Macs can read from NTFS but can't write to NTFS. My external hard drives that I use to back up my PC are formatted NTFS. How do I get around this problem if I wish to transfer and backup data across platforms. A quick Google reveals one or two solutions but they are not without their own problems. A simple solution would be get another external hard drive and format it FAT32, I don't think I have any files larger than 3GB. How is this problem solved with NAS ? Does anyone have any practical experience of this ? What do you do ?
I use NTSF-3G which needs to be used with OSXFUSE for the later OS10 versions. There is a newer Tuxera NTFS which should work straight off with all OS versions and is apparently faster but you need to buy a 25€ license,
What derek suggests is about right for direct plugin drives (usb/sata). For NAS it depends how good is your NAS. If it is very basic then it will offer only Media support and ftp server in which case you will probably end up with the same problem but I would check NAS specification. I have an old D-link 323 NAS and funny enough while it does not say it allows cross platform access. I know as I can get and right to NTFS drive with android without adding any extra software that I would normally have to add if plugging in my HDD/SD card directly to tablet. BTW if you have movies I would not be so certain you do not have files bigger then 3GB.
And one more. NAS itself might not have capability for cross platform access but it might come with software that you install on specific platform that enables you to do file operations using it.
If you just have a Mac, no. If you just have a PC, no. If you have a Mac and a PC, maybe. Most folk won't have clue either and most of them won't need to.
Thanks all. The 3GB was a typo, the max for FAT32 is 4GB. I have resisted NAS so far and think I can probably continue to do so. I might just get a 1 TB USB3 external drive for use with the Mac, I need another one anyway, and keep it simple. My PC is where I store my more important stuff. I will look into the NTFS-G3 solution though, so thanks for that Derek.
John it would be easier to format the drive in MAC file system (what ever it is called) and find drivers to make it work under windows. It will almost definitely be easier being that Windows is open in comparison to mac.
osx fuse is a ballache I use the paragon ntfs for mac driver 20 us dollars (about 13 quid) its excellent, no hassle install and very fast NAS drives are one option but again there are lmitations and some support AFP (apple file protocol) networking better than others, look for ones that support/include Netatalk 3
If you happy to pay it is best solution. We user more expensive industry software but in essence it is the same as above. NTFS drivers for MAC.
Long shot, could you run Parallels or equivalent on the Mac running windows to access the NTFS drives? If the windows image can access the data you can move (read/write) that way to/from the Mac? might be long-winded but you might already have this.
I am vaguely aware of Parallels, I need to look a little further into it. One reason I decided to dip my toes into the Mac world was to see whether it 'just works' as everyone says. So far it has, right up to the point when I am trying to do things across a PC/Mac network. My primary wish is to safeguard personal data, photos, video etc and keep it simple. I will look at the Paragon NTFS solution as recommended by funky and Lucaz
I use a 2TB goflex home which I've had for a couple of years. I don't use a Mac so didn't realise about the Mac support. It works perfectly though and would recommend it. Mine backs up 3 laptops on the fly seamlessly. As soon as a file is created or modified it is backed up which gives great peace of mind. All our music and video streams to our pads, phones, PS3, Roku box, and Sonos player faultlessly. Good bit of kit.
