Cross platform extern harddrive problem

[AndersJ]

I just bought a Lacie Rugged 500gb hdd.
I want to run time machine on it, but then it uses mac format, and i cant connect it to a windows computer.
If i use fat format, i can use it on both mac and windows, but i cant transfer files over 4gb?

What the hell do i do, if i want to use it across platforms for just storage?
Hope you can help me.

 

[old-wiz]

I would consider partitioning the drive into 2 parts, 1 for time machine and 1 for windows.

 

[AndersJ]

i tried that, but that didnt work

 

[RandomKamikaze]

Either install MacDrive for Windows or NTFS-3g on your Mac.

Or both. The latter is free

 

[davegregory]

Another option is a network drive. But since you just bought the LaCie, that isn't a cost effective option. Chris.L's is a cheaper choice.

Also, if you're using snow leopard there are drivers to read HFS+ file systems in Windows. So you could partition the drive in two, half NTFS (write in windows/read in os x) and half in HFS+ (write in os x, read in windows).

 

[TheRE]

I'm currently using an external for both Time Machine and general storage. I formatted one partition in FAT32 and the other in Journaled (I think that's what it's called? Whichever format's used for time machine, I don't remember what it's called -.-) Either way, it works fine. I plug it into my mac and it recognizes both Partitions, as it should. I plug it into my PC and it only recognizes the FAT32 partition, also as it should I believe. Works great