External Drive

Question

Level 1

16 points

External Drive

One simple question, I have a hard disk from my PC, which does not work anymore. I need to know this: What format do I need to use to clean it up and make it readable for my Mac and for other PCs.

I am going to format the hard drive via USB with MacBook Pro and I see many options:

MS-DOS FAT

Mac OS Extended (journaled)

Mac OS Extended

Mac OS Extended (case sensitive journaled)

Mac OS Extended (case sensitive)

Ex FAT

I want to be able to save photos, movies, music and stuff like that and make it readable for Macs and PCs

Thanks and I am sorry for such a noobie question, I know that for PC NTFS is an awesome format but I dont know crap about Macs

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jan 10, 2012 10:25 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Jan 10, 2012 10:29 PM in response to khyronelric

Mac OS Extended (journaled)

Reply

Answer 2

fane_j

Level 4

3,697 points

Jan 10, 2012 10:33 PM in response to khyronelric

Try this thread

How is it that my Hard Disk is not readable to other computer but my Macbook Pro?

Reply

Answer 3

fane_j

Level 4

3,697 points

Jan 10, 2012 10:35 PM in response to shldr2thewheel

shldr2thewheel wrote:

Mac OS Extended (journaled)

The OP is trying to make his drive "readable for my Mac and for other PCs". Neither read nor write JHFS+ is possible on PCs without installing additional drivers.

Reply

Answer 4

khyronelric Author

Level 1

16 points

Jan 10, 2012 10:41 PM in response to shldr2thewheel

shldr2thewheel your answer was wrong, thank God I did not listen to you

Reply

Answer 5

khyronelric Author

Level 1

16 points

Jan 10, 2012 10:42 PM in response to fane_j

Thanks!!!! I read the post. not sure I could not find it in the forums.

thanks

one last question, it sims that ExFAT is better than FAT because it does not has the limitation of not allowing files bigger than 4GB. Would you subgest ExFAT?

Reply

Answer 6

fane_j

Level 4

3,697 points

Jan 10, 2012 10:55 PM in response to khyronelric

khyronelric wrote:

shldr2thewheel your answer was wrong

Take it easy. We're just trying to help each other here, but sometimes we make mistakes. shldr2thewheel is an experienced guy. He probably was in a hurry and selected the wrong text. It could happen to anyone. Errare humanum est, my friend.

Reply

Answer 7

fane_j

Level 4

3,697 points

Jan 10, 2012 10:58 PM in response to khyronelric

khyronelric wrote:

Would you subgest ExFAT?

It really depends on your needs. If you are sure you will never need to use the drive with an older Mac or PC, or with a Linux machine, yes. If you want max compatibility, use FAT32.

Reply