Maxtor External Hard Drive Question....

vitomins

Hello all,



This may be a simple question, but here it goes:



I have a 300 GB Maxtor External HD that I formatted with Windows XP and which I keep all my music and videos on. This weekend I am getting a MacBook, and will attempt to sell my current Notebook PC. What will happen when I plug that FireWire cable into my new MacBook? Will I have to format the drive with OS X in order for it to work? Basically put, will I lose all the files on my external hard drive by switching from a PC with XP to a Mac with OS X??



Thanks

nenita

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViToMiNs


Hello all,



This may be a simple question, but here it goes:



I have a 300 GB Maxtor External HD that I formatted with Windows XP and which I keep all my music and videos on. This weekend I am getting a MacBook, and will attempt to sell my current Notebook PC. What will happen when I plug that FireWire cable into my new MacBook? Will I have to format the drive with OS X in order for it to work? Basically put, will I lose all the files on my external hard drive by switching from a PC with XP to a Mac with OS X??



Thanks

the short answer is: NO

the long answer is: The mac is able to read windows formated disks, so your external HD will show up on your desk and you will be able to access any files for wich you have programs on your mac. in other words, if you have word documenta and you have instaled office for mac, your mac will be able to open those files no problem. your music files will be accesible by iTunes unless they are WMA then use quicktime with flip4mac and you will be fine, same with movies. pictures you will be ble to place them or import them to iPhoto with ease. in short you will probably have minimal pain when moving your files over to the mac. just have fun, and enjoy your mac.