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Windows 7 64bit, MacDrive subsititute?

rdoane

rdoane

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 7, 2008
31
4
Has anybody found an alternative to MacDrive that works on Windows 7 64 bit? Or found a way to get MacDrive to work within Windows 7 64 bit? This is the only program that doesn't work for me and I would hate to switch back to 32 bit just because of this one program.
 
rdoane said:
Has anybody found an alternative to MacDrive that works on Windows 7 64 bit? Or found a way to get MacDrive to work within Windows 7 64 bit? This is the only program that doesn't work for me and I would hate to switch back to 32 bit just because of this one program.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately no. I still can't believe the makers of Mac Drive have yet to produce (or even thought to make) a 64-bit version. So far what I've been using though (in Vista 64 anyway) is this:

HFS Explorer (http://hem.bredband.net/catacombae/hfsx.html)

You'll need the latest version of Java to run it though (http://java.com/en/)

When you go to open HFS Explorer make sure you run it in Administrative mode.
 
HFS Explorer works fine for read only access under x64. Now I haven't had the chance to try it under Windows 7, yet.
 
Eidorian said:
HFS Explorer works fine for read only access under x64. Now I haven't had the chance to try it under Windows 7, yet.
Click to expand...

I did and it found my Mac partition but it couldn't find my FW800 external HDD. I assume this was due to either a lack of or terrible firewire drivers.

EDIT: Just a follow up on this: I tried using the Legacy firewire driver (built into Windows I believe) and everything works now. :)
 
Install MacDrive 7.2.5...

How to do it:
1. Extract the MSI from exe using Winrar
2. Edit the MSI to accept windows 7(at LaunchConditions tab... where is something like WindowsNT=600 you put >=600)
http://www.brothersoft.com/easy-msi-editor-70589.html
3. Set compatibility mode for the MSI to Windows Vista.
4. Install normally.


I'm running MacDrive 7.2.5 at Windows 7 64-bit build 7000.
Works perfectly


(i 'heard' that an old installation trick used in Vista64 for activation still works)

Dont install macdrive_7.2.2 or macdrive_7.2.4.... it brokes Widows 7
 
gmcouto said:
Install MacDrive 7.2.5...

How to do it:
1. Extract the MSI from exe using Winrar
2. Edit the MSI to accept windows 7(at LaunchConditions tab... where is something like WindowsNT=600 you put >=600)
http://www.brothersoft.com/easy-msi-editor-70589.html
3. Set compatibility mode for the MSI to Windows Vista.
4. Install normally.


I'm running MacDrive 7.2.5 at Windows 7 64-bit build 7000.
Works perfectly


(i 'heard' that an old installation trick used in Vista64 for activation still works)

Dont install macdrive_7.2.2 or macdrive_7.2.4.... it brokes Widows 7
Click to expand...

On a fresh install of Windows 7 this method works. Could you email me? I have some questions regarding the activation trick (blkdiscoii@gmail.com).
 
gmcouto said:
Install MacDrive 7.2.5...

How to do it:
1. Extract the MSI from exe using Winrar
2. Edit the MSI to accept windows 7(at LaunchConditions tab... where is something like WindowsNT=600 you put >=600)
http://www.brothersoft.com/easy-msi-editor-70589.html
3. Set compatibility mode for the MSI to Windows Vista.
4. Install normally.


I'm running MacDrive 7.2.5 at Windows 7 64-bit build 7000.
Works perfectly


(i 'heard' that an old installation trick used in Vista64 for activation still works)

Dont install macdrive_7.2.2 or macdrive_7.2.4.... it brokes Widows 7
Click to expand...

This worked, thank you so much!
 
gmcouto said:
Install MacDrive 7.2.5...

How to do it:
1. Extract the MSI from exe using Winrar
2. Edit the MSI to accept windows 7(at LaunchConditions tab... where is something like WindowsNT=600 you put >=600)
http://www.brothersoft.com/easy-msi-editor-70589.html
3. Set compatibility mode for the MSI to Windows Vista.
4. Install normally.


I'm running MacDrive 7.2.5 at Windows 7 64-bit build 7000.
Works perfectly


(i 'heard' that an old installation trick used in Vista64 for activation still works)

Dont install macdrive_7.2.2 or macdrive_7.2.4.... it brokes Widows 7
Click to expand...

rdoane said:
On a fresh install of Windows 7 this method works. Could you email me? I have some questions regarding the activation trick (blkdiscoii@gmail.com).
Click to expand...

Is this the latest / most updated status on things? Or is there newer stuff?
 
crashnburn said:
Is this the latest / most updated status on things? Or is there newer stuff?
Click to expand...

I gave MacDrive a shot recently and it still appears to suck. Luckily, Boot Camp 3 includes HFS drivers, so you will be able to see and copy from your Mac partition. Unfortunately, this doesn't work for external HFS drives (why? who knows). I still recommend HFS Explorer for that. See my comment above for more info.

Eidorian said:
HFS Explorer works fine for read only access under x64. Now I haven't had the chance to try it under Windows 7, yet.
Click to expand...

It's worked fine in 32-bit XP and 64-bit Vista and 7 for me. I run it in admin mode just for good measure.
 
Help with HFSExplorer

I bought a MacDrive license for 2 PCs running Windows, but now I need to access an HFS+ drive via a third PC. Unfortunately MacDrive's steep price has only risen since last time.

I have tried HFSExplorer but I have two concerns:

1) I can't seem to find a way to copy files ONTO the HFS+ drive via HFSExplorer, only extract files FROM it. Anyone know a way to get files onto it?

2) When attempting to extract a file, I am asked if I would like to follow symbolic links. "Following symbolic links means that the extracted tree willmore closely match the perceived file system tree, but it increases the size of the extracted data, the time that it takes to extract it, and puts a lot of identical files at different locations in your target folder." Should I choose to follow symbolic links or not, and would the end result of extraction be virtually the same as "copying" files like via MacDrive?
 
sup said:
I have tried HFSExplorer but I have two concerns:

1) I can't seem to find a way to copy files ONTO the HFS+ drive via HFSExplorer, only extract files FROM it. Anyone know a way to get files onto it?
Click to expand...
That's because HFSExplorer is read-only.

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
 
My PC run MacDrive on it and it is running 64 bit windows 7 without problems, what seems to be the problem?
 
farid2188 said:
This worked great for me. Works with Mac Raid, and it works in XP 64, AND it's a fraction of the MacDrive price!
Click to expand...

Has anyone found a solution for Windows 8 Developer Preview? I can't seem to get MacDrive 9 or Paragon HFS for Windows 9 to work...
 
still working?

If you're still around and reading these posts, could you give us an update? Is this still working for you okay?

I'm read a few scarey reviews of MacDrive, warning against total system corruptions and data loss!
 
i have been using MacDrive 9 Pro with my Windows 7 64 bit Boot Camp installation for about a month with no problems. this is by far the best software i have ever used for using my OSX hard drives in Windows 7. it's worked absolutely flawless for me. make sure you install MacDrive after you install Boot Camp drivers.

before MacDrive, i tried using Paragon HFS+ for Windows 9.0, and that caused lots of serious problems for me....i had to reinstall my OS two times because of the damage Paragon HFS+ 9.0 did. and calling Paragon Software was no help at all....they really didn't seem to care that me and many others were having problems.

i'm veeerrry happy with MacDrive 9.
 
MacDrive proceed with caution

I haven't tried Paragon, but I've used macdrive intensively for 4 years, the latest being on windows 7. It has corrupted my mac side twice - completely - like to the point where mac disk repair cannot do anything but tell you the drive is damaged, and you have to thank **insert godhead** and time machine that you have a very recent backup (which you will after the first time). My friend who had the same setup as me had this happen to him more than once as well.

At the time during my workflow, the benefits of time machine backup and the ability to write files to my macside were worth it. So to respond, yes, macdrive will work fine for a month, a few months, maybe a year...who knows! But I would not mistake long bouts of stability for peace of mind and carelessness with your backups. If you're using macdrive BACKUP DAILY.

I recently noticed certain files of mine disappear from windows explorer - they were not erased, when I would restart they would reappear. MacDrive tried to provide solutions, but they eventually gave up. But it just erodes whatever confidence I had left in it. I think I'm going to go back to manually transferring what I need, as crazy as that sounds (I don't use my windows side as much these days).

Hope this helps/saves someone from data disaster.
 
Stridder44 said:
I gave MacDrive a shot recently and it still appears to suck. Luckily, Boot Camp 3 includes HFS drivers, so you will be able to see and copy from your Mac partition. Unfortunately, this doesn't work for external HFS drives (why? who knows). I still recommend HFS Explorer for that. See my comment above for more info.
Click to expand...

I've got external HFS drives working with only the Boot Camp drivers, have had it for awhile. Granted it's with MBR as opposed to GUID, perhaps that's where the problem lies. But my 1TB USB external HD has 3 partitions, the first is ExFat, second and third are HFS. I can read them just fine.
 
scorr88 said:
I've used macdrive intensively for 4 years, the latest being on windows 7. It has corrupted my mac side twice - completely - like to the point where mac disk repair cannot do anything but tell you the drive is damaged, and you have to thank **insert godhead** and time machine that you have a very recent backup (which you will after the first time). My friend who had the same setup as me had this happen to him more than once as well.
Click to expand...

this definitely makes me nervous. so far, so good, though. i haven't had any problems with MacDrive Pro 9 yet.
 
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