New Hard Drive Format !!

[Macthelion]

Hi Guys ..

I just got a 500 GB external hard drive, when plugging it to my Macbook Pro ( Lion OS ), it showed that the HD is Windows NTFS format .
Should i leave it like this or should i format it to another format ?
I usualy transfer files larger than 4 GB, and might use the HD on windows also.


Thanks ,,,

[Kevriano]

If you are going to swap between then leave it as NTFS, and get NTFS Mounter for your Mac, so that you can read and write to it.

[louishen]

If you want to use the hard disk on windows as well, and as you say some files may be larger than 4 gig, then leave it as NTFS

But OSX can only read NTFS formatted disks, in that case you have 2 options

PARAGON Software Group - NTFS for Mac, communication channel between Mac OS X and Windows $20

NTFS-3G for Mac OS X

Although the drive may come with OSX drivers for NTFS

[Macthelion]

Kevriano ..
louishen ...

What i understand now is that since the new external HD is working i don't need any app.
One more thing, is it possible to partition the NTFS external HD ?

Thanks for the reply

[Kevriano]

NTFS mounter will let you read/write Loushen. I use it all the time.
As for partitioning it, yes, but you will have to do it on a Windows machine.

[bobtomay]

As for partitioning it, yes, but you will have to do it on a Windows machine.

Which is one of the reasons I highly recommend Paragon's NTFS for Mac.
You'll have access to Partitioning and formatting as NTFS from within Disk Utility.

[Kevriano]

Agreed that is useful. I use iPartition myself.

[bobtomay]

^^^Another good utility for those that have a need for a better partitioning tool.

[Macthelion]

Thanks guys for all your comments .