I have recently purchased a 2"5 external hard drive for backing up my files with Mac OS X's "Time Machine" feature (automated system backup), as well as for random file storage.
I would also like to be able to use this drive in order to transfer files back and forth between my Macbook Pro (my main computer) and the computers of my family members, who are running Windows XP. The drive is 250 gigs, so I have more than enough space for both backup and storage.
Unfortunately, "Time Machine" needs to have my drive formatted "Mac OS Extended", the standard Mac filesystem, in order for it to work with Time Machine. This means that I cannot use FAT32 or NTFS, which Windows machines will recognize.
I also have a small, 512mb usb stick, I figured I could load it with some software which will allow a windows machine to read the Mac filesystem. The only such software I have found, however, is MacDrive, but I would prefer a freeware application I can install on multiple computers if I need to, without having to pay a license for every computer I'd like to install the application on. The best scenario would be an stand-alone application which requires no installation and can run on a windows machine directly from a USB stick.
Is there any such utility? A Linux utility would work as well, as I can boot the windows machine with a linux live CD and handle the file transfers that way.
Thanks in advance for any help!
Liron
For the external harddrive, I am assuming that you would hook it up primarily to one computer, either mac or pc, and have the mac and pc on a network.
Because then you have a tonne of options!
No you do not have to be on the internet for this, you just need to network your mac and pc. Which will make your life easier and more efficient.
Here is a great link to everything started Lifehacker Mac HEART Windows
This will answer all your questions on the possibilities and what you can do.
As for the USB key, try the following:
In Disk Utility, you have to pick the actual flash drive not the formatted (named) drive. In the window, you'll see 2 drives in the list.MS-DOS is not an option if you choose the formatted drive. In order to get the MS-DOS option you must click on the Physical Drive icon, not the Mount Point. If it's a USB flash drive you should see an orange icon in the drive list.
Hope that helps. That's all I can think of.
Oh, and once you get everything working for your USB the way that you want get the wikipedia list of portable applications. Mac and PC non-installing goodness!
JtotheA,
Thanks for your reply - unfortunately this is not an issue of not physically being able to reformat the drive to FAT32 (dos). I *can* do that, but if I do, I won't be able to use the drive with Time Machine, which requires a drive with the "Mac OS Extended" filesystem.
So far I have partitioned the drive, one partition is Mac OS Extended, one partition for FAT32. I would still need to find a utility which will allow me to access my backed up mac files on the disk from within windows, however. If my Macbook Pro dies, and I must use a PC to recover my data, it won't be able to read the backup files because Windows can't read the filesystem on the backup partition.
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How about using HFSExplorer? Its a Java based utility that runs on Windows and allows you to access your HFS+ (that's the other name for Mac OS Extended file system).
I haven't used it but it seems relatively up-to-date (last version is from Nov/2007).
It's not as nice as having it mount your drive on Windows and use it as you normally do, but its better than nothing :-)
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Brilliant, that's exactly what I was looking for! Thanks so much :)
Now that we are after the keynotes of MacWorld, perhaps its time for you to pre-order a
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