Tim Andersen

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Q: Can I connect a PC Hard Drive to Airport Extreme?

Can I connect a PC Hard Drive to Airport Extreme?

Airport Extreme, Windows 7

Posted on Mar 30, 2013 2:32 PM

I have this question too

Solved

Level 10 (314,439 points)

Mac OS X

A:

It'll read and share FAT16 and FAT32 drives, but not exFAT or NTFS ones.

(79775)

Posted on Mar 30, 2013 2:33 PM

Q: Can I connect a PC Hard Drive to Airport Extreme?

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by Niel,Solvedanswer

Niel Mar 30, 2013 2:33 PM in response to Tim Andersen
Level 10 (314,439 points)

Mac OS X

Mar 30, 2013 2:33 PM in response to Tim Andersen

It'll read and share FAT16 and FAT32 drives, but not exFAT or NTFS ones.

(79775)
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by mende1,Helpful

mende1 Mar 30, 2013 2:33 PM in response to Tim Andersen
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Desktops

Mar 30, 2013 2:33 PM in response to Tim Andersen

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities

Of course. You can connect an external drive to the USB port of your AirPort Extreme to show it on all the computers connected to the AirPort Extreme
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by Tim Andersen,

Tim Andersen Mar 30, 2013 2:56 PM in response to mende1
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Mar 30, 2013 2:56 PM in response to mende1

Thanks for your quick replies. The reason that I ask is that I just installed a new Airport Extreme...eveything works great...multiple PC's networked, internet access, and printer...all working well, except my WD hard drive isn't showing up in Windows Explorer.
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by mende1,Helpful

mende1 Mar 30, 2013 2:58 PM in response to Tim Andersen
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Desktops

Mar 30, 2013 2:58 PM in response to Tim Andersen

In that case, Niel's reply should help you. Most of the external drives used by Windows are formatted in NTFS, a filesystem that gives problems in OS X, because OS X can't write in it. Instead, we recommend FAT32 or exFAT, but as the AirPort Extreme only detects FAT16 or FAT32, you must use FAT32
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by Niel,

Niel Mar 30, 2013 2:59 PM in response to Tim Andersen
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Mac OS X

Mar 30, 2013 2:59 PM in response to Tim Andersen

If the drive's in a supported format, click here and follow the instructions. The base station must also be a model capable of supporting 802.11n to be able to access USB drives.

(79777)
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by Tim Andersen,

Tim Andersen Mar 30, 2013 3:01 PM in response to mende1
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Mar 30, 2013 3:01 PM in response to mende1

Thanks very much mende 1 and Niel. I'll look into this.
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by mende1,

mende1 Mar 30, 2013 3:01 PM in response to Tim Andersen
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Desktops

Mar 30, 2013 3:01 PM in response to Tim Andersen

You are welcome
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by Tim Andersen,

Tim Andersen Mar 30, 2013 3:08 PM in response to Niel
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Mar 30, 2013 3:08 PM in response to Niel

The Western Digital unfortunately is NTFS. Looks like I need to purchase a new HD. Thanks again.
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by Tim Andersen,

Tim Andersen Mar 31, 2013 7:41 AM in response to Tim Andersen
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Mar 31, 2013 7:41 AM in response to Tim Andersen

Instead of purchasing a new HD, I reformatted my NTSF drive to FAT32 using the SwissKnife application. I connected this FAT32 HD to Airport Extreme and set it's parameters in the manual setup section of Airport Utility. This HD drive is now accessible on just one of my 4 PC's. It is accessible in the normal PC location; Windows Explorer. It is not visible in Windows Explorer on my other PC's. How do access this HD from my other PC's? BTW...the one PC on which it is accessible is the PC I used to reformat the drive. Thanks for your help!
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