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Thread ID: 135992 2014-01-07 08:52:00 Apple question linw (53) Press F1
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1364602 2014-01-07 08:52:00 Friend wants files copied from his XP machine to a year old Apple MAC (he didn't know what model!). He needs an ext drive for backup so if the XP files are copied to an NTFS formatted std USB drive will the MAC be able to read/copy them? I was intending to do the first copy from the XP comp but not anything to do with the MAC.

After that, should the ext drive be formatted to a more MAC compatible format, say, for Timeline backups?

As is obvious, I don't know much about Apple machines, and don't have enough life left to remedy this deficiency, so please excuse my ignorance. Any advice to pass on would be useful.

TIA.
linw (53)
1364603 2014-01-07 09:04:00 The mac will be able to read what's on the drive and can be dragged off. You just won't be able to write to the disk without other software.
More info here: m.wikihow.com
plod (107)
1364604 2014-01-07 09:10:00 Second part of your question depends if drive will be used on a windows machine again. Time machine requires the drive to be formatted in a specific format. Which time machine will do for you, but it will wipe what is on the disk plod (107)
1364605 2014-01-07 09:23:00 Thanks very much, plod, for your quick and helpful reply. The transfer to the MAC would only need a read once action so whoever does this phase can then let Time Machine do its thing.

Cheers.
linw (53)
1364606 2014-01-07 19:40:00 Something else you may be interested in -- a while back had a problem with a MAC, and needed to get some data. Plod and speedy posted links to software that can be installed on a Windows PC, that can read/write perfectly to a MAC HFS formated HDD. If the MAC External drive is formatted already to work on a MAC, then the software can be installed on the Windows PC, and using it, simply copy /paste across.

I tried Plods suggestion first, that worked fine, later tried Speedys link, which also worked fine. :2cents:

The post with links: pressf1.pcworld.co.nz (pressf1.pcworld.co.nz)
wainuitech (129)
1364607 2014-01-07 20:46:00 Something else you may be interested in -- a while back had a problem with a MAC, and needed to get some data. Plod and speedy posted links to software that can be installed on a Windows PC, that can read/write perfectly to a MAC HFS formated HDD. If the MAC External drive is formatted already to work on a MAC, then the software can be installed on the Windows PC, and using it, simply copy /paste across.

I tried Plods suggestion first, that worked fine, later tried Speedys link, which also worked fine. :2cents:

The post with links: pressf1.pcworld.co.nz (pressf1.pcworld.co.nz)

That's a very handy bit of software for cross platform backups :thumbs:
Webdevguy (17166)
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