Hello.
Is it possible to access an external USB HDD's data, that is used for Apple Mac OS X 10.5.8's Time Machine backups, on non-Apple Mac machines (Windows and Linux)? Or can it be only be accessed with a Mac? I use multiple computers and OSes.
Thank you in advance. 🙂
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8), 2.4 Ghz; A1260 model; 15" size.
No.
No.
Klaus1 wrote:
No.
No to both questions even on another Mac? 😟
If you format a drive partition as EXFAT, you can read/write from any system that recognizes that format.
But it can be tricky even with that compatibility. I formatted a thumb drive as exFat using Mac,but the Windows system would not recognize it. When I formatted that exFat on Windws, OSX had no issues with it. Odd, that.
But then you do not have a specially formatted backup set, you have a directory structure you designed and must maintain.
steve359 wrote:
If you format a drive partition as EXFAT, you can read/write from any system that recognizes that format.
But it can be tricky even with that compatibility. I formatted a thumb drive as exFat using Mac,but the Windows system would not recognize it. When I formatted that exFat on Windws, OSX had no issues with it. Odd, that.
But then you do not have a specially formatted backup set, you have a directory structure you designed and must maintain.
Interesting. I thought Time Machine only can do Mac OS X's fileystem (HFS IIRC). I remember a few years ago, I formatted the drive as NTFS, but Mac OS X 10.5.8's Time Machine refused to use it so I made it HFS. Now, I am hoping Windows and Linux can access Time Machine backups, but it doesn't seem like it can. 😟
You are correct. Steve's suggestion will not work.
I was not trying to suggest a TimeMachine-compatible OS, just an alternate form of backup that will be fully usable by many OS versions.
I know that TimeMachine needs HFS+.
steve359 wrote:
I was not trying to suggest a TimeMachine-compatible OS, just an alternate form of backup that will be fully usable by many OS versions.
I know that TimeMachine needs HFS+.
Ah, I thought you were trying to say Time Machine would work with exFAT. OK, so only HFS+ then. 😟
I apologize for not being clear.
steve359 wrote:
I apologize for not being clear.
No problems. Thanks for following up. 😉
Well, you could backup with a more universally readable method, like a clone, especially to an APM Partition, then other Macs could use it & for PCs...
MacDrive for your PCs... allows them to Read/Write & Format HFS+...
Access Apple Mac OS X 10.5.8's Time Machine backups from non-Apple Mac machines?
