NTFS for Mac and Windows: sharing external HDD between iMac and Windows Laptop.

[ram4apple]

Guys,

Perhaps this is my first disappointment with my iMac till date.

the NTFS formatted external Hard drive cannot be used to transfer huge files from the iMac (read only on iMac). after some reading found out about the NTFS and FAT systems, FAT would be of no use for me as i cannot transfer files more than 4 GB.

So is there any way to use the NTFS formatted Hard Drive on the iMac and Windows. (ie sharing the Drive between my Windows Laptop and the iMac )

I have a brand new 2TB WD Hard Drive which I am using to transfer some movies from the iMac.

any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Ram

 

[MacDawg]

I believe NTFS-3G allows the OS X to read/write NTFS drives

 

[GGJstudios]

To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X: Install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free)


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.
• 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

 

[Romf]

For large amount of data you will see a big difference if you upgrade. NTFS3G is free but is slow. Paragorn is much faster but is not free.

 

[mike457]

I use Paragon and it works very well.