Windows can't read Mac-formatted NTFS

jeffimperial · May 25, 2009

Hey guys. I have a Transcend external HDD that connects through USB 2.0

I had to backup the files and reformat the thing. After a 7-pass erase, I copied back my files into the drive. But when I inserted it into my Windows XP PC, it showed in My Computer as unformatted Removable Disk. How do I go about opening this drive on Windows? It opens just fine on the Mac, with the files. Info tells me it's a Windows NT Filesystem.

Additional info:
I've got installed Paragon NTS for Mac OS X (trial, I have five days left)

Kash · May 25, 2009

What application are you using to format the drive?

jeffimperial · May 26, 2009

Kash said:
What application are you using to format the drive?

Disk Utility

JGruber · May 26, 2009

Sounds like you formated it in Mac OS Extended (Journaled). You need to format it in FAT32 for it to be able to read/write in both Windows and Mac OS.

jeffimperial · May 26, 2009

JGruber said:
Sounds like you formated it in Mac OS Extended (Journaled). You need to format it in FAT32 for it to be able to read/write in both Windows and Mac OS.

I'll try that later. Thanks!

cwa107 · May 26, 2009

Just to clarify, OS X does not have native support to write, change or format NTFS partitions. If you need the capability, you'll need something like Paragon NTFS for Mac.

Formatting it in FAT32 should work, but bear in mind that it is limited to single files of 4GB in total size. If you have a big video file (for example) that's over 4GB, you won't be able to save it on that drive.

JGruber · May 26, 2009

cwa107 said:
Just to clarify, OS X does not have native support to write, change or format NTFS partitions. If you need the capability, you'll need something like Paragon NTFS for Mac.

Formatting it in FAT32 should work, but bear in mind that it is limited to single files of 4GB in total size. If you have a big video file (for example) that's over 4GB, you won't be able to save it on that drive.

Hmm... I thought you could at least delete the NTFS partition. All though I have never tried it. That is good info right there.

cwa107 · May 26, 2009

JGruber said:
Hmm... I thought you could at least delete the NTFS partition. All though I have never tried it. That is good info right there.

Yes, you can delete the partition itself, just not the files contained within it, nor can you modify anything within the filesystem - at least not from OS X.

Ganondor · May 26, 2009

You might want to check out MacFuse and NTFS-3G.

Edit: I cannot remember which it is that lets you format drives, but ones I have formatted I could read just fine under vista.