How could I get data from a mac external HD to a PC Ext. HD?

[in the mausoleum]

I'm probably also getting a pc soon and I'm thinking dang there has to be a way to do this..

[Brenivin]

if on a mac: NTFS3g, and then copy-paste things.

If on pc: buy Macdrive

[Kiretsu]

Well, if there is currently no data on the drive, or the data can be backed up on a different drive first, you can re-format the drive to FAT32. Both the Mac and your Windows machine will be able to read and write to the drive with ease.

[in the mausoleum]

Brenivin

if on a mac: NTFS3g, and then copy-paste things.

If on pc: buy Macdrive

I dont speak your language
mac drive sounds reasonable
But youre going to have to elaorate on that other thing?

[Joda01]

do note that you might have to partition the HDD, when you format it to FAT32, since FAT 32 can only support up to just above 120 GB per partition.

[in the mausoleum]

Kiretsu

Well, if there is currently no data on the drive, or the data can be backed up on a different drive first, you can re-format the drive to FAT32. Both the Mac and your Windows machine will be able to read and write to the drive with ease.

I Heard there is a size limitation to FAT32. I have 300 gigs of files on an external HD. I am just wondering.. Would I be able to fit all that onto a FAT32 HD?

I read I could also partition the disks but I didnt understand the instructions.

[Joda01]

partition means that when you format, you select a size for what you are formatting it, that i one partition, making it smaller then the hardware has room for makes room for more then 1 partition.

[in the mausoleum]

Joda01

do note that you might have to partition the HDD, when you format it to FAT32, since FAT 32 can only support up to just above 120 GB per partition.

Yeah... So If I partition I'm just going to have a HD split into 2 or 3..?

[in the mausoleum]

Are there any other issues with Fat32?

[Joda01]

in the mausoleum

Are there any other issues with Fat32?

well there is the the issue with it originally being made for 16 bit, which among other limits the length of the file name, there are some systems to work around that.

if you can get the drive formatted in NTFS, the NTFS3g driver looks like a rather good solution.
but do note that the drive will need to be more or less formatted, which means deleting the files on the drive.

you could use some of the left over space to make a FAT32 partition, it is not uncommon that formatting tools can change the size of an existing partition and make room for a new one, just do note that I have seen that ******** up the files or some of them, but not in resent years.

[trezoid]

Joda01

do note that you might have to partition the HDD, when you format it to FAT32, since FAT 32 can only support up to just above 120 GB per partition.

I have a 320gb fat32 drive...

It worked fine, until the platter stopped turning.

Also, it was designed for 32bit, and long file names, as it was introduced for (as far as I know) for windows 2000, along with the introduction of long names.

before that there was fat16, which WAS 16 bit.

[Joda01]

trezoid

Joda01

do note that you might have to partition the HDD, when you format it to FAT32, since FAT 32 can only support up to just above 120 GB per partition.

I have a 320gb fat32 drive...

It worked fine, until the platter stopped turning.

so was it FAT16 that stopped at 120?

it has been to long since I read up on this.

edit: I forgot that FAT 32 also has a lower file size maximum then NTFS

[trezoid]

Joda01

trezoid

Joda01

do note that you might have to partition the HDD, when you format it to FAT32, since FAT 32 can only support up to just above 120 GB per partition.

I have a 320gb fat32 drive...

It worked fine, until the platter stopped turning.

so was it FAT16 that stopped at 120?

it has been to long since I read up on this.

I think so, yes.

[Joda01]

trezoid

Joda01

trezoid

Joda01

do note that you might have to partition the HDD, when you format it to FAT32, since FAT 32 can only support up to just above 120 GB per partition.

I have a 320gb fat32 drive...

It worked fine, until the platter stopped turning.

so was it FAT16 that stopped at 120?

it has been to long since I read up on this.

I think so, yes.

here look like we where both wrong, the larger size is due to an overlay some OS's can make, like VFAT.