External HDD, now or later?

ross.32ross.32
Posted:
in macOS edited January 2014
Ok, I will be getting a new MBP to replace my HP here in about a month. I have alot of files on my dad's desktop PC's HDD right now that will not fit on my laptop. My plan was to buy the MBP and the external HDD at the same time so I could format the drive for Mac. My problem is I might to moving to Oklahoma (from Michigan) for college BEFORE I buy the computer. If I get the external HDD now and use it with my PC, will I be able to use it with the Mac without having to reformat? Here is a link to the external that I plan on buying.



http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?pid=10882



Thanks in advance for any help.



ross

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 2
    project2501project2501 Posts: 433member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ross.32 View Post


    Ok, I will be getting a new MBP to replace my HP here in about a month. I have alot of files on my dad's desktop PC's HDD right now that will not fit on my laptop. My plan was to buy the MBP and the external HDD at the same time so I could format the drive for Mac. My problem is I might to moving to Oklahoma (from Michigan) for college BEFORE I buy the computer. If I get the external HDD now and use it with my PC, will I be able to use it with the Mac without having to reformat? Here is a link to the external that I plan on buying.



    http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?pid=10882



    Thanks in advance for any help.



    ross



    If you plan using it to store data also from mac you have to format it to FAT32, which is old format, and doesn't allow big files for example. You could also format it to NTFS, but OS X does only offer read support for that by default, you can gain write support with 3rd party drivers though.
  • Reply 2 of 2
    ross.32ross.32 Posts: 20member
    ok thanks. Hopefully I will just be able to get the MBP before the drive.
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