From PC to Mac with an external HD

Scuba711 · Scuba711 #1 (**permalink**)

02-27-2007, 03:26 PM

Earlier this month I purchased a Firewire, 2bay, external HD system to store my image files. (I'm a photographer). A few weeks ago I decided to move to MAC and purchased a Mac Pro system. The two drives in my external bay are formatted NTFS, with one (A) containing data. What I'd like to do is reformat the drives with HFS+ / with about 50gigs partitioned and formated as Fat32. This way I can move some files over to that partition and use my PC if I need to, (only because I have 1 or 2 programs on the PC that don't come in MAC format. Can you guys tell me if my plan below holds water and help me get there?

1.While the external drives are still attached to the PC, reformat drive (B) to Fat32, then move all data from drive A to drive B. Then I can reformat drive (A) to Fat32.

2.Attach the external drives to the Mac Pro, and reformat drive (A) to HFS+ with 50gigs partitioned and formatted to Fat32. Move the data from drive B to drive (A), then reformat drive B like drive A

I hope some of you can help me and I didn't confuse anyone. If there's anything I'm missing please feel free to tell this MAC newbie. I'm not sure if I can use the MAC to see the NTFS drives and reformat them, this would cut out most if not all of step 1.

HELP!!!!

Peakoverload · Peakoverload #2 (**permalink**)

02-27-2007, 04:04 PM

Personally speaking I wouldnt bother with all of that. Instead I'd just format the disc as HFS+ and then get yourself a copy of MacOpener for your PC, at least that's what I do anyway. This program will mount and HFS+ partition and allow you to read and write to it.

At $49.99 http://www.dataviz.com/purchase/buy/...order_pg1.html it's not going to break the bank either.

There is a more 'comprehensive' program avaliable from the same place called Conversion Plus that also converts files to their Mac equivalent for $69.99 but I don't think you would really need that.

HTH

mac57 · mac57 #3 (**permalink**)

02-27-2007, 05:03 PM

Peakoverload has the right approach, although I would also mention MacDrive (http://www.mediafour.com/products/macdrive6), which many folks seem to think is better. Definitely do HFS+ for the external drive.

Kash · Kash #4 (**permalink**)

02-27-2007, 05:48 PM

If individual files aren't any larger than 4GB each, then why don't you just format the entire drive as FAT32? Would save you the trouble of buying software and having duplicate files on your drives.

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Scuba711 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 27, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4 Mac Specs: Mac Pro;2.66 Quad Xeon-2gb ram-250&500gb hd, 15" MB Pro; 2.33GHz 2 Duo-2gb ram	02-27-2007, 03:26 PM Earlier this month I purchased a Firewire, 2bay, external HD system to store my image files. (I'm a photographer). A few weeks ago I decided to move to MAC and purchased a Mac Pro system. The two drives in my external bay are formatted NTFS, with one (A) containing data. What I'd like to do is reformat the drives with HFS+ / with about 50gigs partitioned and formated as Fat32. This way I can move some files over to that partition and use my PC if I need to, (only because I have 1 or 2 programs on the PC that don't come in MAC format. Can you guys tell me if my plan below holds water and help me get there? 1.While the external drives are still attached to the PC, reformat drive (B) to Fat32, then move all data from drive A to drive B. Then I can reformat drive (A) to Fat32. 2.Attach the external drives to the Mac Pro, and reformat drive (A) to HFS+ with 50gigs partitioned and formatted to Fat32. Move the data from drive B to drive (A), then reformat drive B like drive A I hope some of you can help me and I didn't confuse anyone. If there's anything I'm missing please feel free to tell this MAC newbie. I'm not sure if I can use the MAC to see the NTFS drives and reformat them, this would cut out most if not all of step 1. HELP!!!!
	QUOTE Thanks

Peakoverload #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 13, 2007 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 207 Mac Specs: 27" iMac 3.1Ghz 16GB RAM, 1TB HD. iPhone 4.	02-27-2007, 04:04 PM Personally speaking I wouldnt bother with all of that. Instead I'd just format the disc as HFS+ and then get yourself a copy of MacOpener for your PC, at least that's what I do anyway. This program will mount and HFS+ partition and allow you to read and write to it. At $49.99 http://www.dataviz.com/purchase/buy/...order_pg1.html it's not going to break the bank either. There is a more 'comprehensive' program avaliable from the same place called Conversion Plus that also converts files to their Mac equivalent for $69.99 but I don't think you would really need that. HTH
	QUOTE Thanks

Kash #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 03, 2006 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 9,385 Mac Specs: Black Macbook C2D 2GHz 3GB RAM 250GB HD iPhone 4 iPad 3G	02-27-2007, 05:48 PM If individual files aren't any larger than 4GB each, then why don't you just format the entire drive as FAT32? Would save you the trouble of buying software and having duplicate files on your drives.
	QUOTE Thanks

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