Maxtor Basics Personal storage

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Maxtor Basics Personal storage

Hello Mac Users!.
I've just changed over to Mac after many years as a PC user. I have an iMac using V10.4 Tiger as its OS and I'm struggling with the new system. I have brought over a Maxtor Basics Personal Storage 3200 as an external hard drive which I would like to use for backup, probably using SuperDuper! The problem is, my iMac insists on treating it as Read Only. I really don't fancy getting a brand new Firewire drive for this purpose unless I really have to.
Can anybody tell me what I need to do to make it part of my Mac system?
Any ideas welcome.

iMax Mac OS X (10.4.8)

iMax Mac OS X (10.4.8)

iMax Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Mar 11, 2007 4:18 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 11, 2007 4:47 PM in response to taffbanjo

Hello! Click once on the drive and then do a "get info" from the finder window (or right click to choose the "get info" window) and see how it's formatted. It's likely formatted as NTFS (modern pc). If so you'll have to re-format it in disk utility. The Mac can read/write the Mac file system and also FAT32 dos but read only the NTFS file system. If you format it FAT32 you can use it on both Mac and PC. If you're going to make a bootable clone use the Mac file system. Tom

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Answer 2

taffbanjo Author

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Mar 11, 2007 5:15 PM in response to Thomas Bryant

Tom,
Thanks very much - it was frighteningly easy.
I had heard that the Apple Family was incredibly helpful - looks like it's true.
Many thanks again.
Eric.

iMax Mac OS X (10.4.8)

iMax Mac OS X (10.4.8)

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Answer 3

Mar 11, 2007 6:09 PM in response to taffbanjo

Hello Again! Always glad to help! You'll find good advice along with good manners on the "Discussion Boards" and you'll find the change refreshing! Tom

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Answer 4

Jpfresno

Level 4

3,020 points

Mar 12, 2007 12:44 AM in response to taffbanjo

Hi taffbanjo, Welcome to Apple's Users Help Users Forums.

Glad you got it solved.

Thanks in Apple Forums is through the Stars system. See the blue box at the top of the thread as well as the Apple emails re new posts to the thread.

With the buttons just to the left of "Reply" for the OP = Original Poster.
1 Green Solved available. 10 pts
2 Gold Helpful available. 5 pts.

Mark the buttons at the appropriate post.

Joyous Computing, JP

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Answer 5

zjn22

Level 1

0 points

May 2, 2007 12:12 PM in response to Thomas Bryant

Hi there,
I am having the same problem with my storage device. I know that it is windows formatted, but I still dont understand how to format it in disk utility. Any specifics? Thanks

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