Questions regarding external disk

[ramzhh]

Greetings


I've recently bought a 1.5 TB My Book Essential external hard drive to back up some data and also to transfer in/out different devices at home.

So I have a few questions:

1.- As I expected, OS X told me that it couldn't write to the disk, since the format isn't compatible. This is no problem, as I will be dividing the disk into 2 partitions, and formatting each one, one for my Windows machine, in FAT32 or NTFS, and one for my Mac. Now here's the thing - What format do I choose for the Mac partition? I have several options and don't know which one to choose.

2.- I'm considering to use the drive as an "official" Time Machine drive, instead of just copying files onto it. Now here's the question - How do I make it so instead of it just making different versions of my backup, to it to replace the previous backup each time I do it, so I don't end up with the whole space filled up? I don't need different versions of my backup, I don't do that important work.


Your sincerely,


ramzhh.

 

[robbieduncan]

1) HFS+ Journalled

2) To the best of my knowledge you can't.

 

[miles01110]

2) Partition your drive and only give TM enough space to save one or two backups.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

1. "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)", though "Mac OS Extended" works too and is preferable with some external HDD use like video editing.
Maybe GGJstudios will post his file system FAQ, as I currently don't have access to my TE library.

2. You could also use CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to make a bootable backup, which will not accumulate past versions of your files.

 

[GGJstudios]

Maybe GGJstudios will post his file system FAQ, as I currently don't have access to my TE library.

Your wish is my commmand!

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

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Your wish is my commmand!

And yet you're still the bastard I don't know.
And a proper Cylon would drone "By your command."

 

[GGJstudios]

And yet you're still the bastard I don't know.

Isn't it good to know some things never change?

And a proper Cylon would drone "By your command."

I prefer to be an improper Cylon!

 

[ramzhh]

Your wish is my commmand!

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

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!