kirk1015B
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: SATA External Hard drive

Can I use a SATA External Hard drive from my pc as backup on a new Mac. I'm thing of making the jump.

I've read that they cant be used on a Mac. Also can my ITunes library files from that hard drive be ported over to the Mac?

 

Thank You

Posted on Apr 4, 2015 3:58 AM

by Matt Clifton,Solvedanswer
Matt Clifton Matt Clifton
Level 7 (29,905 points)
A:

Yes and no. Windows-formatted drives (NTFS format) can be read but not written to by Macs. You can, however, purchase a utility called Paragon NTFS ($20) that allows you to read and write to it. This will not change the format of the drive, and unfortunately, the Mac's built in backup (Time Machine) only works on Mac-formatted drives.

 

So you have a few options. Depending on the size of the external drive and the available space on your new Mac, one thing you could do is copy the files across to a folder on the Mac, then reformat the drive using Disk Utility to Mac format and then subsequently use it as your Mac's backup drive. You should be able to copy the music into your Mac's Music folder following these directions:

 

How to move your iTunes library to a new computer - Apple Support

 

Edit: if the only interface to the hard drive is eSATA, you won't be able to connect it to the Mac at all. You'll need a USB or Thunderbolt interface (or FireWire, with a Thunderbolt-Firewire adaptor).

 

Matt

Posted on Apr 4, 2015 11:02 AM

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kirk1015B

Q: SATA External Hard drive

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Matt Clifton,Solvedanswer

    Matt Clifton Matt Clifton Apr 4, 2015 11:02 AM in response to kirk1015B
    Level 7 (29,905 points)
    Apr 4, 2015 11:02 AM in response to kirk1015B

    Yes and no. Windows-formatted drives (NTFS format) can be read but not written to by Macs. You can, however, purchase a utility called Paragon NTFS ($20) that allows you to read and write to it. This will not change the format of the drive, and unfortunately, the Mac's built in backup (Time Machine) only works on Mac-formatted drives.

     

    So you have a few options. Depending on the size of the external drive and the available space on your new Mac, one thing you could do is copy the files across to a folder on the Mac, then reformat the drive using Disk Utility to Mac format and then subsequently use it as your Mac's backup drive. You should be able to copy the music into your Mac's Music folder following these directions:

     

    How to move your iTunes library to a new computer - Apple Support

     

    Edit: if the only interface to the hard drive is eSATA, you won't be able to connect it to the Mac at all. You'll need a USB or Thunderbolt interface (or FireWire, with a Thunderbolt-Firewire adaptor).

     

    Matt

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Apr 4, 2015 6:28 AM in response to kirk1015B
    Level 9 (54,642 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 4, 2015 6:28 AM in response to kirk1015B

    If you use default preferences setting in iTunes all you need to do to backup iTunes is copy the entire iTunes folder to the other drive.  In the long run using Time Machine or some other utility to make incremental backups where it isn't copying files that have already been copied saves time.