Filesystem types to fit needs

Discussion in 'MacBook Pro' started by malcolmTent, Jun 19, 2014.

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  1. malcolmTent, Jun 19, 2014

    malcolmTent macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2014
    #1
    Hi, I'm new to Macrumours and new-ish to Mac, I have a rMBP running latest OS X.

    I need some thoughts on choosing the right formats for a external portable drive so that the following requirements are met - so far it seems there are some options but not without small drawbacks:

    - Two partitions, one to backup via Time Machine (encrypted)
    - Second partition to backup data from desktop PC that can be read by both PC & MBP to be used for general file backup/portable use & PC backup
    - Second partition also needs to be encrypted
    - Also would need to have option for any random PC to read data though in the past I've had a small 50GB unencrypted partition and had the portable option of True Crypt at the ready.

    So far, the only option I can see that would fit all this is using True Crypt and installing (£) software on MBP that will allow reading of NTFS, or vice versa installing (£) software on PC that will read Mac filesystems.

    Thanks in advance.

    It would be nice if there was a native option here.
     
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  2. GGJstudios, Jun 19, 2014

    GGJstudios macrumors Westmere

    GGJstudios

    Joined:
    May 16, 2008
    #2
    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) 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 (approx $20) (Best Choice for Lion and later)
      • 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).
      • Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and Lion, 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.
     
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  3. malcolmTent, Jun 19, 2014

    malcolmTent thread starter macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2014
    #3
    Hmmm, ok, seems I was unaware of the oddity of True Crypt shutting up shop.

    The questions still stand but I think I might be getting closer as the drive I just bought comes with Paragon software so I think using NTFS side by side with the Time Machine could work.
     
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