2 partitions on external drive, for windows and osx ?

[XPcentric]

Is it possible to use an external hard drive (WD Passport) for both osx and windows ?

I read WD Passport has some sort of software built in, and the partition for mac and windows differs.

Regards!

 

[andrewsd]

I think it should work. I don't have that particular external drive but at one point mine was partitioned for both.. I would also try a quick google search. Hope some one can help you a lot more then I. Maybe even call there customer service. The manual may say but I doubt it.

 

[GGJstudios]

Is it possible to use an external hard drive (WD Passport) for both osx and windows ?

I read WD Passport has some sort of software built in, and the partition for mac and windows differs.

Regards!

Yes, you can partition for OS X and Windows, or just use a file format that both can use. You don't ever have to use any software that comes pre-installed on any HD. You can always partition and/or format any drive however you choose.

 

[dime21]

Why bother with partitions? Just use FAT32 or ExFAT and then both can read/write to it.

 

[GGJstudios]

Why bother with partitions? Just use FAT32 or ExFAT and then both can read/write to it.

exFAT has limitations and will only work with Mac OS X 10.6.5 or later and only with certain versions of Windows.

NTFS is a better choice for compatibility between Mac and Windows.

FAT32 (File Allocation Table)

• Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
• Maximum file size: 4GB.
• Maximum volume size: 2TB

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 33USD).
• Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard, but is not advisable, due to instability.
• Maximum file size: 16 TB
• Maximum volume size: 256TB

HFS+ (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended)

• Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X
• Required for Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner backups of Mac internal hard drive.
• 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

exFAT (FAT64)

• Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
• exFAT partitions created with OS X 10.6.5 are inaccessible from Windows 7
• Not all Windows versions support exFAT. See disadvantages.
• exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
• Maximum file size: 16 EiB
• Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB

 

[wirelessmacuser]

exFAT has limitations and will only work with Mac OS X 10.6.5 or later and only with certain versions of Windows.

NTFS is a better choice

I concur.

Kudos for you're excellent post. I'm sure this will be very helpful to many.

Cheers...