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How do i Format an external HDD for my Macbook?

S

Star Destroyer

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 15, 2006
376
4
Hey
I just got a macbook, and i really want an external HDD so i can transfer files from my PC to my Macbook, mostly movies and music.. Stuff i dont want cluttering up my beautiful new machine. BUT....

I already have an 80gig HDD in my PC, (i have 2, the one i am leaving in the PC is a 160gig) and i have already erased it, and reformated it. I Bought an External HDD enclosure to keep it in, BUT i heard Mac OS X only reads FAT 32 HDD. My Hard drive i wanna put in it has 3 partitions already all in NTFS. Windows wont give me the option to switch to FAT 32.

How can i make it FAT 32?
Will my macbook reformat it for me?
 
Hrrrmmm thats not to good... that means i could never put a file from my macbook onto my comp..

If i leave them in NTFS can the macbook re-format them to FAT 32?
 
Star Destroyer said:
Hrrrmmm thats not to good... that means i could never put a file from my macbook onto my comp..

If i leave them in NTFS can the macbook re-format them to FAT 32?
Click to expand...

Never say never, just say "not easily done". And this may not even be the case, see below.

I'm, wondering, if a Mac is network to a windows drive with a NTFS formatted drive, can you transfer files? I mean it's really the PC doing the writing to the disk, the mac is only sending it raw data right?
 
Star Destroyer said:
If i leave them in NTFS can the macbook re-format them to FAT 32?
Click to expand...
Yes, but I thought I heard that Windows might not like it. I'm not sure, but you could certainly try it.
 
funkychunkz said:
I'm, wondering, if a Mac is network to a windows drive with a NTFS formatted drive, can you transfer files? I mean it's really the PC doing the writing to the disk, the mac is only sending it raw data right?
Click to expand...

Yes, the drive format is irrelevant in that case.
 
Well it is relevent if i dont wanna set up a network. Because if i did that, then i wouldnt even need the external, i could just go right from my PC

The point is, i want an 80Gig hard drive to be in FAT32..
Why cant my Mac reformat the drive?
 
Star Destroyer said:
Well it is relevent if i dont wanna set up a network. Because if i did that, then i wouldnt even need the external, i could just go right from my PC

The point is, i want an 80Gig hard drive to be in FAT32..
Why cant my Mac reformat the drive?
Click to expand...

I think a network would be the easiest way then, to transfer files either way, and you don't have to worry about failure or limitation. It's almost as fast, and networks (yes even from Win->Mac) are that hard to make anymore. There's a guide on MR on how to do it.
 
yes that would be nice, but i cant bring music and movies with me to friends house that way hahaha
 
Ok, so i can plug in the external HDD set to slave, and formated to NTFS, and my macbook will be able to reformat it to FAT 32?
 
Star Destroyer said:
Ok, so i can plug in the external HDD set to slave, and formated to NTFS, and my macbook will be able to reformat it to FAT 32?
Click to expand...
I doubt your enclosure would want the drive set as slave, but yes, that should work.
 
Star Destroyer said:
Ok, so i can plug in the external HDD set to slave, and formated to NTFS, and my macbook will be able to reformat it to FAT 32?
Click to expand...
Yes, in disk utility. Any files on the drive will be lost.
 
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