I have an external hard drive formatted for Windows, and I want to transfer files onto it from a Mac.

 

If I plug this drive into my Mac, will it be able to see the drive and enable me to 'drag & drop' files onto it?

I would suspect not, at least not without 3rd party software unless it happens to be formatted in FAT32.  I had the same problem but the other way round, ie mac external drive on win7.  I was able to download a 3rd party software to access the files.

 

This article on CNET may be of help >> http://www.cnet.com/uk/how-to/the-best-ways-to-format-an-external-drive-for-windows-and-mac/

No.

I use Tuxera NTFS without any issues.

Thanks all, I've circumvented this problem as I can transfer the MP4 files onto the Windows laptop via  USB memory stick, then transfer them to the external hard drive.  

I dont know much about MAC but I would of thought if you plug a drive in that were used by Windows it the MAC would ask you to format the drive and then it would be usable?

You can format it on the Mac, but then it would wipe all the data and not be readable on the Windows OS!

I've got a USB memory stock to transfer the films from my Mac to the windows laptop, then I can simply 'drag and drop' them onto the external hard drive.  :yes:

To combat something similar I have a 30GB Windows XP partition on my iMac.

I am able to drag stuff either way, Windows into iMac and visa-versa, ( no- not everything is compatible.)

As I have programs that will only work in Windows XP I needed to have the best of both worlds.

 

As said,  iMac or Windows will want to re-formatt your external drive, so you will lose all your data & stuff..

they make it SOOOO difficult 

Could be really savy 

 

Download VM workstation for linux

Install Windows XP as a VM

Plug in USB, then use the feature in VM workstation to pull the files from the Windows machine onto your Mac.

Or just instal Tuxera for a few quid and not worry about faffing with anything technical.

Why make life complicated?

Or just instal Tuxera for a few quid and not worry about faffing with anything technical.

Why make life complicated?

 

technical is good... great for learning.

Thanks everyone, I have a fix in place so no more suggestions needed