Max allowed size for ExtFat

[Giuanniello]

I was wondering, if I get a big pen drive, say 64/128GB as to both serve as a backup for an old MBAir with a mere 128GB SSD and/or storage to be shared between MacOS and Windows, can I create a single partition or better to make two formatted to be compatible with both OSs (if that's feasible)?

Grazie

 

[DeltaMac]

You will not likely see the largest partition size on an ExFat formatted volume. It is several PBtye, many times larger than the largest available storage that you could afford.

 

[Giuanniello]

What would the solution be? Which is max allowed size for ExtFAT or which other way to share the same drive on both PC and Mac?

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

What would the solution be? Which is max allowed size for ExtFAT or which other way to share the same drive on both PC and Mac?

As @DeltaMac already mentioned: the max. file- and disk size for ExFat is very large, so you don't have to worry about that. (ExFat Wiki).

Since Mac and Windows can both read and write exFat the easiest solution for you is to format the entire external drive in one big exFat partition. You can then backup files from both Mac and Windows to that same partition.

For ease of use you could make 2 separate folders on the exFat Drive one called 'Macbackups' and the other 'Winbackups', but that is entirely your choice and simply what you think is the easiest to use.

 

[Giuanniello]

Ohhh, I see, haven't got it right as English not my mother tongue! A single partition with two folders would do it, one to backup MacOS and the other to move stuff between Mac and PC (the recipient of my old Air, if I handle to put the E keycap back and successfully change the battery which I just ordered, has no computer but uses the sister's to upload music to an old iPod shuffle and other stuff so the PC folder would only serve as a temporary storage).

Grazie mille

 

[velocityg4]

Ohhh, I see, haven't got it right as English not my mother tongue! A single partition with two folders would do it, one to backup MacOS and the other to move stuff between Mac and PC (the recipient of my old Air, if I handle to put the E keycap back and successfully change the battery which I just ordered, has no computer but uses the sister's to upload music to an old iPod shuffle and other stuff so the PC folder would only serve as a temporary storage).

Grazie mille

What computer will be backed up? Is it a Mac or a Windows PC?

Are you transferring files from a Mac to a PC or a PC to a Mac?

Is this a one time file transfer? If so, will the transfer be done right away?

 

[Giuanniello]

Backup from a Mac, transfer from PC to Mac, maybe more than one time transfer, exchanging data from one to another whichever way

 

[velocityg4]

Backup from a Mac, transfer from PC to Mac, maybe more than one time transfer, exchanging data from one to another whichever way

Setup two partitions. The partition for the Mac backup should be HFS+ (Mac OS Extended Journaled) or APFS (SSD only) and at least double your Mac’s storage space. The second should be ExFAT. To transfer files between your PC and Mac.

 

[Giuanniello]

I was actually thinking that rather than a 64 or 128GB (the old MBAir only has 128GB storage) for 20-30euros i might as well get an external 500GB SSD for twice as much and partition as:

- 130GB (more or less) for a dedicated TimeMachine backup HFS+ as suggested (or better APFS?)
- 70GB ExtFAT for PC to Mac
- remaining space for storage (movies, music, photo...)

I see a Samsung USB 3.1 500GB external SSD for 60 euros which might suit very well the purpose

Grazie

 

[velocityg4]

I was actually thinking that rather than a 64 or 128GB (the old MBAir only has 128GB storage) for 20-30euros i might as well get an external 500GB SSD for twice as much and partition as:

- 130GB (more or less) for a dedicated TimeMachine backup HFS+ as suggested (or better APFS?)
- 70GB ExtFAT for PC to Mac
- remaining space for storage (movies, music, photo...)

I see a Samsung USB 3.1 500GB external SSD for 60 euros which might suit very well the purpose

Grazie

A temporary transfer partition on a backup drive is fine. A permanent data partition is not. Because that data will not be backed up. You’ll want a separate drive for your file storage. So your files may get backed up.