using an external hard drive on PC and MAC Solved/Closed

Question

Hello,

I have an external hard drive that I use on Windows XP and it works very well. I would like to use it on a MAC.

I would like to point out that I only have a few basic computer skills. I really need help!

Thank you in advance.

Sanspseudo · Accepted Answer

GOOD EVENING TO BEGIN,

Then,

Here is what I said in my message of April 29, 2010:

It is then necessary to reformat the drive to FAT32 or NTFS, and install a utility on the Mac as mentioned above, if the drive will occasionally be used on a Mac, or keep the Mac OS format and install a utility on the PC, in the case where the drive is mainly used on the Mac.

For the FAT32 format, there is the disadvantage of the 4GB file size limit for the files one wishes to place on it. But it is directly usable on both Mac and PC.

The FAT32 or MS DOS format (it's the same) does not allow the placement of files larger than 4 GB.

As for the exFAT format, indeed compatible in both directions without size limit, it has only been fully supported since the latest versions of Mac OS 10.6 - I believe Mac OS 10.6.5 - and the initial message dates back to April 2010!

On PC, the exFAT format is only supported by Windows from version XP SP3, it is not a fully compatible solution for Mac and PC

I would also add that many multimedia hard drives do not support the exFAT file system, where they accept FAT32, NTFS, and HFS or HFS+ formats

To summarize:

For multimedia hard drives, caution before formatting:
Example: I own 2 multimedia hard drives. One, an old Dane Elect of 500GB, only works in multimedia mode under FAT32 and it is forbidden to format it, under penalty of losing its multimedia functions.
The other, a Western Digital Elements Play of 2TB, which works in multimedia mode under NTFS and HFS+ and allows formatting. Before any potential formatting, backup the files originally present on the hard drive and return them afterward. In particular, the autorun.inf file if it exists. It's a pity that this WD hard drive does not accept the ExFAT format in multimedia mode.

Reminder of the most well-known formats to date :

=> HFS Format = old Mac OS format, dating from before Mac OS 8
- it is forgotten as it is of no interest on current Macs, nor on PC.

=> HFS+ format or "Extended Mac OS" format:

> It is the standard format for current Macs. Most often it is "journaled" by default.

> Compatibility with Mac OS:
Format compatible with all Mac OS versions since Mac OS 8 to today

- > Compatibility with Windows:
Windows needs utilities like MacDisk or MacDrive to use this format.
https://www.macdisk.com/mdfr.php
https://www.macdrive.com/support/macdrive9standard/

-> Sometimes, often incompatible with multimedia hard drives

=> FAT32 also called MS DOS,

It is the old Windows format, that before Windows XP

> In the "Disk Utility" application on Mac OS, this format is called "MS-DOS (FAT)"

- > Compatibility:
Fully compatible with Mac OS AND Windows, but the size is limited to 4GB per file

=> exFAT = Penultimate format of Windows:

- > In the "Disk Utility" application on Mac OS, this format is called "ExFAT"

- > Compatibility with Windows:
Compatible from Windows XP SP3 version only

- > Compatibility under Mac OS 10:
Compatible only with Mac OS from Mac OS 10.6.5

- > No file size limitation contrary to FAT32 (MS DOS)

- > Very often incompatible with certain multimedia hard drives

=> NTFS = current format of Windows

-> Compatibility under Windows:
Compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7

> Compatibility under Mac OS 10:
> Under Mac OS 10.3 and earlier = incompatible

> Under Mac OS 10.4 = Compatible for reading and writing thanks to NTFS-3G or Tuxera NTFS for Mac

- > Under Mac OS 10.5:
Compatible for reading natively
Compatible for reading and writing thanks to NTFS-3G or Tuxera NTFS for Mac
http://macntfs-3g.blogspot.com/
https://ntfsformac.tuxera.com/

- > Compatibility under Mac OS 10.6.x:
Compatible for reading natively
Compatible for writing thanks to NTFS Mounter - (simpler and lighter than NTFS-3G or Tuxera NTFS)
http://ntfsmounter.com/

- > Compatibility under Mac OS 10.7:
Compatible for reading natively
Compatible for writing thanks to Tuxera NTFS for Mac
https://ntfsformac.tuxera.com/

- > No file size limit

NB: I have given up, for the moment, using Tuxera NTFS for Mac, under Mac OS, because the version I tested systematically created a Kernel Panic when I navigated in my Boot Camp partition from Mac OS 10.7. I contacted the publisher to explain the problem.
The current version of NTFS Mounter no longer works, currently, under Mac OS 10.7 (Unfortunate).

The formatting procedure under Mac OS 10:

-Launch Disk Utility, (Applications / Utilities..)

-In the left part of the Disk Utility window, select the icon of the physical hard drive - not its existing partition located just below shifted to the right, but the physical hard drive itself.
This icon bears the name of the manufacturer and indicates its capacity.

-In the right part of the window, click on the "Partition" or "Partitioning" tab, depending on the version of Mac OS 10

-Above the area where it says "Current," replace the word "Current" (drop-down menu) with 1 partition. (Or more if needed)

At the bottom of the area click on "Options" or "Option..." depending on the version of Mac OS
-Choose between:

- - "GUID" as the partition scheme for an Intel-based Mac
- - "Apple Partition Map" for a PowerPC-based Mac

One of these two schemes is to be considered if you decide to use this drive as a startup disk under Mac OS

But, if the drive is not intended to receive a version of Mac OS to allow booting from it, and you want to use this drive under both Mac OS AND Windows, choose the partition scheme:

-- "Master Boot Record (MBR)."

-Validate

-Then in the main window, choose the format "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" for exclusive use under Mac OS, otherwise choose among the other formats according to the indications given above.

-Give a title to this volume

-At the bottom of the window, click Apply.

EDIT: see this page: https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-37636360-disques-durs-externes-ou-cles-usb-sous-mac-os

EDIT 2: updated page here:
https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-37636360-disques-durs-externes-ou-cles-usb-sous-mac-os

Best regards.

Stof37 · Answer

In my opinion, there’s really not much to do, MAC can now read and write to NTFS partitions, and manages FAT32 perfectly. So your hard drive should be recognized by the MAC without any special manipulation.
--
Student 4IM

Sanspseudo · Answer

Hello,

EDIT: As things have evolved a bit since this message, I invite you to read the more recent response below, HERE,

Some explanations regarding external drives for reading and writing a Windows-formatted disk on a Mac, or a hard drive formatted in Mac OS or Mac OS Extended (HFS & HFS+) on a PC.

Important to note:
Most hard drives are currently sold "ready for Windows XP and Vista, Seven...", meaning in NTFS format. (less often with older MS DOS formats, FAT32, or FAT16). Sometimes, they are "ready" for Mac OS. But in reality, all hard drives can be used on both platforms. There is no special manufacturing for one environment or another.

Beware of multimedia hard drives => Read to the end !!
(multimedia drives are hard drives designed to be directly readable by a television, without needing to be connected to a computer during this reading).

Using a Windows-formatted disk under Mac OS:

The explanations concerning NTFS Mounter apply to Mac OS 10.6.x
The situation is identical for Mac OS 10.5, except that it doesn't support the NTFS Mounter utility.
Since for Mac OS 10.5, NTFS Mounter doesn't work, it then goes through NTFS-3G. Thus, apart from using NTFS Mounter, the rest is the same for Mac OS 10.5, which will need a utility like NTFS-3G in all cases if we want to keep the NTFS format.

Mac OS 10.6.x can read this NTFS format, but to write on it, it requires a small free utility: NTFS Mounter (used to activate the capabilities present in Mac OS)
http://ntfsmounter.com/

It will then be able to read and write on this disk, but not format it in NTFS.
If the need is to format it in NTFS, and not just to use it for reading and writing (in the case where the disk is already in NTFS for example), it will require another utility.

For example, NTFS-3G, of which there is still a free version:
This is the latest: NTFS-3G for Mac OS X
http://macntfs-3g.blogspot.com/2010/09/ntfs-3g-for-mac-os-x-201088.html

The next version has become paid and is called Tuxera NTFS for Mac:
https://ntfsformac.tuxera.com/
http://macntfs-3g.blogspot.com/

Some information on NTFS-3G extracted from the publisher's page:
( http://macntfs-3g.blogspot.com/ )

System requirements: Mac OS X 10.4/10.5/10.6 (10.6 requires that you do not use the 64-bit kernel), running on an Intel or PowerPC computer. The package has been tested with Mac OS X 10.4.11/PowerPC/Intel, Mac OS X 10.5.8/PowerPC and Mac OS X 10.6.2/Intel/64-bit Intel. NTFS-3G includes and depends on MacFUSE. Information on how to install and use NTFS-3G for Mac OS X can be found in the User Guide. If you are having problems with NTFS-3G, then please write a forum post explaining your problems in the Tuxera Forums (or post the question as a blog comment if you're just unsure of how things work). Known issues: After installing ntfs-3g, all NTFS drives will disappear from the "Startup Disk" preference pane. Disabling or uninstalling ntfs-3g brings them back. It seems that this issue can't be solved, but only worked around since the Startup Disk preference pane doesn't recognize file system drivers that are not provided by Apple.?Possible workarounds: Holding down the Option key during boot (or Alt for non-Apple keyboards). Intel users only: Install the rEFIt boot manager for better control of the boot process. Using the command line utility bless (see man bless for more information)

But if this disk is only to be used on the Mac, and never on a PC, it is preferable to format it in Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

In this case, follow this procedure: (Note the disk will be erased and the contents will need to be backed up):

The formatting procedure:
-Launch Disk Utility, (Applications / Utilities..)
-In the left part of the Disk Utility window, select the icon of the physical hard drive -not its existing partition located just below and shifted to the right, but the physical hard drive itself.
This icon bears the manufacturer's name and indicates its capacity.
-In the right part of the window, click on the "Partition" tab
-Above the area where it says "Current", replace the word "Current" (drop-down menu) with 1 partition. (Or more if necessary)
-At the bottom of the area click on "Options"
-Choose either: "GUID" as the partition scheme for an Intel-based Mac or: "Apple partition map" for a PowerPC-based Mac.
-Confirm
-Then in the main window, choose "Mac OS Extended (journaled)" as the format
-Give a title to this volume
-At the bottom of the window, click on Apply.
-Now this disk is ready for a Mac only. (unless MacDrive or MacDisk is installed on the PC)

Using an external disk formatted Mac OS under Windows:

If an external hard drive is formatted for Mac OS, meaning in Mac OS or Mac OS Extended (HFS or HFS+), a PC under Windows will be unable to read it without the help of a dedicated utility.

Then, the disk needs to be reformatted in FAT32 or NTFS, and a utility needs to be installed on the Mac as indicated above, if the disk will occasionally be used on a Mac, or keep the Mac OS format and install a utility on the PC if the disk is mainly used on the Mac.

For the FAT32 format, there is the drawback of the 4GB limit for the files that you would want to place on it. But it is directly usable on both Mac and PC.

For the NTFS format (Windows XP and Vista, Seven), this limit no longer exists, but here, the Mac needs a little help to write on it, although it can read it. See what's mentioned above.

So you have the choice, either to install a driver on PC such as:
Mac Disk
http://www.macdisk.com/mden.php3
or MacDrive
https://www.macdrive.com/support/macdrive9standard/

Or format the hard drive in FAT32 (MS DOS) and endure the constraint of files limited to 4GB, or format it in NTFS and install NTFS Mounter or NTFS-3G on the Mac, if it needs to occasionally use this hard drive.

WARNING: Before formatting a multimedia type disk:
Often, these lose their multimedia functions after formatting. This is not systematic, but very frequent. The type of format also matters. Some multimedia drives only work under FAT32, others under NTFS, and some specially designed for Mac, under Mac OS Extended. (rare). Therefore, consult the manual or the manufacturer's website

EDIT: After formatting, some models of hard drives can regain their multimedia functions after reinstalling a type of autorun software that was originally present on the disk.

Sincerely

Sanspseudo - Francis - iMac Intel Mac under OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 under Mac OS 10.5
Always indicate your exact configuration: Mac model and version of Mac OS!

Fishy75 · Answer

Hello,

I have a different problem...
My external hard drive has always been used with Windows (at work), and I recently bought a MAC at home, so okay, it's formatted, it recognizes and reads it.
But since that operation, my PC no longer recognizes anything...
Even along this path, it's invisible:
Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Storage > Disk Management

What should I do????
I need to transfer files from my PC to my MAC.

Sanspseudo · Answer

Fishy75 - Aug 22, 2011 at 2:42 PM Hello, I have a different problem... My external hard drive has always been under Windows (at work), then I recently bought a MAC at home, so it’s formatted, it recognizes and reads it. But since this operation, my PC no longer recognizes anything... Even along this path, it is invisible: Control Panel > Admin Tools > Computer Management > Storage > Disk Management How do I do???? I need to transfer files from my PC to my MAC

If you read my explanation message carefully, you would have noted that the Windows PC cannot read a disk formatted with Mac OS (except after installing drivers like Mac Disk or Mac Drive).
So, if you formatted this disk in Mac OS, the result is normal.
Try reformatting it to MS DOS (FAT32) from Disk Utility on the Mac. (this is valid if no single file exceeds 4GB).

Once everything is transferred, you can reformat it to extended Mac OS if it will no longer be used on PC.

Have a nice day
--
Always indicate your EXACT CONFIGURATION: Model of Mac and version of Mac OS!
Francis Sanspseudo - Intel iMac Mac under OS 10.7 + iMac-G5 under Mac OS 10.5

MICHEL11245 · Answer

All of this is well explained but incomplete for those who have a recent Mac 10.7.1 (I don't know about the others). There is a third common formatting option to read on PC or Mac, including large files (I put a file of over 18 GB yesterday). So for the person asking for something simpler, I believe the explanation above is good. If needed, I can repeat it.
Connect your external hard drive via USB to your Mac.
Click on Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
A window will appear.
In the left part of this window, click on the name of your external hard drive, which should be present and highlighted (in blue) > click on Erase in the central menu at the top > choose exFAT from the dropdown menu (small black arrow at the end of the line) > give a name to your HDD > click Erase > confirm.
Warning: everything that was on it before formatting will be erased.
For the number of partitions, that’s another issue.
You can split your hard drive into several "pieces"; that’s what "partitioning" means.
So don’t confuse formatting with partitioning, they are two different things.
If you need information about partitions, I can explain it in the same way "accessible to anyone starting on Mac."
Please note that I am just a Mac user but somewhat experienced.
Have a good evening and thank you to all the members of the forum.
MICHEL11245

MICHEL11245 · Answer

Hello.
I already responded yesterday on this subject regarding all 8 comments above.
A Mac can read your hard drives just like your PC if you have formatted your external hard drives (or USB stick) in DOS FAT 32, but it will be limited to files of 4 GB.
However, there is indeed a third solution on Mac Lion version 10.7.1 since I use it every day and it works, which is formatting in exFAT.
It's the same procedure as described above and by me yesterday where I tried to make myself clearer to Mélanie (I also struggled before to understand the words used in the "jargon" of computing. If I poorly described it, I am ready to start over with more details).
For Nelyett (and the others), did you know that you can easily upgrade your old Mac to version 10.5.8 Leopard) and then transform it into Snow Leopard 10.6.6 + updates = 10.6.7 using an Apple installation CD 2Z691-6560A or 2Z691-6558A sold commercially for less than €28?
This then allows you to update it to Lion version via the Apple store in version 10.7.1 which is remarkable (€28.99) from your account (Apple ID that you will have created).
The evolution is therefore Mac, Mac Leopard, Mac Snow Leopard, and finally Mac Lion.
Have a good day and thanks to all those who contribute to this forum and have helped me as well.

Catouline · Answer

Hello,
I have a problem, but no more Mac to recover the files. Let me explain:
I have an external hard drive that was used as a backup for my MacBook Pro, which has failed, and I have a laptop running Windows 7, but of course, there's no way to read my external hard drive.
It is recognized, but it's impossible to open it to recover the files.
Is there a way? A software or any possibility to recover that on Windows?

Thank you in advance.

juliette · Answer

Hello everyone,

I was wondering: are these compatibility issues also applicable when using a USB stick?

What I mean is, should I pay attention to these recommendations if, for example, I want to transfer files (over 4GB), read, write... etc. files from my MAC to my PC via a USB stick?

Thank you in advance and have a great day!

_Ritchi_ · Answer

Toper,  Try using the "exFat" format: similar to FAT32 but without the 4GB limit. Ritchi

MICKIE34 · Answer

THANK YOU MICHEL 11245
THANKS TO YOUR VERY CLEAR EXPLANATIONS
I THANK YOU VERY MUCH BECAUSE I HAD BEEN *STRUGGLING* FOR 2 DAYS

YOU SHOULD CREATE A PERMANENT TEACHING
BECAUSE I NOTICED SEVERAL SATISFIED RESPONDENTS

THANK YOU AGAIN ++++++++
MICKIE34 msimonrobert@orange.fr

lefaouder · Answer

Thank you for the information. After testing, my Philips hard drive is still recognized by macOS and it works perfectly. As for my Iomega drive, it's a drive that used to work on Windows and it's almost full, so reformatting it will be complicated. I will check the manufacturer's website to see if I can find a compatible driver.

Using an external hard drive on PC and MAC

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