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+--- Thread: reformatting question...just checking (/showthread.php?tid=41980)
reformatting question...just checking - bazookaman - 10-23-2007
If I format an external drive in PC format on my Mac, will a PC user be able to use it with no problems?
Re: reformatting question...just checking - Racer X - 10-23-2007
Should be able to. However, I do own 2 VST 2.5" buss powered FW drives, that when formatted FAT32 on my Mac under 10.3.9 that aren't recognized by my dell laptop with an externally powered Orange Micro FW PC card. When I use the VST formatting software under OS 9 to do it as FAT32, it works fine on the Dell.
Re: reformatting question...just checking - simonm - 10-23-2007
my experience is that you are better off formatting the disk on a pc - the mac will see it with no problem and you avoid the occasional issue where some pcs can't see the disk even though you formatted it pc style from a mac.
Re: reformatting question...just checking - bazookaman - 10-23-2007
But Windows will format it as NTFS which is read only to a Mac. Right?
Re: reformatting question...just checking - Racer X - 10-23-2007
unless you use a 3rd party application to format it as FAT32. Win2K on up won't allow you to format a volume larger than 32 gigs as FAT32. This is what I use, and other here as well. Thanks samintx! CompuApps SwissKnife
Re: reformatting question...just checking - bazookaman - 10-23-2007
SwissKnife...awesome!