Ext Hard Drive/Time Machine

[Irishman]

Hi,if this is in the wrong place please move.

Last year, I was using an external hard drive as a Time Machine for a number of weeks and then discontinued doing so.Today, in order to print documents on a printer in the local library, I transferred a folder to it.

However, the library PCs didn't recognise the drive although they had done so many times before I used it as a Time Machine.Would I have had to "do something" to it or was anything changed in it by that use as a Time Machine that would now prevent the library PCs from recognising it?I know that seems a strange thing to ask but I can't remember if I was instructed to make changes to it for use as a Time Machine. Nothing has changed with the PCs or the library security etc.Thank you.

 

[ferrarr]

Time Machine converted the external drive to a "Mac" only format/partition scheme. You will need to erase/format the drive as exFAT to use it with both macOS and winOS computers.

If you still want to use the drive as a Time Machine (TM) backup, then you would need to partition the drive into two partitions, one for macOS TM, and the other for bot macOS and winOS.

Please provide more information about your Mac, the drive, and what you need to print, or use with winOS?

 

[Irishman]

Thank you ferarr.My desktop is 2011,with 2.7GHz and 12 GB.It does not have Windows aspect to it.The ext drive is a Maxor and the 'info' is telling me it has a capacity of 319.72 GB and it seems the format is "Mac OS Extended, case-sensitive,journaled".I would prefer to use it now as a portable drive for folders and files.I don't need it as a Time Machine.The files on it are music manuscript PDF and I hope to print them on the the library computer as it is far cheaper ink wise.Thank you again.

 

[ferrarr]

Then, if you do not need the info on the drive, just erase and format it as exFAT. Then you can drag and drop all the files/data you want to have backed up onto it, and also be able to use it with the library winOS PC to print whatever you need.

 

[Irishman]

Thank you again ferrar.How do you format it as exFat?

 

[ferrarr]

With the drive connected, open Disk Utility (DU), which is in Applications > Utilities. Next, select the drive you want to erase/format in the sidebar. Then look for the Erase button. In the window that comes up, name it whatever you want for "Name", select exFAT for "Format", and GUID or Master Boot Record for "Scheme".

 

[Irishman]

Hi ferrar. Thank you again. I wasn’t offered the option of “scheme” just name and format so I went ahead and it’s done. Will load it with folder and try again tomorrow. I appreciate your help.