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Data recovery: Mac or Windows?
- Thread starter MacGvr
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maybe... it depends on how the USB was formatted.
'Disks' can be formatted in several ways. The most common for Windows is NTFS. NTFS is a proprietary file system for Windows and cannot be read by Macs, Unix, Solaris, ect. Mac commonly use HFS+ which is incompatible with other operating systems as well.
There is a catch all. You may have formatted the USB as FAT32 ( I believe FAT32 was/is the default file system for many USB, although I have found many that are NTFS and thus need to be formatted to work on my Macs ). This can be read by most operating systems.
So, maybe is the answer. It depends on how you initially formatted the drive.
'Disks' can be formatted in several ways. The most common for Windows is NTFS. NTFS is a proprietary file system for Windows and cannot be read by Macs, Unix, Solaris, ect. Mac commonly use HFS+ which is incompatible with other operating systems as well.
There is a catch all. You may have formatted the USB as FAT32 ( I believe FAT32 was/is the default file system for many USB, although I have found many that are NTFS and thus need to be formatted to work on my Macs ). This can be read by most operating systems.
So, maybe is the answer. It depends on how you initially formatted the drive.
Okay, thanks. But doesn't Macs often read (but not write) NTFS? And if so, is reading enough to do file recovery?
I also am wondering if, let's say, Macs are better at recognizing and recovering files created on a Mac and vice versa. Or does that not matter?
I also am wondering if, let's say, Macs are better at recognizing and recovering files created on a Mac and vice versa. Or does that not matter?
Generally, if your were using the disk with Windows then use Windows to do the recovery. There are many tools to do so depending on your skill level. One of the easiest to use is https://www.piriform.com/recuva
If you invest in recovery software, be sure to get something that works on every common file system. Disk Drill is one I have run from Macs to recover several different camera SD cards and USB sticks, of both FAT and NTFS formats. Has worked very well, with good speed compared to others I have used.
Have not used it yet, but bumped into Mac Data Recovery Guru the other day, and it looks very promising. File system agnostic. Free demo to see what it can see.....
Have not used it yet, but bumped into Mac Data Recovery Guru the other day, and it looks very promising. File system agnostic. Free demo to see what it can see.....