NTFS vs HFS+: Just received a G-Drive and was wondering what is the best file system to use NTFS or HFS+. When searching to internet some articles say you can't use HFS+ with windows...

farwest Loc: Utah

Just received a G-Drive and was wondering what is the best file system to use NTFS or HFS+. When searching to internet some articles say you can't use HFS+ with windows but to use exFAT but the software that came with it says you can use HFS+. So I'm confused on what to do.

Thanks

MichaelH Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI

Windows use NTFS, Mac use HFS+, if both OSs use exFAT.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Isn't HFS+ a file system for Apple (MAC)???

MichaelH Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI

The G-Drive may come with software that allows a Windows machine to read and write to an HFS+ formatted drive but only on the Windows PC that has that software installed. And there may be software for Mac that will let you read and write to an NTFS formatted drive. But both OSs will read and write to exFAT formatted drives. If you are not going to be moving the drive between the Mac and Windows operating systems choose the native format for the OS.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

Just a bit of caution using either NTFS or HFS+, they are proprietary to Microsoft and Apple respectively, and may cause complications if you are using multiple types of operating systems (Windows, MAC, Linux). I'm sure it can be done, but takes some work and won't ever be 100% compatible.

Safest bet for an external hard drive if you will move it around and are unsure which operating systems will be used, either FAT or exFAT.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

Just as a note: Apple's newer computers now use APFS, the Apple Files System. Here are the file system types supported by Apple's Disk Utility:

Apple File System (APFS): The file system used by macOS 10.13 or later.

Mac OS Extended: The file system used by macOS 10.12 or earlier.

MS-DOS (FAT) and ExFAT: File systems that are compatible with Windows.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

farwest wrote:

Just received a G-Drive and was wondering what is the best file system to use NTFS or HFS+. When searching to internet some articles say you can't use HFS+ with windows but to use exFAT but the software that came with it says you can use HFS+. So I'm confused on what to do.

Thanks

Lots of good information already provided, but the basic question is: what system/OS (or systems) do you plan to use the new drive with?

MichaelH Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI

Just Fred wrote:

Just as a note: Apple's newer computers now use APFS, the Apple Files System. Here are the file system types supported by Apple's Disk Utility:

Apple File System (APFS): The file system used by macOS 10.13 or later.

Mac OS Extended: The file system used by macOS 10.12 or earlier.

MS-DOS (FAT) and ExFAT: File systems that are compatible with Windows.

Newish Apple Macs (with High Sierra 10.13 and later) can use APFS formatted drives but Apple's Time Machine backup software even on new Macs cannot. That is why the G-Drive comes formatted as HFS+.

If an external drive is formatted as APFS it cannot be used by a Mac that has OSX 10.12 (Sierra) or earlier. APFS cannot be used on a Windows PC. APFS cannot be used for Time Machine backups.

So if the drive is to be used on only Macs use HFS+. If it is to be only used on Windows 7 or Windows 10 use NTFS. If it to be used on both Windows and OSX use exFAT.

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

Would have been less confusing if the instructions had said for use with Windows or Apple operating systems.

farwest Loc: Utah

CPR wrote:

Would have been less confusing if the instructions had said for use with Windows or Apple operating systems.

Windows 10 machine but I have a MacBook also that I would like have the ability to use the HD if needed.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

If you do not have two computers - one PC other Mac - you do not need dual HD formats. Reformat your drives with your computer to get optimal performance per your Op System.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

farwest wrote:

Windows 10 machine but I have a MacBook also that I would like have the ability to use the HD if needed.

In that case HFS+ is out. NTFS is the obvious choice for Windows and can be read from, but not written to by a Mac. Using ExFAT is really limiting as you lose a number of useful features of NTFS. It may be OK for a thumb drive or card, but I would hate to be so limited on a large disk. A couple of suggestions: (1) divide the disk into two partitions, one formatted NTFS for Windows use, one as HFS+ for the Mac. (2) there are 3rd party aps that will allow Macs to read AND write to NTFS: https://www.howtogeek.com/236055/how-to-write-to-ntfs-drives-on-a-mac/

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

TriX wrote:

In that case HFS+ is out. NTFS is the obvious choi... (show quote)

Trix,
Just a question to spark discussion, because I'm curious to see how others manage their multi-OS environments.

What is the advantage of using NTFS over exFAT would a single user (I'm assuming it's not a networked corporate/office environment) would there be? I understand NTFS has support for very large files (up t 16 billion bytes) and enhanced security features if you are running native Windows or a Windows domain account. But the issue I see is the limitations when moving the external hard drive to the OP's MAC, and those security features might limit full featured work.

Again, I'm interested in this discussion, and think that we can all learn some new stuff.

Cheers!

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

johngault007 wrote:

Trix, br Just a question to spark discussion, b... (show quote)

Macs can't natively read/write to NTFS volumes. There are some third-party tools that can enable this, but they aren't very reliable (I've tried). In a shared environment, such as mine at home, I format my external drives to exFAT. I have several multi-terabyte drives formatted this way. I think the largest file I have on any of them is around 8GB.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

Just Fred wrote:

Macs can't natively read/write to NTFS volumes. There are some third-party tools that can enable this, but they aren't very reliable (I've tried). In a shared environment, such as mine at home, I format my external drives to exFAT. I have several multi-terabyte drives formatted this way. I think the largest file I have on any of them is around 8GB.

Thanks Fred. I do the same with Linux as I sometimes have to use my Windows work computer to access the hard drive on travel. Also, I am not sure about HFS+ and NTFS, but Linux native format ext4 performs journaling, which I find unnecessarily writes to an external hard drive used for file storage.