Hi John, I'm just rushing out to a job, so can only quickly give you this information.
1. FAT32 is the best free way to format a drive cross platform, but the best way is to buy MacDrive <http://www.mediafour.com/products/macdrive/> and install it on your Windows computer, then to format the drive as HFS+. This is the native format for Macs, and with MacDrive it is read very nicely in Windows. No more ._ files, and things will just work more smoothly everywhere. (Also, FAT32 is a very inefficient format for large drives. A 500GB drive in FAT32 is actually rather nightmarishly inefficient.) 2. If a maximum file size limit of 4Gb doesn't bother you (remembering 4GB of say AVI would be about 7 minutes of video), then use FAT32. Use the Mac to format the FAT32 volume, not the PC. On your Mac: Use Disk Utility > Erase tab (for a single partition, or Disk Utility > Partition tab for more than one partition). Disk Utility calls HFS+ "Mac OS Extended", and it calls FAT32 "MS-DOS File System". That's all I have time for a the moment, I have to rush out now. Cheers, Ronni 17" MacBook Pro Intel Core i7 2.66GHz / 4GB / 1067 MHz DDR3 / 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200rpm OS X 10.6.3 Snow Leopard Windows 7 Ultimate (under sufferance) On 30/04/2010, at 1:51 PM, Jlin wrote: > > Peter, > Appreciate the reply. The only options given where > Mac OS standard 465.1 Gb > Mac OS extended 465.1 Gb > DOS 465.1 Gb > > That is when connected to mac > > > John > > Sent from my iPod > > On 30/04/2010, at 1:36 PM, "Crisp, Peter" <[email protected]> wrote: > >> >> Yes, you can select a number of formats in setting up an external drive, >> the only one in my experience that is cross-compatible between PC and >> Mac is "FAT32". The only downside of FAT32 that I can ascertain so far >> is the file size limitation of 4GB for any one file. Only really an >> issue for video files. >> >> Regards >> >> Peter... >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On >> Behalf Of [email protected] >> Sent: Friday, 30 April 2010 1:19 PM >> To: WAMUG Mailing List >> Subject: My Passport portable drive >> >> >> >> Hi, >> Can someone help? I have just obtained a WD My passport Essential >> Utra-portable >> Hard Drive 500Gb usb 2.0 ( brand new) when I connect it to my Mac >> PowerBook it >> say that the disc isn't formatted and provides options. The powerBook >> is a >> prismo running OS 9.1. The reason I have the new HD is to back the info >> pending >> upgrade. I would like to be able to used the HD like I can with A USB >> stick ie I >> can use it at home (MAc and PC) and use it at work (PC). When I attach >> to PC at >> home I can store files on the HD but the problem comes when I connect it >> to >> PowerBook. Is there away to be able to have it connect to either? >> >> Appreciate any help >> >> John Hatch >> >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Unsubscribe - <mailto:[email protected]>
