Hard drive question

BART · #1 02-23-2008, 04:38 PM

I'm getting an external drive to back some stuff up, I have both mac and pc's and was wondering if i could create separate partitions on the external drive so that i could use it as backup for both types (mac and pc).

Titantaw12 · #2 02-23-2008, 05:04 PM

Create Different folders for each os and dump all the files into their folders.

BART · #3 02-23-2008, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titantaw12

Create Different folders for each os and dump all the files into their folders.

So the drive will not have a problem with 2 different os's connecting to it?

Titantaw12 · #4 02-23-2008, 05:07 PM

BART · #5 02-23-2008, 05:09 PM

Thanks man... Do i have to get a drive that says compatible with both? or will any external hard drive work?

Titantaw12 · #6 02-23-2008, 05:11 PM

Ya, It has to be compatible with both os.

lilskipro587 · #7 02-23-2008, 05:40 PM

Bart,
A external hard drive is pretty much just a big jump/thumb drive. Usually when it states what is it compatible with it means with the software they pack in with it to lets say auto back up. Now you should be able to partition the drive why when plugging it in going to my computer, right clicking the drive, and formatting it with a partition. You could do the whole folder thing I guess but it really doesn't make a difference. Another, generally cheaper, option is to buy a USB hard drive enclosure and using that with either a new hard drive or an old one if you have one laying around that you can just put in the enclosure and format. Hope atleast some of this helped.

guitarboy911 · #8 02-23-2008, 06:06 PM

- no stop....do not format it into any other form than FAT32.

-it WILL not work in the mac or pc (depending on the format) if it is in any other format. the mac will want to convert it to one, and pc will want to convert it to another permanetly.

-just dont format to any other than FAT32 and you should be good

-trust me i know this. i have a pc and my guitar teacher has a mac. it had to be in this format or he couldnt load it with the 150gb of music that he did.

-out of the box it is most likely FAT32.

lilskipro587 · #9 02-23-2008, 06:20 PM

Exactly why I didn't state it. It is default FAT32 from the manufacturer AND when formatting in Windows it is default selected as FAT32. Your post is confusing too guitarboy911

BART · #10 02-23-2008, 10:10 PM

This is what i want...will it work on both? http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Apple-Mac-Ex...QQcmdZViewItem

guitarboy911 · #11 02-24-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilskipro587

Exactly why I didn't state it. It is default FAT32 from the manufacturer AND when formatting in Windows it is default selected as FAT32. Your post is confusing too guitarboy911

-sorry. i skrewed this up once or twice and trying to fix it is not the funnest way to spend the better part of an afternoon. so figured i''d save him from teaching the people in his household creative words.

-and some do not come default FAT32.

-really. if you go to circuit city or best buy or what not they will know more.

TheB1GDude · #12 02-25-2008, 10:09 AM

Formatting the drive as FAT32 will allow both machines to read and write to it without issue.

If you are not comfortable in doing this or want an easy option then there are some software packages that will allow you to do what you need:

http://www.mediafour.com/products/macdrive/

redrkt · #13 02-28-2008, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheB1GDude

Formatting the drive as FAT32 will allow both machines to read and write to it without issue.

If you are not comfortable in doing this or want an easy option then there are some software packages that will allow you to do what you need:

http://www.mediafour.com/products/macdrive/

Hate to tell ALL of you this BUT you cannot format a drive to work with 2 different OS's. (UNLESS you are setting up a new machine and want a dual boot system...... ie windows and linux)

I do this for a living........ you can either format in for windows or for the mac.
If you format it for windows the mac WILL NOT even see the drive. Same goes for formating it for the MAC the PC WILL NOT see the drive.

Unless you are wanting to back something up that is bigger than 8gb (currently the largest flashdrive you can buy) I would just get a couple of flashdrives and use those instead of spending the money on an external hard drive that will not do what you want it to do.

Just trying to save you some heartache and wasted money.

redrkt · #14 02-28-2008, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilskipro587

Bart,
A external hard drive is pretty much just a big jump/thumb drive.#1 Usually when it states what is it compatible with it means with the software they pack in with it to lets say auto back up. Now you should be able to partition the drive why when plugging it in going to my computer, right clicking the drive, and formatting it with a partition. You could do the whole folder thing I guess but it really doesn't make a difference. Another, generally cheaper, option is to buy a USB hard drive enclosure and using that with either a new hard drive or an old one if you have one laying around that you can just put in the enclosure and format. Hope atleast some of this helped.

#1 Not true, and external hard drive is just that an external HARD DRIVE. A jump drive/flash drive/thumb drive are usb sticks that use a circuit board for the memory. NOT the same thing as a hard drive. this is an external hard drive.external hard drive

this is a thumb drive 16gb usb flash drive

TheB1GDude · #15 03-01-2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redrkt

Hate to tell ALL of you this BUT you cannot format a drive to work with 2 different OS's. (UNLESS you are setting up a new machine and want a dual boot system...... ie windows and linux)

I do this for a living........ you can either format in for windows or for the mac.
If you format it for windows the mac WILL NOT even see the drive. Same goes for formating it for the MAC the PC WILL NOT see the drive.

Unless you are wanting to back something up that is bigger than 8gb (currently the largest flashdrive you can buy) I would just get a couple of flashdrives and use those instead of spending the money on an external hard drive that will not do what you want it to do.

Just trying to save you some heartache and wasted money.

Wow I don't mean to be rude but you might want to look into a new career!

I have a bunch of Windows format USB key drives from 512MB upto 5GB that can be read by my 10.2 OSX PowerBook.

I have a 1/2 TB NAS storage device that can be read by both devices.

So trust me it is possible.

We aren't talking about making anything dual boot we are just talking about being able to put data from two different OS's on one drive! It's the same scenario as Windows 95 and Windows NT if you didn't install NT under a FAT partition then 95 wasnt able to share files with.

I also do this for living!

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