Format Maxtor External Drive

jds670 · jds670 #1 (**permalink**)

03-04-2008, 10:24 PM

I currently have a maxtor external hard drive that was formatted on a pc as ntfs file system. my mac can only read and not write to it. what is the best way to format it on the mac using disk utility? I would like it to read and write on both pc and mac. Does it need to be fat 32??

any suggestions would be great.

kfordham281 · kfordham281 #2 (**permalink**)

03-04-2008, 11:22 PM

Yes, if you want to read it on Windows and OS X you'll need FAT32. Disk Utility would be the easiest way I would think.

Kash · Kash #3 (**permalink**)

03-04-2008, 11:56 PM

You can keep it NTFS but would need to install something called MacFuse for you to be able to write to it in OS X. You could also go with HFS+ but then need something called MacDrive installed on Windows to read and write to it.

So to summarize, it's just easier to stick with FAT32.

prolifick · prolifick #4 (**permalink**)

02-22-2009, 06:30 PM

Hi, i to have a maxtor drive. formatted it using Mac Disk Utility. Tried hooking it up to my old dell inspiron laptop that has windows xp home on it. and it still would not recognize it at all. i formated the hard drive with my macbook pro. could it be that the firmware on my dell isnt updated enough?

vansmith · vansmith #5 (**permalink**)

02-22-2009, 07:33 PM

Any computer made in the last...well, a long time, will support FAT32. Are you sure you formatted it as FAT32?

Also, as a note, if you have any file > 4GB, you won't be able to put them on the FAT32 formatted HD. FAT32 doesn't support files > 4GB.

prolifick · prolifick #6 (**permalink**)

02-23-2009, 01:53 PM

i believe so.... please look at the attached screenshot. thanks for your help. I'm in the processes of selling my dell and I'm trying to transfer everything to that external HDD.

kfordham281 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 19, 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 350 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.2Ghz C2D 4GB RAM 120GB HDD	03-04-2008, 11:22 PM Yes, if you want to read it on Windows and OS X you'll need FAT32. Disk Utility would be the easiest way I would think. Apple Mac HQ - Apple/Mac News, Reviews, and More
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Format Maxtor External Drive

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jds670 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 28, 2006 Location: Lakewood California Posts: 41 Mac Specs: 17-inch model 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor	03-04-2008, 10:24 PM I currently have a maxtor external hard drive that was formatted on a pc as ntfs file system. my mac can only read and not write to it. what is the best way to format it on the mac using disk utility? I would like it to read and write on both pc and mac. Does it need to be fat 32?? any suggestions would be great.
	QUOTE Thanks

prolifick #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 22, 2009 Posts: 2	02-22-2009, 06:30 PM Hi, i to have a maxtor drive. formatted it using Mac Disk Utility. Tried hooking it up to my old dell inspiron laptop that has windows xp home on it. and it still would not recognize it at all. i formated the hard drive with my macbook pro. could it be that the firmware on my dell isnt updated enough?
	QUOTE Thanks

vansmith #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 19, 2008 Location: Ottawa Posts: 15,289 Mac Specs: 2012 13" MBP (2.5 i5, 8GB)	02-22-2009, 07:33 PM Any computer made in the last...well, a long time, will support FAT32. Are you sure you formatted it as FAT32? Also, as a note, if you have any file > 4GB, you won't be able to put them on the FAT32 formatted HD. FAT32 doesn't support files > 4GB.
	QUOTE Thanks

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