Using my E-HD for Mac and PC

[wfoster]

Well, I use a Mac for personal use and have around 30 other Windows PC's in the house and my school uses Windows.

I do all my homework on my Mac with Word and needed an external hard-drive for school so I bought one. I needed to print some work in school from my external hard-drive and the work was done from my Mac. The hard-drive wouldn't show up in MY COMPUTER on the Windows PC.

Do any of you understand what I just said?

Will an external hard-drive only work on one OS?

 

[r.j.s]

What format is the HD?

Only Fat32 can be read and written by both OSs.

 

[wfoster]

How do I find out the format?

 

[r.j.s]

Disk Utility, select the Volume, then look at the bottom of the window.

 

[wfoster]

I just Get Info'd the HD and found out that it says 'Mac OS Extended' right next to the format column.

Does this mean I'm stuffed?

 

[r.j.s]

You can format it as Fat32 (MS-DOS) and copy the files back - but right now, only a Mac can read that drive. (Unless the PC has MacDrive installed)

I just Get Info'd the HD

I guess that is an easier way. Forgot about that one.

 

[wfoster]

How do I make it with the format Fat32 so it can be read by both OS?

I'm a Mac newbie.

 

[r.j.s]

Disk Utility, Erase tab ... Copy all your files off first.