FreeAgent Go HD: bought PC version inadvertently instead of Mac, can I still use it?

[diehldun]

I just came back from Costco and picked up a FreeAgent Go 250GB portable hard drive to back up my MBP for the first time. I just noticed, however, that the box doesn't mention anything about Mac OS X compatibility; just Windows XP/Vista. And a closer look at Seagate's website reveals that they sell two versions of the FreeAgent Go: a Mac and a PC version.

As Costco is quite a drive away, am I better off opening it up and giving it a try (do you think it'll be compatible with Time Machine?) or just return it for a different hard drive? I really should've paid closer attention to the compatibility labeling (or lack thereof)... I suspect it should be okay, but better safe than sorry I guess. Thanks.

 

[aaquib]

Yeah, you should be able to. My guess is that the only difference between the Windows and Mac versions are that 1 is FAT32 formatted, while the Mac version is Mac OS Journaled. Either ways, in Disk Utility, you can convert the drive.

 

[davidwarren]

yes. And use disk utility, not the software that came with the drive.

 

[Cliff3]

The difference appears to be the PC version comes with syncing software, is USB only, and is formatted with NTFS, while the Mac version has FW800/400 in addition to USB, comes with no software, and is formatted as HFS+. If you can mount and see the drive with disk utility, then just reformat the drive as HFS+ and you should be good to go.

 

[diehldun]

The difference appears to be the PC version comes with syncing software, is USB only, and is formatted with NTFS, while the Mac version has FW800/400 in addition to USB, comes with no software, and is formatted as HFS+. If you can mount and see the drive with disk utility, then just reformat the drive as HFS+ and you should be good to go.

Thanks for all the replies! After opening up Disk Utility, how do you "reformat" the drive to HFS+ from NTFS? Should I reformat before I backup my stuff? And is this necessary? Thanks again.

 

[Cliff3]

Thanks for all the replies! After opening up Disk Utility, how do you "reformat" the drive to HFS+ from NTFS? Should I reformat before I backup my stuff? And is this necessary? Thanks again.

1. Select the drive
2. Click on the Erase pane
3. Specify the format - as indicated in the screen cap
4. Give the drive a name
5. Click erase

 

[skorpien]

And it most certainly is necessary. Mac OS X can't even write to NTFS formatted disks without third party software. And for Time Machine to work, it needs to be HFS+.

 

[hydrokayak]

I just purchased this drive from Amazon, and noticed after buying that it was listed as XP/Vista only. A few of the reviews said that they were unable to get them to work, especially with the dock, so I panicked a little.

Fortunately you guys confirmed my thoughts that the individual was incorrect. I think I should have gotten the FW800 version, but this will be fine for my current needs.