Compatibility of Macbook pro hard drive formatted APFS with Mac OS Extended (Journaled) hard drives

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Compatibility of Macbook pro hard drive formatted APFS with Mac OS Extended (Journaled) hard drives

I just got my new 2021 Macbook Pro (Mac OS 12.6). Its hard drive came formatted APFS. I wanted to transfer data from one External HDD to another, both of which are formatted to Mac OS Extended (Journaled), but, when I tried to do this, I got an error labeled "-50".

To complete the data transfer I am now using a 2015 MacBook Pro in combination with the two HDD drives. It is a very slow process but seems to be working.

However, I would like to use my new computer with my old drives. Do I have to reformat my computer hard drive to Mac OS Extended or, alternatively, reformat my old drives to APFS?

Which of these two options would you recommend?

Many thanks for your consideration.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 12.6

Posted on Sep 17, 2022 9:58 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

127,237 points

Sep 17, 2022 11:21 AM in response to FProenza

macerror -50

Mac OS error -50 (paramErr): error in user parameter list

That does not suggest in any way that there is any incompatibility for MacOS Extended drives on a system with an APFS boot drive.

You may have created a copy request that was too complicated. Try moving files in smaller groups.

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Answer 2

FProenza Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 17, 2022 12:46 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

It is definitely complicated. I am trying to move more than 1 Terabyte between two external hard drives.

What is odd is that my 2015 Macbook Pro can deal with it and my newer computer could not..

Your suggestions of splitting the task makes sense. I will try that.

Thanks.

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Compatibility of Macbook pro hard drive formatted APFS with Mac OS Extended (Journaled) hard drives

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