Sagesmom
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Partitioning External Hard Drive

I have my Windows PC backed up on a 500GB external hard drive but only 46GB are used. I want to partition the drive so I can use the rest of it to back up my macbook air. How do I partition it without erasing the data that is on there? Do I just make one partition 46GB and the other 454GB?  How do I know where on the drive the data is stored?  Or will it automatically go into one partition?  Thank you much!

MacBook Air, iOS 9.1

Posted on Dec 12, 2015 3:58 AM

by OGELTHORPE,Apple recommended
OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE
Level 9 (52,028 points)
Mac OS X
A:

How is this drive currently formatted?  It will have to be a format that both Mac and the PC can use or you will have to install third party software if it is formatted NTFS.  Time machine will work only on a Mac only format.

 

Your best option is to have separate drives for PC and Mac.

 

Ciao.

Posted on Dec 12, 2015 7:48 AM

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Sagesmom

Q: Partitioning External Hard Drive

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  • by OGELTHORPE,Apple recommended

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Dec 12, 2015 7:48 AM in response to Sagesmom
    Level 9 (52,028 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 12, 2015 7:48 AM in response to Sagesmom

    How is this drive currently formatted?  It will have to be a format that both Mac and the PC can use or you will have to install third party software if it is formatted NTFS.  Time machine will work only on a Mac only format.

     

    Your best option is to have separate drives for PC and Mac.

     

    Ciao.

  • by Sagesmom ,

    Sagesmom Sagesmom Dec 12, 2015 8:00 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 12, 2015 8:00 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    It is a 500GB drive with only 49GB used so I don't want to buy another drive. The data is Windows which is why I want to partition-so I can format the rest for Mac. I won't be using my Windows computer anymore. I want 2 partitions. One either the data that is already there, the other to be formatted so I can back up my Mac to it.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Dec 12, 2015 8:07 AM in response to Sagesmom
    Level 9 (52,028 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 12, 2015 8:07 AM in response to Sagesmom

    I understand you reluctance for an additional external HDD.  You are certainly entitled to make that decision.

     

    You have not answered that most important question, 'How is the HDD currently formatted'?

     

    Ciao.

  • by Sagesmom ,

    Sagesmom Sagesmom Dec 12, 2015 8:25 AM in response to Sagesmom
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 12, 2015 8:25 AM in response to Sagesmom

    IT is formatted for Windows. That's why I want to partition it-so I can format 1 partition to back up my new Mac.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Dec 12, 2015 8:57 AM in response to Sagesmom
    Level 9 (52,028 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 12, 2015 8:57 AM in response to Sagesmom

    Connect the HDD to your MBP and click on the HDD icon on the desktop with the COMMAND + I keys.  This should result in a display similar too this:

    Screen Shot 2015-12-12 at 11.55.02 AM.png

    What does it say next to FORMAT?

     

    Ciao.

  • by Sagesmom ,

    Sagesmom Sagesmom Dec 15, 2015 12:53 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 15, 2015 12:53 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    It says: Windows NT File System (NTFS). That is why I want to partition it. Use part for Macbook and save the windows formatted data.

  • by OGELTHORPE,Apple recommended

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Dec 15, 2015 12:58 PM in response to Sagesmom
    Level 9 (52,028 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 15, 2015 12:58 PM in response to Sagesmom

    I suggest that you consider a third party application such as Paragon or Tuxera that will allow you to write to a NTFS formatted external HDD.  Then you have no pressing need to partition the HDD.

     

    Ciao.

  • by dean@26,

    dean@26 dean@26 Sep 6, 2016 8:09 PM in response to Sagesmom
    Level 1 (106 points)
    Sep 6, 2016 8:09 PM in response to Sagesmom

    Try Stellar Partition Manager since it supports NTFS alog with HFS, FAT and EXFAT. You can resize the NTFS partition to (say) 100 GBs and with the available free spaces you can create a partition with Mac OS Journaled that will support backing up Mac hard disk drive.