Can a Mac read .mp3 files from a PC USB hard drive?

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Level 1

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Can a Mac read .mp3 files from a PC USB hard drive?

I have a BIG music collection stored on a 1TB external USB hard drive that I currently use with my Windows Vista PC. Much too large to store on an internal hd.

I want to buy a Mac mini.

Will I be able to access my music files (mp3's mostly) by plugging the drive into the new Mac?

I would be willing to buy a second external drive that is "Mac formatted" and transfer the files over to that, if necessary. Would that be possible? Could I plug both the PC and Mac drives into the Mac and have it migrate the files over (ie - from the PC hd to the empty Mac hd)?

Transferring over a network probably isn't going to be a possibility, btw.

Thank you for your help,

Bill

Mac mini

Posted on Feb 6, 2012 7:43 PM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

92,560 points

Feb 6, 2012 8:19 PM in response to MemphisBill

Yes as long as they are not protected purchases from iTunes or something like that.

As you can see I also have a fair collection at around 158GB (everything from A Flock of Seaguls to ZZ Top) on a MS-DOS FAT-32 formatted WD Passport that I use for sharing with both Windoz and Mac's.

Also note that OS X can read NTFS formatted drives, but not write to them without special software.

Sharing drives - Page 1 | Macworld

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

92,560 points

Feb 6, 2012 8:47 PM in response to MemphisBill

Sorry, almost forgot... If some or all are iTunes purchases, then all you have to do is to deauthorize your old computer and authorize the new one to use those tunes.

Apple - Support - iTunes - Authorization

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Answer 3

MemphisBill Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 6, 2012 8:52 PM in response to MemphisBill

Thanks!!

I haven't tried it yet, but your response is exactly what I was hoping to hear.

I appreciate the info.

B

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Answer 4

den.thed

Level 10

92,560 points

Feb 6, 2012 10:05 PM in response to MemphisBill

Your welcome!

By the way Mac's and iTunes do a great job of handling very large music libraries. I easily keep a 100GB music library on my Early 2006 iMac desktop and over a 140GB music library on my 2010 Mac Mini without a single flinch from either.

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Answer 5

Feb 7, 2012 4:03 AM in response to MemphisBill

You have to think about how you want the drive formatted to enable windows and OSX to both be able to read and write to/an external drive without installing extra software.

I am sure some one will correct this but OSX can read but not write NTFS formatted drives.

Whilst windows can not read or write to OSX Extended Journaled.

Both windows and OSX can read and write FAT or ex FAT Formatted drives.

I use Macdrive 8 on windows to read and write OSX Extended Journaled formatted drives.

There is software to enable OSX to write to NTFS formatted drives but I have no personel experience. Mike

P.S. Sorry If I confused you.

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