Transferring from Mac to Windows 11 using a Seagate External HD (Page 2): I have this: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B08HN37XC1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08

Dr. John

bioteacher wrote:

My wife was using a Mac and wants to switch to Windows. Her pictures were backed up to a Seagate external HD. The Windows computer does not recognize the external hd. Any help would be appreciated so she could use the hd on both machines. TIA

I have this: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B08HN37XC1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 -and apparently it came pre-formatted because I can effortlessly switch between my PC and Mac. The drive gets instantaneously recognized by both. Hope that helps :-) !

Best Regards, John

Machinedoc Loc: Yorktown Heights, NY

kymarto wrote:

I'd say the most secure bet is to buy a second HDD, formatted NTFS, which both Windows and Mac can read, and use the Mac to copy all files to that drive. But I'm not a Mac guy, so someone might know a better way

The concept is correct. However, the new external drive should be formatted as ExFAT which is compatible wirh Mac OS and Windows.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Just Fred wrote:

The reason your wife's Windows computer doesn't re... (show quote)

This needs clarification. You CANNOT change the file system on a disk without losing the existing data. You must copy the data off to either the Windows machine or a 2nd external drive and then format the drive as either FAT32 or exFAT so it can be used by both machines, and then copy the data back. FAT32 has a 4GB max file size (how many files do you have larger than 4GB?) and more importantly, a 2TB max partition size, BUT of course you can create multiple 2TB partitions. exFAT has neither of these limitations, but is a less robust file system (more easily corruptible).

Markag

My W11 pc has access to my MacBook Pro. Copy the files the drive back into the mac. Then copy them from the mac to the PC?

phot0n0ob

kymarto wrote:

I'd say the most secure bet is to buy a second HDD, formatted NTFS, which both Windows and Mac can read, and use the Mac to copy all files to that drive. But I'm not a Mac guy, so someone might know a better way

Unfortunately, this does not fully serve your issue, because
- your Windows computer cannot read from the APFS-formatted Mac drive
- your Mac can read - but not write - to the NTFS-formatted Windows drive

You could format the 2nd drive with FAT32, which can be read AND WRITTEN by both macOS and Windows, but then you are using a file system that is not ideal for large drives. IMO you have 2 options:
1) format the 2nd drive w/FAT32 and copy the images onto it; after verifying that everything came across reformat the 1st drive w/NTFS and copy the images onto it.
2) Buy a copy of Paragon NTFS for Mac; then you can format the 2nd drive with NTFS right away and copy your images onto it

If you ask me, option 2 is preferable:
- only one (lengthy) copy process
- no need to erase the first (APFS formatted) drive, so you still have the source disk intact
The only disadvantage is that you have to buy Paragon NTFS, but at $ 20 this should not be a big deal.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

phot0n0ob wrote:

Unfortunately, this does not fully serve your issu... (show quote)

Wonder if there’s a measurable/noticeable performance hit of running a file system converter such as Paragon?

phot0n0ob

TriX wrote:

Wonder if there’s a measurable/noticeable performance hit of running a file system converter such as Paragon?

I have been running NTFS for Mac for years. While the performance impact may be measurable in a benchmark test, I never noticed a performance hit in real life. In bioteacher's case, he would only need the tool once to transfer his images from one drive to another. Once he'd be using the NTFS drive on Windows, the software would no longer be required

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

phot0n0ob wrote:

I have been running NTFS for Mac for years. While the performance impact may be measurable in a benchmark test, I never noticed a performance hit in real life. In bioteacher's case, he would only need the tool once to transfer his images from one drive to another. Once he'd be using the NTFS drive on Windows, the software would no longer be required

Unless he/she wanted the Mac to be able to write to the drive.

shackcf

bioteacher wrote:

My wife was using a Mac and wants to switch to Windows. Her pictures were backed up to a Seagate external HD. The Windows computer does not recognize the external hd. Any help would be appreciated so she could use the hd on both machines. TIA

As others have said there is a formatting difference between Mac & Windows default OS storage. I format my external drives to ExFat. Both systems can read this format. I have friends that use Macs only and we can share drive when formatted with ExFat
NTFS is a windows format. It can be read with a Mac but with the proper version.

I would purchase another external. I bought a WD 8TB drive for $170 two weeks ago. It came formatted with ExFat already so I did not have to redo it. You should be able to copy the files via the MAC from the existing HD to the new one.

Good luck

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

From an architectural point of view, what are the plans for the Mac? Does the OP want to continue to use it and share files with the Windows machine? If so, this might be a classic application for a NAS.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Just Fred wrote:

... I might look at getting a second HDD partitioned for Windows and then using a sync program (many available, most of them free) copy the data (using the Mac) from one to the other...

The new PC's hard drive can be the "second HDD" if you can network the 2 computers. Otherwise a HDD formatted so both can see what is on it should work. I use Syncback Free as my sync program.

An alternative is to use the cloud as an off site backup. This would be a lifesaver if there were a catastrophe. There are many choices, I use Carbonite. I think Microsoft offers something with Windows. You could backup from the MAC, then transfer the account to the new PC and download all.

The simplest thing I can think of is format the existing HDD with the new PC. Then re-backup to it from the MAC... and so on.

tropics Loc: NW Georgia

kymarto wrote:

I'd say the most secure bet is to buy a second HDD, formatted NTFS, which both Windows and Mac can read, and use the Mac to copy all files to that drive. But I'm not a Mac guy, so someone might know a better way

I have both Windows and Mac machines. I formatted an external hard drive in "exFAT". Both machines read it and I transfer files back and forth with no issues.

Tropics

P.S. You do need a clean HD. Formatting does erase All the data on the drive.

jcboy3

bioteacher wrote:

My wife was using a Mac and wants to switch to Windows. Her pictures were backed up to a Seagate external HD. The Windows computer does not recognize the external hd. Any help would be appreciated so she could use the hd on both machines. TIA

Format the drive as ExFat, recopy the files, and it is ready to go to Windows. It can also be accessed by the Mac, after she regains her senses and moves back to a Mac.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

jcboy3 wrote:

Format the drive as ExFat, recopy the files, and it is ready to go to Windows. It can also be accessed by the Mac, after she regains her senses and moves back to a Mac.

Sounds to me if she has seen the light

neillaubenthal

kymarto wrote:

I'd say the most secure bet is to buy a second HDD, formatted NTFS, which both Windows and Mac can read, and use the Mac to copy all files to that drive. But I'm not a Mac guy, so someone might know a better way

The last time I checked macOS could read but not write to NTFS…so formatting the disk as FAT was the solution…or put the files on DropBox or some other cloud and thence to the Windows box. macOS may be able to write NTFS now…it’s been several versions of macOS since I last looked.