iBook - Transfer files from mac to pc

skippers · skippers #1 (**permalink**)

05-03-2009, 12:31 AM

I've put my mac files on an external hard drive to transfer but this doesn't show up on PC. The same with a USB stick. Why is this?

Collin Bl · Collin Bl #2 (**permalink**)

05-03-2009, 01:08 AM

If you are on Tiger or Leopard use the export feature for your files, then you have choice of Word Excel pdf rtf formats which should be able to be read by PCs

CrimsonRequiem · CrimsonRequiem #3 (**permalink**)

05-03-2009, 01:28 AM

Probably because of how your devices are formatted. PC don't read Mac Journaled. Need to format your devices as FAT32 however that kind of limits you to files that are smaller than 4GB.

skippers · skippers #4 (**permalink**)

05-04-2009, 04:46 AM

I'm trying to transfer music files. What is FAT32? cheers

louishen · louishen #5 (**permalink**)

05-04-2009, 05:14 AM

When you format any drive, usb stick or hard drive you can format it in several formats, here are the basic ones.

Mac OS Extended - the default for macs - cannot be read on windows PCs without installing additional software

FAT32 - Called MS DOS (FAT) in Apple's disk utility. Can be used by both Mac and Windows computers. There is a file limit of 4 gig - so not suitable for large movie files

NTFS (Windows NT File System) - The default drive format for windows. Macs ran read NTFS but not write to NTFS without additional software like Google's MacFuse macfuse - Google Code
You will have to format a drive on a PC to get NTFS

louishen #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 22, 2007 Location: London Posts: 8,654 Mac Specs: Mac Mini Core i7 2012 \| White 2009 MacBook 2 Ghz \| 733 Mhz G4 Quicksilver	05-04-2009, 05:14 AM When you format any drive, usb stick or hard drive you can format it in several formats, here are the basic ones. Mac OS Extended - the default for macs - cannot be read on windows PCs without installing additional software FAT32 - Called MS DOS (FAT) in Apple's disk utility. Can be used by both Mac and Windows computers. There is a file limit of 4 gig - so not suitable for large movie files NTFS (Windows NT File System) - The default drive format for windows. Macs ran read NTFS but not write to NTFS without additional software like Google's MacFuse macfuse - Google Code You will have to format a drive on a PC to get NTFS Member of the Month September 2008 & August 2012 \| Found advice useful? – use the rep system
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skippers #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 12, 2007 Posts: 62	05-03-2009, 12:31 AM I've put my mac files on an external hard drive to transfer but this doesn't show up on PC. The same with a USB stick. Why is this?
	QUOTE Thanks

Collin Bl #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 07, 2009 Location: Napier NZ Posts: 3,273 Mac Specs: 27 iMac i5, 2.4 C2D MBP & iMac 20, 1TB dual TC, AppleTV, iPh4	05-03-2009, 01:08 AM If you are on Tiger or Leopard use the export feature for your files, then you have choice of Word Excel pdf rtf formats which should be able to be read by PCs
	QUOTE Thanks

skippers #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 12, 2007 Posts: 62	05-04-2009, 04:46 AM I'm trying to transfer music files. What is FAT32? cheers
	QUOTE Thanks

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