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    Benefit from formatting external HDD to exFAT?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Forced, May 20, 2009.

  1. Forced

    Forced Notebook Geek

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    Hi, would someone care to enlighten me on the upside and down side of format systems on my portable external harddrive?

    Here's the situation: Just bought a WD passport. Don't like being limited to 4 gig file size.
    I would format it to NTFS, but it must work with both windows and mac, which NTFS does not do correct?

    Is exFAT Mac-compatible? Or is there any other way around this? Advise appreciated. :)
     
    Forced, May 20, 2009
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  2. jackluo923

    jackluo923 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Format it to NTFS and install free plugins on your Mac.

    exFat is for flashdrives. NTFS on external hdd will be faster.

    Also, Mac doesn't support exFat and neither does Windows XP.
     
    jackluo923, May 20, 2009
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  3. Forced

    Forced Notebook Geek

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    How easy do the "plugins" for the Mac work then?


    I don't own a Mac, however I will be using macs in college computer labs. Would it feasible to install these plugins on each mac I wish to use it with?
     
    Forced, May 20, 2009
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  4. jackluo923

    jackluo923 Notebook Virtuoso

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    http://www.ntfs-3g.org/

    On a 10 point scale for how easy it is to install, it would probably be at 1 out of 10. But depending on the user, 1 out of 10 might be very hard.
     
    jackluo923, May 20, 2009
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  5. Forced

    Forced Notebook Geek

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    Ok, I'm not worried about how hard it is to install, rather if it's the type of thing I could do to public-use computers.

    I'll just have to check with the computer lab department at school.
     
    Forced, May 20, 2009
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  6. jxtx

    jxtx Notebook Consultant

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    Windows XP does support the exFAT file system format. The Update for Windows XP (KB955704) hotfix is available here. exFAT works great with the SD card I share between a Windows 7 RC (at office) and a Windows XP (at home) notebook.


    Jeremy
     
    jxtx, May 20, 2009
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  7. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    But it does not work with Macs, which is the problem
     
    Pitabred, May 20, 2009
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  8. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    NTFS isn't officially supported on external devices. Yah, it works but there is always the possibility that you will run across a situation where it will not.
     
    newsposter, May 20, 2009
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  9. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    I don't believe that. Do you have a source for that info?

    EDIT: In fact, this Microsoft page says that NTFS provides "support for mounted drives".
     
    swarmer, May 20, 2009
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  10. jackluo923

    jackluo923 Notebook Virtuoso

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    In what kind of situation does NTFS not work on standard external HDD?
     
    jackluo923, May 20, 2009
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  11. Silas Awaketh

    Silas Awaketh Notebook Deity

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    NTFS on external devices has been working fine for me for years now!
     
    Silas Awaketh, May 20, 2009
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  12. Deathwinger

    Deathwinger Notebook Virtuoso

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    Two installations are all that are required for Mac's to read NTFS files, and all they require is that you install them one after the other.

    Firstly download and install MacFuse, google it.

    Next download and install, NTFS-3g, google it.

    The end, have fun with your NTFS drive in MAC OSX.
     
    Deathwinger, May 21, 2009
    #12