NTFS or FAT32?

[jwboothe03]

Hi,
I am a current PC user soon to switch to Mac. I have a backup HDD being delivered and am wondering how I should format (NTFS or FAT32) the HDD. I intend to backup all the stuff on my PC, then use the drive to transfer/backup a new iMac.

Great forum!
Thanks,
Chris

 

[bearbo]

Hi,
I am a current PC user soon to switch to Mac. I have a backup HDD being delivered and am wondering how I should format (NTFS or FAT32) the HDD. I intend to backup all the stuff on my PC, then use the drive to transfer/backup a new iMac.

Great forum!
Thanks,
Chris

if you want to use it in OS X, you have to have it formatted as FAT32... to be able to use it conveniently

 

[killmoms]

if you want to use it in OS X, you have to have it formatted as FAT32... to be able to read it conveniently

Wrong. You need it FAT32 to be able to WRITE to it. OS X can READ both NTFS and FAT32 just fine.

 

[bearbo]

Hi,
then use the drive to transfer/backup a new iMac.

if you want to use it in OS X, you have to have it formatted as FAT32...

Wrong. You need it FAT32 to be able to WRITE to it. OS X can READ both NTFS and FAT32 just fine.

he wants to use it to backup, and backup require write, so for his purpose, write is a requirement to use.

if you are picking on my "to read it conveniently".. well, picky.

 

[Stridder44]

So anyway, in summary (the short answer), FAT32 is what you want.

 

[NJuul]

One thing though, Windows will only allow you to create a FAT32 partition of 32 GB, so you will have to partition your drive if you want it to use FAT32.

 

[Sesshi]

If you have files bigger than 4Gb, then NTFS of course. If not, FAT32.

 

[jwboothe03]

thanks

Thank you all for the timely response!

 

[ChrisBrightwell]

So anyway, in summary (the short answer), FAT32 is what you want.

Assuming there are no files larger than 4GB.

 

[ChrisA]

Your best plan is to format the drive as NTFS, write your files to it. Then connect the drive to the Mac, read all the files and then use the Mac to reformat the drive to "HFS+ (journaled)"

This assumes you never want to use the drive on a PC again. If you need both a PC and a Mac to both be able to write to the drive then you are stuck using FAT. But FAT does not preserve file ownership and other file attributes. FAT can become corrupted if unplugged at the wrong time, is slow and needs periodic defraggging. It's only use if if you need to use the same drive with both PCs and Macs.

Macs can read NTFS but can't write to it. Macs can read and write FAT. The best file system for the Mac is "journaled HFS".

Blame Microsoft for all of this. They purposefully used some bogus patented technology inside NTFS just so no one else could write NTFS format.