windos external hd on a mac?

10driver · 10driver #1 (**permalink**)

08-19-2007, 02:08 PM

hey gang, can anyone tell me a probably super simple answer, how can i transfer files from my mac to a windows formatted hard drive?
i do not want to reformat the drive for mac, just make a one time file transfer
thanks
10driver

schweb · schweb #2 (**permalink**)

08-19-2007, 02:09 PM

Plug the drive in and drag the files to it just like any other drive.

As long as the drive is FAT formatted and not NTSF it will work just fine.

eric · eric #3 (**permalink**)

08-19-2007, 02:12 PM

even if it is NTSF, you can copy to your heart's content, you just won't be able to move, modify, or delete the files.

you can always reformat FAT32 (or better yet, partition both HFS+ and FAT32 logical drives onto it) once all your critical data has been copied.

10driver · 10driver #4 (**permalink**)

08-19-2007, 02:19 PM

i'm getting a window that says the file could not be moved because the drive could not be modified
the drive belongs to a computer illiterate friend and i'm smart enough to buy a mac but not to use it to its potential yet

schweb · schweb #5 (**permalink**)

08-19-2007, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric

even if it is NTSF, you can copy to your heart's content, you just won't be able to move, modify, or delete the files.

you can always reformat FAT32 (or better yet, partition both HFS+ and FAT32 logical drives onto it) once all your critical data has been copied.

If he's copying to an NTFS drive, I thought that wouldn't work? OSX can only read NTFS not write to it. Or at least that's what I thought.

cwa107 · cwa107 #6 (**permalink**)

08-19-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schweb

If he's copying to an NTFS drive, I thought that wouldn't work? OSX can only read NTFS not write to it. Or at least that's what I thought.

You are correct, the Mac doesn't support writes/modifications to an NTFS formatted partition. The simple alternative is to format it FAT32, but if you need to keep the data on it, you can try MacFUSE to add NTFS write support capability to OS X.

eric · eric #7 (**permalink**)

08-19-2007, 03:00 PM

yeah, i read it backwards. my bad.

schweb #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 27, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 13,213 Mac Specs: MacBook Pro \| LED Cinema Display \| iPhone 4 \| iPad 2	08-19-2007, 02:09 PM Plug the drive in and drag the files to it just like any other drive. As long as the drive is FAT formatted and not NTSF it will work just fine. schweb \| community leader flickr » facebook » twitter » tumblr » google+ » about.me Mac-Forums: On Twitter \| On Facebook \| On Flickr
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eric #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 04, 2006 Location: twin cities, mn, usa Posts: 8,800	08-19-2007, 03:00 PM yeah, i read it backwards. my bad. Please participate in our Member of the Month polls. Every vote counts! And remember to use the user reputation system! ["Dear Homer, I. O. U. one emergency donut. Signed, Homer." - Note by Homer Simpson]
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10driver #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 08, 2007 Posts: 2 Mac Specs: powerbook G4	08-19-2007, 02:08 PM hey gang, can anyone tell me a probably super simple answer, how can i transfer files from my mac to a windows formatted hard drive? i do not want to reformat the drive for mac, just make a one time file transfer thanks 10driver
	QUOTE Thanks

10driver #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 08, 2007 Posts: 2 Mac Specs: powerbook G4	08-19-2007, 02:19 PM i'm getting a window that says the file could not be moved because the drive could not be modified the drive belongs to a computer illiterate friend and i'm smart enough to buy a mac but not to use it to its potential yet
	QUOTE Thanks

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