Hi, I am trying to make some space on my macbook pro (early 2011, entry level 15inch). I noticed I had too many movies and I'd like to cut and paste them on my 16gb USB key. But as you probably know, you cannot paste files bigger than like 3Gb on a fat32 USB. So of course you can format it in NTFS (from a PC), but the mac can only read NTFS USB, and it can't write!
So I would really like to hear the solution if there's one. Does anyone know how to paste a large file on a USB from a mac? Any external hard drive will work with PCs or Macs, as long as the connectors are there (Firewire, USB, etc.) It doesn't matter how the drive is formatted out of the box, since you can re-format any way you like.
Formatting can be done with the Mac OS X Disk Utility, found in the /Applications/Utilities folder. Here are your formatting options: (File Allocation Table).
Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.Maximum file size: 4GB. Maximum volume size: 2TB. You can use this format if you share the drive between Mac OS X and Windows computers and have no files larger than 4GB.
How to Format an External Drive for Mac Compatibility. This is a simple procedure and is achieved the same way for all drive types and through all connections, be they USB, Firewire, or Thunderbolt. Formatting a drive will erase all data and partitions on the disk: Connect the hard drive or USB key to the Mac. Macs support a variety of file systems. By default, they format disks with the Mac-only OS X Extended file system. But, if you plan on using an external drive with both Macs and PCs, you should format the disk with the exFAT file system instead.
(Windows NT File System). Read/Write NTFS from native Windows. Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X.To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X, here are some alternatives:. For Mac OS X 10.4 or later (32 or 64-bit), install (approx $20) (Best Choice for Lion). For 32-bit Mac OS X, install (free) (does not work in 64-bit mode). For 64-bit Snow Leopard, read this:. Some have reported problems using (approx $36).
Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and Lion, but is not advisable, due to instability. AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS.
Maximum file size: 16 TB. Maximum volume size: 256TB.
You can use this format if you routinely share a drive with multiple Windows systems. (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Don't use case-sensitive). Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X. Required for or or backups of Mac internal hard drive.To Read/Write HFS+ from Windows, Install.To Read HFS+ (but not Write) from Windows, Install. Maximum file size: 8EiB. Maximum volume size: 8EiB.
You can use this format if you only use the drive with Mac OS X, or use it for backups of your Mac OS X internal drive, or if you only share it with one Windows PC (with MacDrive installed on the PC) (FAT64). Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
Not all Windows versions support exFAT. AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support exFAT. Maximum file size: 16 EiB. Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB. You can use this format if it is supported by all computers with which you intend to share the drive. See 'disadvantages' for details. .
Any external hard drive will work with PCs or Macs, as long as the connectors are there (Firewire, USB, etc.) It doesn't matter how the drive is formatted out of the box, since you can re-format any way you like. Formatting can be done with the Mac OS X Disk Utility, found in the /Applications/Utilities folder. Here are your formatting options: (File Allocation Table). Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.Maximum file size: 4GB.
Maximum volume size: 2TB. You can use this format if you share the drive between Mac OS X and Windows computers and have no files larger than 4GB. (Windows NT File System). Read/Write NTFS from native Windows. Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X.To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X, here are some alternatives:.
For Mac OS X 10.4 or later (32 or 64-bit), install (approx $20) (Best Choice for Lion). For 32-bit Mac OS X, install (free) (does not work in 64-bit mode).
For 64-bit Snow Leopard, read this:. Some have reported problems using (approx $36). Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and Lion, but is not advisable, due to instability. AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS. Maximum file size: 16 TB. Maximum volume size: 256TB.
You can use this format if you routinely share a drive with multiple Windows systems. (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Don't use case-sensitive).
Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X. Required for or or backups of Mac internal hard drive.To Read/Write HFS+ from Windows, Install.To Read HFS+ (but not Write) from Windows, Install. Maximum file size: 8EiB.
Maximum volume size: 8EiB. You can use this format if you only use the drive with Mac OS X, or use it for backups of your Mac OS X internal drive, or if you only share it with one Windows PC (with MacDrive installed on the PC) (FAT64). Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
Not all Windows versions support exFAT. AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support exFAT. Maximum file size: 16 EiB. Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB. You can use this format if it is supported by all computers with which you intend to share the drive.
See 'disadvantages' for details. .
This is due to FAT32 limitation. Files larger than 4GB can NOT be stored on a FAT32 volume. Formatting the flash drive as exFAT or NTFS will resolve this issue. WARNING: Backup your data. Formatting will delete all the data in your device. SOLUTION 1 - Format in exFAT exFAT file system that allows a single file larger than 4GB to be stored on the device.
This file system is also compatible with Mac. Windows 7 and Mac OS 10.6.6 and higher are compatible with exFAT out of the box. Older operating systems may need a patch installed for. NOTE: exFAT file system is NOT compatible with some host devices such as TV, game systems, older operating systems, car stereos etc. Formatting a drive in exFAT 1. Double-click on My Computer.
Right-click on the flash drive or memory card, then select Format. In the File System list, click exFAT.
Click OK to start formatting. SOLUTION 2 - Format in NTFS WARNING: - Formatting the device as NTFS will make it unwriteable on a Mac computer.
Most Mac computers can read NTFS, but not write. NTFS is a journaled file system, this creates more read/write activities. Therefore, it MAY decrease life expectancy of your device. Once the device is formatted as NTFS, you MUST use 'Safely Remove Hardware' to remove your device. STEP 1 - Optimize the flash drive for performance 1.
Plug in the device to the PC. Open The Computer Management Console a) b) 3.
On the Left side select Device Manager 4. On the right side expand Disk Drives 5. Right-click on the flash drive, then select Properties. Click the Policy tab.
Select Optimize for performance, then click OK. STEP 2 - Format the flash drive 1. Double-click My Computer. Right-click on the flash drive, then select Format. In the File system list, click NTFS. Click OK to start formatting.