External Hard Drive Formatting

[JGC1986]

I have an external hard drive that I need to be able to read AND write files from both my MacBook Pro and a Windows 7 machine.

What should I format this drive as, so that I can read and write on both systems?

----------

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1386199&highlight=external+hard+drive+windows+mac found my answer here!

 

[Major.Robto]

for mat as EXfat

Its cross compatible

I use it all the time and there is not size limit that is currently present in todays sizes of harddrives.


Just the only problem with exfat Time machine wont backup to it.

 

[Interstella5555]

for mat as EXfat

Its cross compatible

I use it all the time and there is not size limit that is currently present in todays sizes of harddrives.


Just the only problem with exfat Time machine wont backup to it.

Wait, really? That would be great, I have ~10 MKS that are over 5GB that I would really like to store on an external drive. Any idea if a PS3 can read that format?

 

[SlyMac]

You should be able to format the suggested exFat in disk utility i believe.

 

[Major.Robto]

The Ps3 seems like it can only read fat 16 and fat 32.

also there would be a 4gb file limit

Just stream your files over your network thats the best bet around this.

 

[Interstella5555]

The Ps3 seems like it can only read fat 16 and fat 32.

also there would be a 4gb file limit

Just stream your files over your network thats the best bet around this.

Ok, that's what I thought as well, it's largely a moot point anyway since I haven't been able to find a reliable and clean way to stream MKVs to my PS3, and hooking up my MBP to the TV is stupid easy anyway. Thanks though.

 

[BrianBaughn]

I would use the Windows computer to format as FAT32.

 

[GGJstudios]

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)
  • For 64-bit Snow Leopard, read this: MacFUSE for 64-bit Snow Leopard
  • 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.