How do I read OSX partition from Windows?

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nanite2000 Author

Level 1

9 points

How do I read OSX partition from Windows?

I am thinking of installing Windows 8 on my Macbook Pro using Boot Camp to create a dual boot system.

If I do this, how can I access my current Mac OSX partition from within Windows? Does boot camp mount the Mac OSX partition automatically?

If not, how can I share data between my Windows partition and Mac OSX partition?

(Apologies if this is an elementary question, but I couldn't see an obvious answer anywhere.)

Thanks.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jul 3, 2013 4:41 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,515 points

Jul 3, 2013 4:47 PM in response to nanite2000

If I do this, how can I access my current Mac OSX partition from within Windows? Does boot camp mount the Mac OSX partition automatically?

You can't access the Mac because it isn't running when you dual boot. You can purchase third-party software such as MediaFour's DriveOne to access the OS X partition. From OS X you will need a utility such as NTFS for Mac 10.0.2 or Tuxera NTFS 2012.3.6 to write to the Windows partition.

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Answer 2

Niel

Community+ 2026

Level 10

750,421 points

Jul 3, 2013 4:48 PM in response to nanite2000

Install the Boot Camp drivers. They provide the ability to read volumes formatted as Mac OS Extended.

(85065)

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Answer 3

Jul 3, 2013 6:22 PM in response to Niel

Although keep in mind thsat I am not aware of any vendor (Apple or third party) which provides access to Core Storage volumes (Fusion Drives) from Windows. I do not believe that anyone currently has drivers for accessing a MacOS Fusion Drive from Windows due to teh proprietary nature of the drive configuration/usage.

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Answer 4

nanite2000 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 3, 2013 9:20 PM in response to GeekBoy.from.Illinois

Hi GeekBoy.from.Illinois,

I'm not sure what you mean by "Core Storage volumes (Fusion Drives)". Are you saying I *can't* access my Mac partition from within Windows?

Let me put my question another way:

I have a 'Music' folder in my home directory on my Mac. If I dual boot into Windows, can I access the Music folder from within Windows? If so, how?

Thanks!

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Answer 5

Jul 4, 2013 3:29 PM in response to nanite2000

nanite2000 wrote:

Hi GeekBoy.from.Illinois,

I'm not sure what you mean by "Core Storage volumes (Fusion Drives)". Are you saying I *can't* access my Mac partition from within Windows?

...

If your Mac has an Apple Fusion Drive (an SSD and an HDD "fused" together to make one large volume) then you can not access the Mac volume from within Windows. If you don't have a Fusion Drive on your Mac, (you only have one drive, or if you have more than one drive, they are not fombined into one larger logical drive, then you should be able to access the Mac volume form Windows. When running Windows, you will need to install a driver for the HFS+ partition so you can access it. If you have installed Boot Camp, then that driver should get installed automatically when you install the Windows Support files. The driver provided by Boot Camp provides read-only access to the Mac volume. If you want read-write access to the Mac volume, then you will need a third party utility like MacDrive from Media Four, or HFS+ for Windows from Paragon.........

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