Can backups for Mac and Windows be on same drive?

TweetyMac · TweetyMac #1 (**permalink**)

05-01-2011, 02:52 PM

I have a 1TB WD external drive and a Maxtor external 250HD attached to my windows PC. Can I backup both OS (mac and windows) to the WD drive or do I need a separate drive for mac only?

Buzzard2010 · Buzzard2010 #2 (**permalink**)

05-01-2011, 02:56 PM

Partition the drive in two! You will however need to format the harddrive into NTFS and get NTFS write support on your mac, something like Paragon NTFS for Mac should do it.

- Simon

vansmith · vansmith #3 (**permalink**)

05-01-2011, 03:03 PM

Depends how you're backing up. Time Machine for instance can only work with HFS+ partitions which won't be recognized in Windows. If you partition the drive in two, one NTFS and one HFS+ partition, you can use the drive for both. How are you backing up right now or how do you want to do it?

TweetyMac · TweetyMac #4 (**permalink**)

05-01-2011, 03:09 PM

Thanks for the quick response. However you might as well have been speaking vulcan to me because my noob brains didn't comprehend what you said

However, even with the noob brains I can follow some instructions

. Are there some instructions on how partition a drive? Do I partition from my MPB or my PC?

Right now I'm eyeing a 2TB WD My Book on sale at Staples this week in my area. That way I can get rid of the other two drives and just have one.

I think I was reading somewhere that MBP's have a firewire that works better. Is there a recommended backup drive that works better with MBP? In the end if I need to buy an extra drive for my MPB I don't mind that as the drives are really reasonable now.

pjhutch · pjhutch #5 (**permalink**)

05-02-2011, 06:13 AM

I suggest getting a NAS (Network Attached Storage) drive rath than a USB drive. Then you can attach the drive to the network and you can backup to it using any PC or Mac. Since the drive is shared, it does not matter what format it is in as that is taken care of by the NAS, so partitioning is not required.

I use a WD Worldboot NAS 500 GB drive and is is great as a backup device.

NAVET · NAVET #6 (**permalink**)

05-04-2011, 12:55 PM

Along these same lines, my PC died and I replaced it with a MacBook. All of my Music is on a WD 1TB External HDD. Am I going to be able to get my music off of the external or will I need to purchase a NAS and attach to the network? If I go that route, will transfering the music over to the NAS cause any issues?

vansmith · vansmith #7 (**permalink**)

05-04-2011, 01:15 PM

You should have no issues getting the files off of your external. OS X has built in support for both the NTFS and FAT filesystems.

TweetyMac #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 27, 2011 Posts: 10	05-01-2011, 02:52 PM I have a 1TB WD external drive and a Maxtor external 250HD attached to my windows PC. Can I backup both OS (mac and windows) to the WD drive or do I need a separate drive for mac only? MacBook Pro 15, 2.2 GHz, 500HD, 8G (2011); iPhone 4 8G
	QUOTE Thanks

Buzzard2010 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 22, 2010 Location: Bakewell, UK Posts: 2,532 Mac Specs: iMac G3 800MHz :D \| PowerMac G4 \| MacBook Pro 15" 2.8GHz C2D 500GB HDD 4GB 9600M / 9600M GT 10.7.1	05-01-2011, 02:56 PM Partition the drive in two! You will however need to format the harddrive into NTFS and get NTFS write support on your mac, something like Paragon NTFS for Mac should do it. - Simon Rest In Peace Steven Paul Jobs February 24, 1955 - October 5, 2011 [aged 56] If you have been helped, don't forget to use the Reputation system just above the post to the right. May 2011 Nominated: March 2011 & April 2011
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TweetyMac #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 27, 2011 Posts: 10	05-01-2011, 03:09 PM Thanks for the quick response. However you might as well have been speaking vulcan to me because my noob brains didn't comprehend what you said However, even with the noob brains I can follow some instructions . Are there some instructions on how partition a drive? Do I partition from my MPB or my PC? Right now I'm eyeing a 2TB WD My Book on sale at Staples this week in my area. That way I can get rid of the other two drives and just have one. I think I was reading somewhere that MBP's have a firewire that works better. Is there a recommended backup drive that works better with MBP? In the end if I need to buy an extra drive for my MPB I don't mind that as the drives are really reasonable now. MacBook Pro 15, 2.2 GHz, 500HD, 8G (2011); iPhone 4 8G
	QUOTE Thanks

NAVET #6 (permalink)
Member Since: May 03, 2011 Location: Lansdale, Pa Posts: 21 Mac Specs: MacBook 2GB Intel Core 2 Duo@2.4GHz 250GB HDD	05-04-2011, 12:55 PM Along these same lines, my PC died and I replaced it with a MacBook. All of my Music is on a WD 1TB External HDD. Am I going to be able to get my music off of the external or will I need to purchase a NAS and attach to the network? If I go that route, will transfering the music over to the NAS cause any issues? A veteran is someone who, at one point in his/her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."
	QUOTE Thanks

vansmith #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 19, 2008 Location: Ottawa Posts: 15,289 Mac Specs: 2012 13" MBP (2.5 i5, 8GB)	05-04-2011, 01:15 PM You should have no issues getting the files off of your external. OS X has built in support for both the NTFS and FAT filesystems. Important Links: Community Guidelines : Use the reputation system if you've been helped. M-F Blog :: Write for the blog :: M-F IRC Channel - Chats every Sunday at 8PM EST.
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pjhutch #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 04, 2007 Posts: 250	05-02-2011, 06:13 AM I suggest getting a NAS (Network Attached Storage) drive rath than a USB drive. Then you can attach the drive to the network and you can backup to it using any PC or Mac. Since the drive is shared, it does not matter what format it is in as that is taken care of by the NAS, so partitioning is not required. I use a WD Worldboot NAS 500 GB drive and is is great as a backup device.
	QUOTE Thanks

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