Which hard drive format should I use?

[Sean1218]

I want to transfer over about 1 TB worth of files from my windows to an external hard drive, but from that point on it'll be used with the mac exclusively.

If I want the drive to formatted with mac os x extended (journaled), do I have any other options than to transfer files from windows to external to mac, then reformat external and transfer back to the external?

Or, is there any con to just formatting with fat32? What's the difference between the two?

 

[nebo1ss]

You really don't want to use FAT32 it has a max file size of 4gb. Surely you have a network, format the drive for MAC connect it to Mac and copy from windows to the mac drive.

 

[res1233]

Actually, use ExFAT. It's pretty much an up to date FAT32. No file size cap, works with windows from XP(after update), windows vista SP1, windows 7, and Snow Leopard, as well as a few other pros.

 

[Sean1218]

I should also mention the external is 3 TB, so I'm not sure if FAT32 works on it (or if it just can't use the extra 1 TB).

I'll check out exFAT, thanks.

I have a network, but I've been unable to (consistently) transfer files between my mac and PC, and it's pretty slow when I have. I made a post a few days ago: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1204108/

 

[res1233]

Filesharing problems are often due to the router used, at least in my experience.

 

[velocityg4]

Connect both your computers by Ethernet cable to your router and turn off the wireless network cards on both computers. Wireless is painfully slow for file sharing, even 802.11n.

On the Mac turn on Windows file sharing and set a password for your user account. These are found under the Sharing and User Account panes in System Preferences.

Turn on file sharing on the Windows computer. Then enable sharing of the directories you want files from.

Make sure that both are in the same workgroup.

On the Mac switch to the Finder and go to the Go menu and connect to server. Then type in smb:\\ then the IP address of your Windows PC such as smb:\\192.168.1.100. When connected change the connect as option to your Windows computers user account and password. If your Windows account has no password you must create one.

Alternatively from the Windows computer you can open any folder window then in the address bar type the NetBIOS name of your Mac preceded by a \\, such as \\IMAC456.

Without knowing which version of OS X you are using and Windows I cannot be more specific. For Windows it is important to know if it is a Home or Professional/Business/Ultimate version as well since Home has fewer options.

 

[nebo1ss]

I should also mention the external is 3 TB, so I'm not sure if FAT32 works on it (or if it just can't use the extra 1 TB).

I'll check out exFAT, thanks.

I have a network, but I've been unable to (consistently) transfer files between my mac and PC, and it's pretty slow when I have. I made a post a few days ago: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1204108/

I just had a look at your other thread. The SMB share problems you are having is because you are running Lion. Until Apple sorts it out you are going to continue having problems moving files from windows to mac on the network.