External hard drive - Windows/Mac formatting

Discussion in 'Mac Basics and Help' started by cerysmt, Apr 22, 2015.

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  1. cerysmt, Apr 22, 2015

    cerysmt macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2009
    #1
    Hi,

    I've been asked by a colleague to transfer some video content that I have on my Macbook to her external hard drive. I reformatted it into Mac read/write, but now it isn't recognised by a Windows laptop, which she has.

    Is there a way around this, perhaps a way to transfer the files while it stays in FAT32 format?

    My hard drive, a USB powered Toshiba one, is recognised by my Samsung television, but this doesn't seem to pick it up. It's a Toshiba usb plus power cord external drive, does that make a difference?

    Many thanks
     
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  2. cycledance, Apr 22, 2015

    cycledance Suspended

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2010
    #2
    use exfat.
     
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  3. cerysmt, Apr 22, 2015

    cerysmt thread starter macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2009
    #3
    Thanks very much, will try that this evening. :)
     
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  4. corvustheraven, Apr 22, 2015

    corvustheraven macrumors newbie

    corvustheraven

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    Location:
    Maryland, USA
    #4
    FAT formats can be read/write for both Mac and PC systems, but there is generally a size limit for files. If you want to move large files (I think bigger than 2GB or 4GB), then you'd probably want NTFS. To read and write NTFS on Mac, go grab OSXfuse or NTFSfuse from Google Code and install it. That will allow Mac to work with other file system formats.
     
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  5. Kissmyne, Apr 22, 2015

    Kissmyne macrumors 6502

    Kissmyne

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2015
    #5
    The 4GB file limitation is specific to FAT32, and is not present in ExFAT. ExFAT will be perfect for what the OP is trying to accomplish without the need for additional software on either platform he is using it on.
     
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