My External HD's & Flash Drives Don't Work on PCs!

[HappyDude20]

I can only guess that both my external HD's and Flash Drives are formatted differently, cause all of them (when connected) work flawlessly on my sisters MacBook Pro and my buddies MacBook Air...

However, when I attempted to connect either of these devices to my dad's Windows 7 laptop, or any Windows laptop...they aren't recognized..

I'm guessing my external HD's and Flash Drives are only formatted for Mac only....of which I always use Disk Utility.

It seems all of my External HD's and Flash Drives are formatted under as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)"

....I'm simply wondering how I should format them in order for them to show up both when connected to a Mac and a PC.

 

[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
• Maximum files per volume: 4,194,304

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
• Maximum files per volume: 4,294,967,295

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
• Maximum files per volume: 4,294,967,295

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.
• Does not support journaling
• 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
• Maximum files per volume: nearly unlimited

 

[HappyDude20]

FAT32 (File Allocation Table)

• Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
• Maximum file size: 4GB.
• Maximum volume size: 2TB
• Maximum files per volume: 4,194,304

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
• Maximum files per volume: 4,294,967,295

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
• Maximum files per volume: 4,294,967,295

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.
• Does not support journaling
• 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
• Maximum files per volume: nearly unlimited

So...

None of the ones under Disk Utility will work?

Perhaps MS-DOS (FAT)?

 

[GGJstudios]

So...

None of the ones under Disk Utility will work?

Perhaps MS-DOS (FAT)?

Did you read the section on NTFS? Also, if you read the section on HFS+, you'll see how it can be used by Windows.

 

[HappyDude20]

Did you read the section on NTFS? Also, if you read the section on HFS+, you'll see how it can be used by Windows.

Ah, I see. It looked like jargon at first... I guess i'll have my dad download the free programs provided.

Thank you so much. You've been a huge help.

 

[kuwisdelu]

If you want to both read and write from both OS X and Windows...

If they're Windows 7, go with exFAT.

If they're older, go with FAT32 (the MS-DOS one).

 

[GGJstudios]

If you want to both read and write from both OS X and Windows...

If they're Windows 7, go with exFAT.

If they're older, go with FAT32 (the MS-DOS one).

FAT32 has file size limitations. exFAT isn't as universally compatible, in case you want to use a drive with multiple computers. exFAT also doesn't support journaling, which can lead to corrupted drives. Read this. exFAT isn't a bad choice, but don't rule out NTFS. NTFS works fine with Mac and Windows.