Help choosing format and partition type of external drive

[rbf1138]

I just ordered a 1 terabyte WD external drive, and I'm planning on creating one partition for music/movie storage, and a second smaller partition for a superduper clone. So my first question is, what format should each partition be in? I'd like the movies/music partition to be Windows compatible...will choosing FAT32 make any difference in my use of this partition when used with my OSX machine, and what benefits would I see by using Extended Journaled instead? Then, what format do I want the Superduper backup partition to be? Finally, when I initially format and partition the external drive, is there anything I should do to prepare it first, or just go right ahead, divide it in two (approx. 650gigs for music/movies, the rest for superduper) and then format each partition on its own into the formats they need to be in?

Thanks!

Also, do I use GUID partition format? As you can tell, I'm a bit confused about some of this.

 

[r.j.s]

You'll want the SuperDuper partition to be MacOS Extended (Journaled), HFS+, and the music/movies will depend.

Do you have any movies that are larger than 4GB?

 

[rbf1138]

You'll want the SuperDuper partition to be MacOS Extended (Journaled), HFS+, and the music/movies will depend.

Do you have any movies that are larger than 4GB?

I'd like the capability of moving files over 4 gigs...what are the cons to going with the file scheme that allows me to do that vs. not?

 

[r.j.s]

I'd like the capability of moving files over 4 gigs...what are the cons to going with the file scheme that allows me to do that vs. not?

Well. FAT32 cannot handle files over 4GB. Windows cannot read HFS+, and OS X needs NTFS-3G to write to NTFS.

I would not recommend using NTFS for your music and movies if you are using iTunes, since you have to rely on a third-party plugin to access them.

 

[rbf1138]

The movies/music portion will just be storage, I wont be using it as an itunes library. That said, if I go with HFS, then Windows can't read it...hm.

 

[r.j.s]

The movies/music portion will just be storage, I wont be using it as an itunes library. That said, if I go with HFS, then Windows can't read it...hm.

There is MacDrive ... but, it's not free.

If it will merely be storage, then NTFS with NTFS-3G on the Mac will be fine.

 

[rbf1138]

So, I specify that partition as NTFS, then install the NTFS-3G driver on my Mac, and I'll be able to then read/write to that partition, move files larger than 4gigs, and use it on Windows machines?

Maybe I misunderstood above, but if I were to double-click a movie or music file on the drive, it wont open in itunes/vlc/quicktime then? I'd have to move it onto the Mac first to run it at all?

 

[r.j.s]

So, I specify that partition as NTFS, then install the NTFS-3G driver on my Mac, and I'll be able to then read/write to that partition, move files larger than 4gigs, and use it on Windows machines?

In order to format it as NTFS from your Mac, you'll need to have NTFS-3G installed already.

http://macntfs-3g.blogspot.com/

Maybe I misunderstood above, but if I were to double-click a movie or music file on the drive, it wont open in itunes/vlc/quicktime then? I'd have to move it onto the Mac first to run it at all?

It will open fine.

My point was that I wouldn't trust a third-party plugin to constantly read/write files for something like iTunes.

 

[rbf1138]

Finally, which partition table types do I choose? Will it be GUID for both, or just for the NTFS-3G one? Apple Partition Scheme with HFS+ for SuperDuper portion?

Thanks for all the help thus far

 

[r.j.s]

Just use the default.