Thank you for your info Ferrar - much appreciated. I should have realised that FAT32 was formatting standard - but in marketing the Firewire adapter, this is mentioned -The device you want to know about , would that be the laptop or the seagate External? Either way it is really the principle of the process I am doubtful about - the Air is 13 inch, 1.7 GHz, the Seagate has no model name on it - capacity 700Gb, AC - and 240V-(we're in GB) physical size about 7 by 7 by 3 inches - old technology, the iMac it is used on at the mo is a graphite, and shows faults and will hit the scrapheap anytime soon, just have to backup before it is cleaned. ( My Blueberry has the same destination, of 1996 vintage, also firewire endowed. ) At about three GBP, the adapter will not break the bank, although I have asked the seller if he knows it will work, but not holding my breath that he will know the answer.