Here we go again. (Please search before posting) You have 3 choices, really. NTFS, HFS+, or FAT32. NTFS will allow Mac to read, but not write and full accessibility for PC. HFS+ will allow Mac full accessibility, but PC is lost on everything.
FAT32 will allow full accessibility to both Mac and PC, but you are limited to 4GB files and it just plain sucks. My advice to you is to do what I'm doing. Use HFS+ and get MacDrive or something similar for PC to allow you to use it. MacDrive works fine for me.
How can the answer be improved? Use these steps to format external hard drives for both operating systems. A vast majority of video production will be done on a Mac or Windows operating system. Click the Partition tab. Change the Partition Layout from Current to 1 Partition.
I'm also pretty sure there are free applications you can use on Mac to write on NTFS. Off hand I think you might want to look into MacFUSE and NTFS-3G. If you really want to use FAT32, go ahead.
But I'm telling you it sucks. And you're going to have to repeatedly turn off and on your AEBS, Modem, and HD when transfering large quantities of files (ie, when you are setting it up). At least I had to. Click to expand.John, I am ready to buy a Q-drive for back up and storage of large files (so I do not clutter my dual Mac/Win MBP.
Interesting recommendation of yous. But, how does one create HFS+, FAT32 and NTFS partitions on the same external dive? I understand that MacOS can create HFS+ and Fat32 partitions on the same drive via DiskUtility (with a limit of 32GB for FAT32, right??). But then, how to create the NTFS partition with Windows?
Say, I have a 320gb external drive. I want to create a 32gb FAT32 swap file + an approx 150 gb HFS+ partition + an apprx 140 gb NTFS partition. How to I go about it? In what order do I create them? Disk parition settings?? Hello all, thanks so much for your help in advance- originally i posted on how to partition to use my external drive w mac and pc- the possibilities were selecting NTFS, or HFS+ and FAT32 so i opened disk utility, selected the external drive, and under 'Partition', i see how many times i want to partition, ok.(2) then i see what 'format' mac os extended (journaled), case sensitve or not ms-dos unix free space.
Am i to use mac os extended? Then i have 'options'! GUID partition Apple Partition Map Master Boot record. I don;t see any of those previously mentionned partition names?!