Sharing files between OSX and XP: setup

[hdsalinas]

Hi,

I am getting my MBP this christmas and one of the thing that I want to do is install XP. (mostly for games and some software for windows that I want to use until I get their mac versions)

I want to be able to share documents between the 2 OSes. I was planning on installing xp on a NTFS partition (around 20GB) and make a bigger fat32 partition (maybe 30GB o 40GB) to use as "my documents" folder. (this would leave me around 70GB for the mac os)

Now, when do I create the extra documents partition (the fat32 one)? During the windows setup or when setting the partition size for windows under bootcamp?

I will be saving all of my mac and xp files on this fat32 partition. Would this hinder the performance of the mac OS?

thanks for your help.

 

[strydr]

Hi,

I am getting my MBP this christmas and one of the thing that I want to do is install XP. (mostly for games and some software for windows that I want to use until I get their mac versions)

I want to be able to share documents between the 2 OSes. I was planning on installing xp on a NTFS partition (around 20GB) and make a bigger fat32 partition (maybe 30GB o 40GB) to use as "my documents" folder. (this would leave me around 70GB for the mac os)

Now, when do I create the extra documents partition (the fat32 one)? During the windows setup or when setting the partition size for windows under bootcamp?

I will be saving all of my mac and xp files on this fat32 partition. Would this hinder the performance of the mac OS?

thanks for your help.

First off, a FAT partition cannot be bigger than 32GB. I would create the C: partition with space for both the OS partition(C, and the data partition, then, when installing Windows, create a smaller partition with the space. Maybe I'm doing this incorrectly, but this sounds like the simplest way (in my delusional head)

I also think keeping your Mac files on the FAT partition isn't the best idea. Maybe make your C: (XP partition) bigger than 20GB, and make the "Swap" partition smaller. That way, you just put things there that you need to transfer.

Others may have better ideas, this is just my 2c.

 

[bearbo]

First off, a FAT partition cannot be bigger than 32GB.

sorry, false.
there is no limitation on how big FAT partition can get, except XP cannot partition larger than 32GB of FAT partition... you can still do it in os x

problem is when you use bootcamp to do partition, you can only create another partition (aka a total of 2) given you don't reinstall system.

so if you want to have a total of 3 partitions (one for Windows OS, one for OS X OS, one for Windows Documents) you will have to reinstall OS X, and at that point you can partition your harddrive into 3 part, with appropriate size and format (FAT32 is same as MS-DOS (i think that's what OS X calls it) ... (if there's no particular reason you want NTSF for your windows OS, i'd suggest you stay with FAT32)(you have to partition the 2 for windows as MS-DOS anyway at this point)

and then you install OS X, then you install bootcamp (and do NOT use it to create another partition)... then stick XP in there, restart and hold "C" i believe to boot from disk... then install on the one with the appropriate partition...

there will be a 200MB unallocated space, leave it there, don't touch it

then from OS x you will be able to see everything

but of course, if you want to/ have to use NTSF for windows OS (you have no choice if you want to do vista, but i thought you just want to do xp), you can reformat that partition at this point, but do not delete the partition... aka dont let it mix up with the 200 unallocated space (i thought there's information stored in there, right?)

 

[strydr]

so if you want to have a total of 3 partitions (one for Windows OS, one for OS X OS, one for Windows Documents) you will have to reinstall OS X, and at that point you can partition your harddrive into 3 part, with appropriate size and format (FAT32 is same as MS-DOS (i think that's what OS X calls it) ... (if there's no particular reason you want NTSF for your windows OS, i'd suggest you stay with FAT32)(you have to partition the 2 for windows as MS-DOS anyway at this point)

I really don't see the need to reinstall OSX. Just create your FAT partition(in bootcamp) to include the space for both Windows partitions, and partition the boot (C), and the swap from the Windows installer.

Also, if you plan on formatting FAT, there is no need for two (windows)partitions.

 

[hdsalinas]

I dont need to have XP installed on a NTSF partition. Is just that I have always been under the impression that XP runs better this way.

I will just make a single 30GB partition for windows and format it as fat32 and access the files from it.

Will I be able to see the files on the mac partition form windows?

you have all been very kind.

 

[ewinemiller]

Will I be able to see the files on the mac partition form windows?

No you won't. There is a tool out there called MacDrive that will let you read the OSX partition from Windows, but be very careful with it (read back up often). It's fragile at best, prone to locking up and drive corruption at worst.

I use MacDrive and it is more reliable (though still not 100%) when you get rid of it's file remappings and try to avoid having more than one process or thread hit the drive at the same time. For example, I had to turn off the option in Visual Studio.NET that would kick off more than one compile at a time because if my source was on my OSX drive, MacDrive would invariably lock up and corrupt the OSX partition.

 

[wrldwzrd89]

I really don't see the need to reinstall OSX. Just create your FAT partition(in bootcamp) to include the space for both Windows partitions, and partition the boot (C), and the swap from the Windows installer.

Also, if you plan on formatting FAT, there is no need for two (windows)partitions.

I am planning on doing something similar when I get my Intel Mac, so I had this question: Is it possible to make 3 partitions - one HFS for Mac OS X to live on, one NTFS for Windows XP to live on, and one FAT32 for storage purposes and file transfer? This is the method I'd use:

1. Install Boot Camp
2. Partition drive into 2 segments - one HFS and one FAT32
3. When installing Windows, partition the FAT32 segment into 1 NTFS and one FAT32

Would this work (keeping in mind that the storage partition couldn't be larger than 32 GB, due to limitations of Windows)?

 

[Andrew05151]

Yes. I think you've figured out the most efficient method

 

[yupik21]

Any luck with your partitioning?

Hey there wrldwzrd89

Your approach does seem like the most logical (to my untrained brain, at least).

I'm on the fence between a PC Laptop and an Intel MacBook Pro... I need mainly to work in XP (for my sins..), but I'd really like to learn the Mac OS as it'll benefit my line of work.

Where you able to set up the partitions successfully and share files between OS's?

I am planning on doing something similar when I get my Intel Mac, so I had this question: Is it possible to make 3 partitions - one HFS for Mac OS X to live on, one NTFS for Windows XP to live on, and one FAT32 for storage purposes and file transfer? This is the method I'd use:

1. Install Boot Camp
2. Partition drive into 2 segments - one HFS and one FAT32
3. When installing Windows, partition the FAT32 segment into 1 NTFS and one FAT32

Would this work (keeping in mind that the storage partition couldn't be larger than 32 GB, due to limitations of Windows)?

 

[wrldwzrd89]

Hey there wrldwzrd89

Your approach does seem like the most logical (to my untrained brain, at least).

I'm on the fence between a PC Laptop and an Intel MacBook Pro... I need mainly to work in XP (for my sins..), but I'd really like to learn the Mac OS as it'll benefit my line of work.

Where you able to set up the partitions successfully and share files between OS's?

Alas, I do not yet have an Intel Mac to test this with... I am intending to get one (in fact, I bought Parallels today), I just haven't decided on when.

 

[yupik21]

No worries, I think I'll just make the leap It's time to get mobile and that Mac is a very sleek piece of kit, for sure...

Thanks for your response, and good luck with your setup.