HT1604: Mac OS: About Mac OS Extended Volume Hard Drive Format or HFS+

Learn about Mac OS: About Mac OS Extended Volume Hard Drive Format or HFS+
Faisal1977

Q: I can't open Mac file at my window

Am using MacBook pro and when I saved my file at my MacBook and try to open it at my dell computer I can't view any of my files, but when I open my external hard drive at my MacBook I can view them! So how I can open the files in my window dell with applications that been saved in my MacBook. The file that I mentioned like world documents and excel documents

 

Need your help

 

Looking to hear from you

 

Thanks

 

Faisal

MacBook Pro, iOS 5.1

Posted on Apr 9, 2012 8:13 PM

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Q: I can't open Mac file at my window

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  • by FrenchToast,

    FrenchToast FrenchToast Apr 9, 2012 10:15 PM in response to Faisal1977
    Level 3 (645 points)
    Apr 9, 2012 10:15 PM in response to Faisal1977

    It could come from the fact that you have formatted your external drive on the Mac, in a file system Windows can't read or write (HFS+ comes to mind). Otherwise, you need applications/programs such as MS Word (or OpenOffice, LibreOffice, etc...) to read and edit .doc files, Excel (or the same open-source alternatives) to read and edit .xls (or .xlsx) files, etc...

     

    If your files aren't accessible when you connect your external drive to your Dell PC, there's a problem with the file system on the external drive. Back-up all the files on the Mac again, then format the external drive from the PC, then save the files on the external drive again. You can also send them to yourself via email, and save directly the attachments on the PC. Word and Excel files can't be that heavy...