HT204087: Move your data from a Windows PC to a Mac

Learn about Move your data from a Windows PC to a Mac
GINGERNINJA2
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: PC to Mac.... Long over due.

I have a PC with an external 3TB my book HD. I am looking to purchase an imac and was wondering if the HD will have any issues when i plug it into the mac.

 

I will be using it for music production and photo editing.

 

Any suggestions as to which one i should get would be great:

 

i was looking at either a 24" duo core or a 27" i5.

iMac

Posted on Aug 1, 2013 11:33 AM

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GINGERNINJA2

Q: PC to Mac.... Long over due.

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  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Aug 1, 2013 6:55 PM in response to GINGERNINJA2
    Level 8 (37,994 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 1, 2013 6:55 PM in response to GINGERNINJA2

    The main issue would be the drive's format, which being from Windows, would be NTFS. OS X can only read NTFS, not write. So you'd have to do one of two things:

     

    1) When you have your new Mac, copy everything off the drive, reformat it as Mac OS Extended, and copy everything back.

     

    2) If you must be able to share the drive with a Windows computer, then either install Paragon NTFS on the Mac to give it read/write capability, or first reformat it as exFAT on the Windows computer. OS X can read/write exFAT with no extra software necessary.