Hi John, If you downloaded & installed MacDrive 8 … you won't be formatting the USB external Drive as FAT-32, you will format it HFS+ as I mentioned in my previous email >>>>> 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+.
On the link I sent before is instructions for removing the virtual disc in Windows (the Windows instructions are below the Mac instructions) <http://www.marccizravi.com/2010/remove-wd-smartware/> Will you still be 'stymed'?? With MacDrive, your PC can both read and write to an OS X Extended (HFS+) hard drive. But, I feel you probably will have some issues with copying files across as your PowerBook Prismo only has USB 1.1 ports. And, No version of 9.x supports USB 2.0 nor are there any drivers to do so; USB 2.0 defaults to 1.1 speeds. Cheers, Ronni On 01/05/2010, at 10:50 AM, Jlin wrote: > > Ronni, > Yes I finally found that out. Is it the dreaded smartware interfering with > the transfer? Also my OS is 9.2.2. Should check before I quess. The software > that I downloaded was macdrive 8. I noticed before I formatted the Hd on the > PC that my mac allowed me the same option of hfs. > I need to get some help with the PC side to remove the virtual disc but after > doing this will I be able to continue copying or am I still stymed? > > John > > Sent from my iPod > > On 01/05/2010, at 8:58 AM, Ronda Brown <[email protected]> wrote: > >> >> Hi John, >> >> What software did you download and install? >> >> You need to get rid of the dreaded WD SmartWare rubbish …. >> >> The WD SmartWare partition is in the drives firmware and mounts as a virtual >> CD every time the drive is mounted. >> It's not removable by standard software. >> >> Look here instead & follow the Mac Step1 & Mac Step 2 instructions exactly. >> >> <http://www.marccizravi.com/2010/remove-wd-smartware/> >> >> Also, have a read here: >> <http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3835&p_sid=5rFpOK-j&p_lva=3779> >> >> I notice you are using OS 9.1 and all the instructions are for OS X 10.4 & >> above. >> >> Cheers, >> Ronni >> >> On 30/04/2010, at 11:54 PM, Jlin wrote: >> >>> >>> Hi, >>> I downloaded the software and formated the disk as discussed. Two problems. >>> 1. The hard drive has a permanent partition (WD SmartWare) which I am >>> unable to remove >>> 2. This one really annoys that is the mac freezes when I try and transfer >>> files >>> >>> Any suggestions >>> >>> >>> John >>> >>> Sent from my iPod >>> >>> On 30/04/2010, at 5:24 PM, Ronda Brown <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> Hi John & Peter, >>>> >>>> Yeah, I probably went a little overboard on the time of 7mins ;-), but >>>> wanted to point out the limitation of FAT-32. >>>> No. 2 of my reply to John is very important: >>>> >>>>>> Use the Mac to format the FAT32 volume, not the PC. >>>> >>>> Because Microsoft Windows XP limits a FAT32 volume to 32GB it quits >>>> formatting when it hits the 32GB mark. >>>> >>>> Cheers, >>>> Ronni >>>> >>>> On 30/04/2010, at 2:38 PM, Crisp, Peter wrote: >>>> >>>>> >>>>> Yes John, I would take Ronni's input as gospel there. Follow her lead >>>>> explicitly. >>>>> >>>>> The file size limitation (4GB) of FAT32 may or may not be an issue for >>>>> you. The resultant file size for an AVI file I think is resolution >>>>> dependant (example - I have an episode of Top Gear in AVI format - it is >>>>> 50 minutes approx and is a file of 242MB). But some home video taken on >>>>> my HD camcorder, some of the individual segments (20 min approx) exceed >>>>> the 4GB file size so are a problem for the FAT32 drive. So if you're >>>>> using HD files, expect large files of short run time. >>>>> >>>>> So it comes down to if you're prepared to accept the compromise in file >>>>> size handling capability to have the cross compatibility. For me this >>>>> was a bearable compromise. >>>>> >>>>> Regards >>>>> >>>>> Peter... >>>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On >>>>> Behalf Of Ronda Brown >>>>> Sent: Friday, 30 April 2010 2:09 PM >>>>> To: WAMUG Mailing List >>>>> Subject: Re: My Passport portable drive >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> 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]>
