Using an External HArd Drive with a PC & Mac...

If you format it as FAT32, you can read/write to it both in Windows and Mac OS X.

 

OS X recognizes FAT32 and previous and can read and write to it.
In 10.3.5 you have hit and miss abilities to write to NTFS disks. But FAT32 is the best for Mac/PC file transfer.

 

One caveat - Windows' built in disk formatting tools only let you format up to a 32 GB partition in FAT32. It's not a limit of the file system, it's just something Microsoft does to coax people into using NTFS. So you'll have to pick up a third-party disk formatting utility in order to format the full drive in FAT32 using Windows.

 

Well, I believe you can just hook the hard drive up to a Mac and use OS X's built in Disk Utility to format it in FAT32. Unfortunately, if you don't know someone with a Mac and don't have one yourself, that isn't an option. Outside of that, I have heard of a program called Partition Magic that should be able to do all sorts of stuff. I'm not sure how much it costs.

Try asking at a hardcore PC forum like AnandTech or Ars Technica for more software suggestions. I am not super knowledgable of Windows software so I'm not sure what your best option would be. There are people there who definitely know what they're doing and will certainly be able to help you.

 

Right you are. Maybe one of the MR "family" members would be happy to meet at a cafe with the iB or PB and do the formatting. If they are in the DC/NOVA area, I would be glad to help. Or maybe the Apple Store or local reseller might help out.

 

Just walk on into an Apple Store and use a computer... if they ask you what you are doing, tell them that you are switching to a Mac and need a Mac to format the disk. The Genius Bar people are usually very nice and helpful. If they know what you are trying to do, I bet they will help.

 

That is why I suggested the Apple Store. They are generally helpful as long as you can show them that you are not looking to to rip off software.