MS-DOS (FAT) Formatted HDD - Getting it to work 100% in OSX

[harryhood]

I have a hard drive that a re-formatted from its stock setting, MAC-OS Extended (journaled), to MS-DOS (FAT) so I could use it with something that needed this format to be readable.

Now since re-formatting it to MS-DOS (FAT) it works with most files but some files don't work. I then re-re-formatted it back to its original MAC-OS Extended (journaled) settings and all the files that wouldn't work now work. So the files are of course fine, but I can't get them to work when its formatted to MS-DOS (FAT).

Is there any program or interface that will allow this to work better?

I only have access to a Mac and am not going to install Windows or Parallels or anything like that.

Help is much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Intell]

How big are the files to won't work on the FAT32 drive and what are they called?

 

[GGJstudios]

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

 

[r0k]

OS X tends to be rather rude when writing to DOS formatted disks. For instance, it leaves a lot of bogus files lying around like .ds_store, and ._ files like ._somesong.mp3 which tends to confuse mp3 players because the . files are nothing but preference files that are not needed in other OS.

 

[GGJstudios]

OS X tends to be rather rude when writing to DOS formatted disks. For instance, it leaves a lot of bogus files lying around like .ds_store, and ._ files like ._somesong.mp3 which tends to confuse mp3 players because the . files are nothing but preference files that are not needed in other OS.

It's no different than Windows creating thumbs.db and folder.jpg files that mean nothing to Mac OS X.

 

[aldo818]

For an macbook air with 256 GB drive and about 20 GB used how much space should i calculate for time machine to backup.

When i make an Hfs+ and a fat32 partition with disk utilities does hfs+ need to be the first one in order that time machine runs?

 

[harryhood]

How big are the files to won't work on the FAT32 drive and what are they called?

FAT32 (File Allocation Table)

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

God damn it. The files that won't transfer over are each bigger then 4GB. So what the hell can you do to get around this? I am trying to copy media files (movies, music etc) onto this hard drive to use on the new Oppo BDP-93. In the manual it says it only supports/reads FAT32 HDD's so what are my options?

 

[GGJstudios]

God damn it. The files that won't transfer over are each bigger then 4GB. So what the hell can you do to get around this? I am trying to copy media files (movies, music etc) onto this hard drive to use on the new Oppo BDP-93. In the manual it says it only supports/reads FAT32 HDD's so what are my options?

According to page 42 of the OPPO BDP-93 Blu-ray Disc Player User Manual (PDF Format):

Supported USB drives can be formatted with the FAT (File Allocation Table), FAT32 or NTFS (New Technology File System) file system.

Install NTFS-3G on your Mac (link in my earlier post), format the drive to NTFS, and you're set.

 

[Fishrrman]

"I only have access to a Mac and am not going to install Windows or Parallels or anything like that."

If you are "only have access to a Mac", then there is only ONE file system that you should be considering, and that is a Mac OS-based filing system.

Anything else is playing with fire.

Why would you even consider using anything else?

 

[GGJstudios]

"I only have access to a Mac and am not going to install Windows or Parallels or anything like that."

If you are "only have access to a Mac", then there is only ONE file system that you should be considering, and that is a Mac OS-based filing system.

Anything else is playing with fire.

Why would you even consider using anything else?

Did you read the thread?

I am trying to copy media files (movies, music etc) onto this hard drive to use on the new Oppo BDP-93. In the manual it says it only supports/reads FAT32 HDD's so what are my options?

Supported USB drives can be formatted with the FAT (File Allocation Table), FAT32 or NTFS (New Technology File System) file system.

 

[harryhood]

According to page 42 of the OPPO BDP-93 Blu-ray Disc Player User Manual (PDF Format):

Install NTFS-3G on your Mac (link in my earlier post), format the drive to NTFS, and you're set.

Nice! Thanks a bunch man, obviously I chose to have selective reading in that manual :/

Thanks for the help guys