac.
 

GGJstudios

macrumors Westmere
May 16, 2008
44,541
942
So I just made the switch from PC to Mac, bought an external hard drive and transferred the files from my PC to my external HD.

My problem is that I had to format my external HD as a PC to get the files off of that computer.

While using my Mac, I can access my files via the external HD, but I am not able to save anything TO the external HD without reformatting it to the Mac format.

So, I know that I need to reformat my external HD to the Mac format

My question is: How do I get my files from my PC to my external HD, reformat it to the Mac format without erasing everything?
You don't need to reformat the drive. You probably formatted it as NTFS.

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: Install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free)
  • Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx $36).
  • Some have had good results with Paragon (approx $20)
  • 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
 

DockMac

macrumors regular
Dec 22, 2008
184
1
Another Solution

Have you tried networking you two computers together and transferring files that way?

1) Connect new external HD to Mac and format to HFS+ or whatever Mac format you prefer.
2) Network the PC and the Mac together (preferably with a direct wired ethernet connection, computer to computer, but wireless or via a router should work. wireless might be a bit slower, depending your hardware.)
3) Access your PC from the Mac, not the other way around.
4) Transfer files from the PC to the new external HD connected to the Mac.
 

Sounds Good

macrumors 68000
Jul 8, 2007
1,692
57
Yikes, another thing to worry about if I switch! :eek:

Currently my wife and I share flash drive sticks between our PCs. Does this mean that if I get a Mac we will no long be able to share drives?

Also, what about the current/existing external hard drives that have all my backup data on them?

:confused:
 

GGJstudios

macrumors Westmere
May 16, 2008
44,541
942
I did (thanks) but your posts tend to confuse me rather than help me to understand the actual answer to my question. Just being honest, not looking for any trouble here.
If you notice, I even put the most pertinent information in bold text. If you install NTFS-3G as recommended, your Mac can read and write any drive you share between your Mac and your PC. What's hard to understand? I don't know how to make it any simpler.
 

DockMac

macrumors regular
Dec 22, 2008
184
1
I did (thanks) but your posts tend to confuse me rather than help me to understand the actual answer to my question. Just being honest, not looking for any trouble here.

I feel you Sounds Good. Just want things to "just work" without any tweaking or additional software. If you get a Mac, you won't be able to easily* share drives.
 

GGJstudios

macrumors Westmere
May 16, 2008
44,541
942
If you get a Mac, you won't be able to easily* share drives.
That's not true. Sharing drives between Macs and PCs is quite easy. A one-time install of software or the selection of a format that both can read/write to doesn't make it difficult at all.
 

DockMac

macrumors regular
Dec 22, 2008
184
1
That's not true. Sharing drives between Macs and PCs is quite easy. A one-time install of software or the selection of a format that both can read/write to doesn't make it difficult at all.

One persons ease is another persons discomfort. It'd be easy for me too. But for some folks, the extra step(s) don't appear too easy.

I think it would be apt to be empathetic to the different temperaments we have when it comes to using hardware and software.
 

Sounds Good

macrumors 68000
Jul 8, 2007
1,692
57
One persons ease is another persons discomfort. It'd be easy for me too. But for some folks, the extra step(s) don't appear too easy.

I think it would be apt to be empathetic to the different temperaments we have when it comes to using hardware and software.
Thanks, DockMac.

And GGJstudios, for the record, I know that you were trying to help, but I didn't quite get your answer. I asked "Currently my wife and I share flash drive sticks between our PCs. Does this mean that if I get a Mac we will no long be able to share drives? Also, what about the current/existing external hard drives that have all my backup data on them?" and you replied with "Read my earlier post." Well, your earlier post had all kinds of info in it, so it wasn't as helpful to my particular question.

The answer that would have helped ME is: "No, not by default. But if you install the software that I bolded in my reply above, then yes -- you'll be able to share drives back and forth without a problem." (or something along those lines)
 

condenser

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 20, 2009
8
0
You don't need to reformat the drive. You probably formatted it as NTFS.

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: Install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free)
  • Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx $36).
  • Some have had good results with Paragon (approx $20)
  • 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


Long story short, I was able to transfer the files.

But ever since I installed the NTFS, I have been unable to access my System Preferences, App Store, and have also been unable to set up my Time Machine.

The System Preferences and App Store icons on the dock are grayed out with a circle/line through it.

What can I do?
 

GGJstudios

macrumors Westmere
May 16, 2008
44,541
942
Long story short, I was able to transfer the files.

But ever since I installed the NTFS, I have been unable to access my System Preferences, App Store, and have also been unable to set up my Time Machine.

The System Preferences and App Store icons on the dock are grayed out with a circle/line through it.

What can I do?
Your external drive should have nothing whatsoever to do with your System Preferences or App Store. If you're trying to set up Time Machine, however, that requires a drive that is formatted HFS+. Time Machine won't work on a local external NTFS drive.
 

condenser

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 20, 2009
8
0
I repaired permissions and restarted my computer.

It still says "You can't open the application System PReferences because it may be damaged or incomplete."
 

session101

macrumors regular
Aug 25, 2011
206
0
Salt Lake City, UT
You don't need to reformat the drive. You probably formatted it as NTFS.

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: Install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free)
  • Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx $36).
  • Some have had good results with Paragon (approx $20)
  • 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

use FAT32.... NTFS didn't work for me when i had a file that was 6gig and tried to put it on a 16 gig flash drive...my mac wouldn't read it
 

Mutinygraphiks

macrumors regular
Jan 5, 2011
173
1
Las Vegas, NV
use FAT32.... NTFS didn't work for me when i had a file that was 6gig and tried to put it on a 16 gig flash drive...my mac wouldn't read it

agreed that fat32 is the best format for read/write for pc and mac i use it all the time to transfer movies between desktop and laptop during travel.

it cant damage or remove programs like 3g-NTFS for mac will.
 

GGJstudios

macrumors Westmere
May 16, 2008
44,541
942
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