Using an external hard drive on mac WITHOUT formatting

[MathiasLa]

Is this possible? To use my old external hard drive without formatting it, on my new mac? I once heard there was an app for this. Some one knows?

Thanks

 

[Detrius]

It has to be formatted. A blank hard drive is completely useless.

Or are you asking if you can use it without *re*formatting? That depends on the format. You might need a third-party driver for certain file systems.

 

[Vudoo]

If it's NTFS, then you have to format it if you want to write to it natively. If it's FAT, then you're okay. If it's Journaled, no issue as well.

 

[MathiasLa]

It has to be formatted. A blank hard drive is completely useless.

Or are you asking if you can use it without *re*formatting? That depends on the format. You might need a third-party driver for certain file systems.

I just dont wanna delete everything I have on my harddrive from my windows. I saw someone with an app that made him able to read and write from the same EHDD that he used on his windows.

If it's NTFS, then you have to format it if you want to write to it natively. If it's FAT, then you're okay. If it's Journaled, no issue as well.

How do I check that?

Never mind, I found out. Its NFTS.

What im looking for as an app so that I can write and read ON my nfts harddrive. Im SURE there is an app out there.

 

[Rhyalus]

I use Paragon NTFS - works great.

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/

I tried some free applications, and I could not get them to work. The cost for Paragon was $19.99. Try it out for free to see if it meets your needs.

Regards,
R

 

[GGJstudios]

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, here are some alternatives:
  • For Mac OS X 10.4 or later (32 or 64-bit), install Paragon (approx $20) (Best Choice for Lion)
  • For 32-bit Mac OS X, install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free) (does not work in 64-bit mode)
  • For 64-bit Snow Leopard, read this: MacFUSE for 64-bit Snow Leopard
  • Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx $36).
  • Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and Lion, 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