HDD use on both PC *AND* Mac

Can an external drive be used to backup a PC first, then transfer that
data to a MAC (with the Mac being the end O/S on which the drive will
be used from there on out)?

I'm wondering if it is configured for use on a PC, then it may in turn
have to be re-configured for use on the MAC, and during that re-
configuration, the stored (PD) data could be lost. Any ideas or
suggestions?

Thanks,

Jim

Previously jim <jimmenees@aol.com> wrote:
> Can an external drive be used to backup a PC first, then transfer that
> data to a MAC (with the Mac being the end O/S on which the drive will
> be used from there on out)?

Yes. Filesystem is an issye, I think you have to use FAT.
But the Mac may have NTFS support by now, I am not sure.

> I'm wondering if it is configured for use on a PC, then it may in turn
> have to be re-configured for use on the MAC, and during that re-
> configuration, the stored (PD) data could be lost. Any ideas or
> suggestions?

If you have to change the filesystem, all data will be lost. So you
have to use a filesystem both MAC and Windows can support. The
obvious candidate is FAT32.

BTW, "PC" does not necessarily mean Windows, we do not all use a
crappy OS.

Arno

Arno Wagner <me@privacy.net> wrote:
> Previously jim <jimmenees@aol.com> wrote:
>> Can an external drive be used to backup a PC first, then transfer
>> that data to a MAC (with the Mac being the end O/S on which the
>> drive will be used from there on out)?
>
> Yes. Filesystem is an issye, I think you have to use FAT.
> But the Mac may have NTFS support by now, I am not sure.

No it doesnt.

>> I'm wondering if it is configured for use on a PC, then it may in
>> turn have to be re-configured for use on the MAC, and during that re-
>> configuration, the stored (PD) data could be lost. Any ideas or
>> suggestions?
>
> If you have to change the filesystem, all data will be lost. So you
> have to use a filesystem both MAC and Windows can support. The
> obvious candidate is FAT32.
>
> BTW, "PC" does not necessarily mean Windows, we do not all use a crappy OS.

Arno Wagner wrote:
> But the Mac may have NTFS support by now, I am not sure.
>


OS X can read NTFS, but it cannot write to it.


-WD