FAT-32

[malice]

What is the downsides of this format ?

So far, it seems to be the only solution (beside owning an ipod) to transer files from a PC to a mac and vice versa.

It seems that one of the problem is the impossibility to handle files greater than 4gigs.

What are the other problems of using this ?

malice

[Brendo]

Can't record straight to a FAT drive in Alsi on a Mac (but you can on a PC - whaa?)

[Skwaidu]

I once had horrible experiences with a FAT-32 drive and OS 9, I learned the hard way that over 32 gigs is not supported even if a Windows machine did format it for me... Dissapearing directories and such.

How about getting Mediafour's Macdrive for the PC you need to access the files with?

[malice]

Mac drive is great with removable devices, but sometimes I cannot read a drive with it.

malice

[digiengineer]

I normally format my transfer drives (and iPods and flash drives) in Mac as FAT32 (MS-DOS or Pro DOS) to get around the 32 GB limit in PC, or I use Partion Magic if I can't format on a Mac. So far I haven't had any issues.

[Statick]

actually, FAT32 cannot hold mac files correctly. one of the reasons for NTFS was to solve this problem of the way mac files are stored.

mac files are (or, at least were pre-OSX, seems they're trying to get out of this bad habit) actually stored as 2 separate files on the hard drive. one is known as the resource fork, the other is the data fork. both of these 'streams' are essential to the content of the file.

when copied to a FAT32 drive, only one of these forks (i forget which) gets copied, the other does not, so the file becomes corrupted.

NTFS has the capability to store 'alternate data streams' which are hidden files 'attached' to existing normal files on the hard drive. NTFS uses this method to store mac files accurately so that they survive being copied from mac to pc and vice versa.

if, as i suspect from your first post (although it's not immensely clear) you only need to transfer files on a one-way basis, from pc to mac, and that you're trying to do this by fitting the hard drive into the mac, then your method would work (PC files will safely copy to mac, just not the reverse). if you need to copy both ways, it won't work at all.

i would suggest it might be a bit easier to set up a network across the 2 machines !

[malice]

I need both ways

I cannot put the pc and the mac on a network

damn, why is this so complicated :D

malice

[digiengineer]

I cannot put the pc and the mac on a network

Why not?

[Barish]

If I recall correctly, FAT can not hold time stamp information like NTFS and Mac fromatting protocols can, apart from the other limitations mentioned above.

It's the format of the yesteryear, move on.


Oh, Windows 95, 98 and ME can't read NTFS so if you are moving on, consider that one as well. NTFS is for NT based Windows systems only (NT3, NT4, 2000 and XP).

B.

[malice]

Why not?


Yeah, right, why not, my PC is a laptop.

Thank you digi, I realise I'm an idiot, LOL.

I never thought of that.

Any recomandations to put a PC and a mac on network ?

I never did that.

malice

[digiengineer]

Any recomandations to put a PC and a mac on network ?

Make sure you have a decent firewall if you are connected to the outside world. I also like to assign static IP addresses to the computers, but that's because I use Remote Desktop Connection (Free) and log on to my PC from my Mac on occasion, it also has an option to network the Mac drives.

[Brendo]

actually, FAT32 cannot hold mac files correctly. one of the reasons for NTFS was to solve this problem of the way mac files are stored.

Problem being you can't write to an NTFS drive on Mac.

[Bob Olhsson]

Something's seriously wrong if Mac Drive can't see a drive.

Sometimes you do need to go into disk management to assign a letter and mount the drive. I've never figured out any pattern to why this sometimes is necessary.

[otek]

Any recomandations to put a PC and a mac on network ?

I have been running my computers like that for almost two years now, Mac and PC. Very few if any problems, just mind your naming conventions and file formats.

Make sure you have a good router and firewall, and use static IP's for the local machines (like Digi said).

[Brendo]

And a piece of paper on the wall with all the ip's on it!