.ink files on my HD

[miamijim]

I have just switched from using a Win XP machine and have hooked up my EXT HD to my Mac Mini, the EXT HD files all read as .ink files and I can not open them on my Mac.

Does anyone know a a way to alter the files into a readable format.

I was thinking I may have to transfer the files back from the EXT HD to my Win Laptop... then reformat the EXT HD for running on Mac & Win, then re filling the drive from the laptop and transferring files to the Mac.

Is there an easy way todo this or am I missing a vital piece of info.

Iphoto will not recognize any of the picture files.....

 

[simsaladimbamba]

.lnk files are normally shortcut files, are you sure you copied the real files in the first place and did not just link to them?

I guess the .lnk files are all 4KB or some similar small size, meaning no real content is inside them.

To learn more about file systems:

FAT32 (File Allocation Table)

• Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
• Maximum file size: 4GB.
• Maximum volume size: 2TB

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: Install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free)
• Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx 33USD).
• Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard, 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

HFS+ (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended)

• Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X
• Required for Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner backups of Mac internal hard drive.
• 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

exFAT (FAT64)

• Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
• exFAT partitions created with OS X 10.6.5 are inaccessible from Windows 7
• 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

To learn more about Mac OS X:

Helpful Information for Any Mac User by GGJstudios​

 

[miamijim]

Thanks for all the info on file systems...

I plugged it back into the laptop and it could read the files... but again not on the mac.

I have most of the info backed up on CDR so will import all the files and pics to the mac that way.

I will reformat the EXT HD using Disk Utility on the mac to Fat32.

 

[Guiyon]

Thanks for all the info on file systems...

I plugged it back into the laptop and it could read the files... but again not on the mac.

I have most of the info backed up on CDR so will import all the files and pics to the mac that way.

I will reformat the EXT HD using Disk Utility on the mac to Fat32.

It sounds like you created link to the files, not actually copied them. This would also explain why it worked on the PC they were created on (the links pointed to the correct locations) and why the Mac couldn't read them (Mac OS X does not support 'lnk' files). Before you reformat I would strongly suggest going through your CD backups and make sure you didn't do the same thing.

 

[miamijim]

Thanks for the advice,

I have managed to upload all the pics via CDR. I will look back at the laptop later to see if I moved the files by accident and only left the links on the EXT HD.

I think however all the CDR back ups are intact and I can safely reformat the EXT HD to run on the Mac.