hi got seagate expansion and i want it to read in both windows and mac pls help

Your solutions include:

format the drive as FAT32 - both Windows and Mac computers can read/write that format but with that format you won't be able to use it as a TimeMachine drive

format the drive as NTFS - that's current Windows native and download MacFuse software for the Mac that write to an NTFS drive (the Mac can already read NTFS).

Keep the HFS format and purchase MacDrive for your Windows computer so it can read/write the Mac formatted drive

Partition the drive into 2 logical drives and format one for the Mac and one for Windows.

I chose the MacFuse route myself

Okay, let's start over. A Mac and Windows computer cannot read each others' drive as you've seen. You have several choices and depending on what you intend to do with the drive some are better than others. Before you make your decision think about why you want 1 drive for 2 computers and what you want to accomplish. Also read about Time Machine. Some choices will not work with Time Machine.

Your choices include:

1) buying a program to let your Windows computer read the drive as you have it formated now. The only downside is you'll spend about $35

2) format the hard drive so the Windows computer can read it and use a free program on your Macintosh so it can read and write to the drive. Don't choose this option if you want to use TimeMachine with the drive.

3) split the drive into two different sections (this is called partitioning) so that one can be formatted for Windows and the other for the Macintosh. The disadvantage is you have to decide how much of the drive to assign to each system and once the decision is made it is inconvenient (or worse) to change it.

4) reformat the hard drive using a system that both computers can read and write to. Like option 2, this keeps you from using the drive for TimeMachine

You don't have to understand all the ins and outs of the 4 options - we can guide you through the process once you've made your decision. Just think about how you want to use the drive and why you've chosen to use 1 drive between 2 computers. Come back and let us know your thoughts and we can guide you toward the best choice or at least help you eliminate some of the options.

Plug the drive into your Mac and run Disk Utility - it is in the Utilities folder of your Application folder. Once Disk Utility is running, look in the left side of the window for your external drive and select it. (You'll see 2 names for the drive - the one on top will probably be Seagate - choose the one below, that's what you want to format.) Now in the right window pane select Erase. Now you'll see some instructions in the right window pane and in the middle a pop-up menu. Click on the menu and select MS-DOS (FAT). Then click on the erase button. Your drive will be ready for use by both a Windows and Mac computer.

Thanks, dwb. Your info above is VERY helpful. I had the same question.

Glad to be of service 🙂

Quality info! straight to the point and easy to follow, many thanks!

Just a question regarding the options you mentioned above:

If I partition the Seagate drive into some Windows compatible and some Mac compatible, the files saved onto the external drive using a Mac - can these files then also be accessed using a Windows computer in the future?

Yes. If you have a mac formatted HFS+ (MAC OS EXTENDED) you can use the free program HFSExplorer to read and extract your files onto a windows PC. There is another program, MACDrive, that allows read and write privelege on the HFS+ partition from your windows PC.

FORMAT TYPES

FAT32 (File Allocation Table)

• Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
• Maximum file size: 4GB.
• Maximum volume size: 2TB
• You can use this format if you share the drive between Mac OS X and Windows computers and have no files larger than 4GB.

NTFS (Windows NT File System)

• Read/Write NTFS from native Windows.
• Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X
• To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X, here are some alternatives:
  • For Mac OS X 10.4 or later (32 or 64-bit), install Paragon (approx $20) (Best Choice for Lion)
  • Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and Lion, but is not advisable, due to instability.
• AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS
• Maximum file size: 16 TB
• Maximum volume size: 256TB
• You can use this format if you routinely share a drive with multiple Windows systems.

HFS+ ((((MAC FORMAT)))) (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Don't use case-sensitive)

• Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X
• Required for Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper! backups of Mac internal hard drive.
• To Read HFS+ (but not Write) from Windows, Install HFSExplorer
• Maximum file size: 8EiB
• Maximum volume size: 8EiB
• You can use this format if you only use the drive with Mac OS X, or use it for backups of your Mac OS X internal drive, or if you only share it with one Windows PC (with MacDrive installed on the PC)

EXFAT (FAT64)

• Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
• Not all Windows versions support exFAT.
• exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
• AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support exFAT
• Maximum file size: 16 EiB
• Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB
• You can use this format if it is supported by all computers with which you intend to share the drive. See "disadvantages" for details.