Thanksa for that link Jostein. So do you think i'll be ok if i don't install the supplied software and just run Swissknife and format. Its an external HD if i forgot to mention that, usb2.
Dave On 7/17/07, AlunFoto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Good thing if you can create the FAT32 on MAC. For anyone who need to > do this on a windows (XP or older) machine, I'd recommend the freeware > application CompuApps SwissKnife v3.x > > http://www.compuapps.com/download/swissknife/Swissknife.htm > > Jostein > > 2007/7/16, Godfrey DiGiorgi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > Their response is a little stilted, and they are referring to Panther > > (Mac OS X v10.3.x) which is out of date by at least a year and a > > half. Certainly written by someone much more familiar with Windows > > than with Mac OS X in my estimation. > > > > The facts: > > > > - Mac OS X can read and write FAT32 file systems, and can format a > > volume to either the Apple's Mac OS Extended or to FAT32 (and a > > couple of others besides). It can also read NTFS file system volumes, > > but not write to them. > > > > - Windows XP will read and write both NTFS and FAT32 file system > > volumes of arbitrary size. It will format drives to both system > > models as well, but will not allow creating a FAT32 partition larger > > than 32Gbytes. Windows > > > > My standard operating procedure when I buy an external hard drive, > > either FireWire 400/800 or USB 2.0, is to attach it my Apple PowerMac > > G5 or PowerBook G4. I open Disk Utility, select the drive, and go to > > the Erase tab. If I want the drive to be useable for read and write > > from both Mac OS X and Windows, I set the format option to "MS-DOS > > File System", press the Erase button, and confirm it. > > > > That erases and reformats the drive to FAT32 volume format. At this > > point the drive can be connected to either Mac OS X or Windows > > computers and you'll have full access to share files with it. Having > > done this a hundred times (at least!), I've yet to find any issues > > arising from using drives formatted this way with both Mac OS X and > > Windows XP systems. It also erases all the stuff that might be on the > > drive as delivered. I've never found any use for all the junk > > software they put on these drives as perks anyway. > > > > The only issue that very infrequently comes up are file name > > specifics: FAT32 and Mac OS Extended formats have slightly different > > file name length and reserved character sets. If you use normal file > > names of up to 32 characters and don't use diacritical marks or non- > > English characters, you won't have any problems at all. > > > > Godfrey > > > > > > > > On Jul 16, 2007, at 12:01 PM, David J Brooks wrote: > > > > > HI all. > > > > > > I recently bout on eof the above, as i need more external storage. I > > > was trying to get the WD pocket one that could swap between Mac and PC > > > but the companies supplier was on back order and i got this. > > > > > > I sent a email to Maxtor to see if i could swap between Mac and PC(XP > > > Home) and i have pasted the reply below. > > > > > > This things comes wioth preloaded software for Mac/PC plug and play. > > > How do i know if its FAT 32 or NTFS. They say if ist FAt 32 the mac > > > will read it but not visa versa. I'm more concerned about backing up > > > on the PC but would like the Mac to read it sometimes if possible. > > > > > > Any comments here, I dont want to lose files if i take it from the pc > > > to the mac. > > > > > > Dave(see below) > > > > > > Dear Valued Maxtor Customer, > > > > > > Thank you for your E-mail enquiry, which is important to us. > > > > > > As long as you format the drive as FAT32, > > > You have no problem to swapping between PC and Mac. > > > > > > http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/knowledge_base/ > > > Answer ID > > > 908 > > > > > > Can I swap my Maxtor External Device between a Mac and PC? > > > > > > Problem: > > > > > > Sharing an external hard drive between Windows and Macintosh systems > > > has been an issue that has caused much difficulty in the past. > > > End-Users that delve into both the Windows and Macintosh system see > > > this problem on a daily basis; they cannot share files between their > > > Windows PCs and Mac Computers. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Cause: > > > > > > The problem stems from the fact that the file systems used by Windows > > > Based PCs (FAT, FAT32, NTFS) differ from those used by Macintosh > > > Computers (Mac OS Extended, HFS+). These differences make it a > > > difficult task to share files between Mac and PC users. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Resolution: > > > > > > Click here for ways to use Windows formatted external drives with Mac > > > Systems. It is worth mentioning that Mac OS X (Panther 10.3.x) can now > > > read NTFS Volumes; this means that you can copy files from an external > > > drive (formatted with NTFS) to a Mac running Panther. However, you > > > cannot write files from the Mac to the NTFS Volume. > > > > > > > > > Should you require any further assistance please do not hesitate to > > > contact us. > > > In order to allow us to deal with all enquiries as efficiently and > > > accurately as possible > > > We would ask that you include any previous emails when replying to us. > > > > > > Kind Regards, > > > > > > Isaac Young > > > For & On Behalf of > > > APAC Technical Support Team > > > Maxtor Branded Products Group APAC > > > Seagate Technologies Republic of Ireland Ltd. > > > > > > -- > > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > > [email protected] > > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > > > > > -- > http://www.alunfoto.no/galleri/ > http://alunfoto.blogspot.com > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > -- Equine Photography www.caughtinmotion.com http://brooksinthecountry.blogspot.com/ Ontario Canada -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
