Switching Harddrives between Mac & PC: A TROUBLESHOOTING GALLERY

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HERE'S THE SITUATION:
I need to switch ProTools files from a PC running Windows XP to a Mac G4 running OS 9.2. I've bought a new LaCie D2 "Extreme" to complete this task. LaCie tech support page sez I should format the drive with the PC in FAT32 format in 32 gig partitions, then exchange between the two systems should be ok. Does this remain true with OS 9.2? Or do I need to relay the files through a Mac running OS X?
THE FUTURE OF MUSIC DEPENDS ON THIS.

― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 4 March 2005 15:57 (twenty years ago)

HAHAHAHA FAT32 THAT IS SUCH A LAME SOLUTION

but yeah that would appear to be what you would have to do, that's all I can think of.

Perhaps there is a way that Knoppix can help?

― TOMBOT, Friday, 4 March 2005 16:04 (twenty years ago)

why is it lame? What's knoppix? please help. i am computer caveman.

― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 4 March 2005 16:13 (twenty years ago)

Knoppix is a bootable CD Linux distro.

Currently the only file system that Macs and PCs can "see" is FAT32.

Remember XP will only let you format a 32GB partition even though it can read anysize FAT32 partition, so format the drive on the Mac or a 2k/Linux machine.

FAT32 is an old file system that is quite prone to corruption, Windows now uses the superior NTFS file system but Macs can't see this, FAT32 is visible to all, so make sure you have backups and use the FAT32 drive transfers only.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Friday, 4 March 2005 16:26 (twenty years ago)

clarification

The 32GB FAT32 limitation is an artificial limit imposed by Microsoft to make people use NTFS, you can get around it by formatting on an older version of Windows or using Linux I think OS9/X will let you format a FAT32 partition as well.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Friday, 4 March 2005 16:30 (twenty years ago)

FAT32 is just funny because it's so old and crap at this point. However between OS 9 and Windows that's all you're going to have for a common filesystem, to be sure.

Knoppix is a CD-ROM sized Linux distribution you can just put in your drive and boot from, it's a good tool for troubleshooting and learning about Linux etc.

Here is something you might not be able to completely understand but it's a similar problem and my solution framework is addressed:
http://answers.tveasy.co.uk/c.s.i.p.h.storage/Nd-install-iP.htm

But basically yeah you could conceivably just format the drive from the Mac, then plug it into the PC and boot Knoppix. Then just copy the files over while running Knoppix, it all depends on what's supported though. Worth a shot, I would think, just because avoiding the partitioning required by FAT32 would be much more convenient in the long run, I would think.

― TOMBOT, Friday, 4 March 2005 16:33 (twenty years ago)

TOMBOT you dont have to hae 32GB partitions in FAT32 you have whatever size you want up to 2TB you just cant create them in WinXP.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Friday, 4 March 2005 16:39 (twenty years ago)

ah ha, I see. Wouldn't a 32 gig partition be more stable, though? I'm only moving about 30 gigs of Protools files anyway.
LaCie recommends a program called MacDrive that allows Mac formatted Hard drives to be mounted onto PCs. Does this allow for files to go back and forth between PC and drive? Or is it read-only? Is this similar to what Knoppix offers?

― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 4 March 2005 16:39 (twenty years ago)

If it's just for data transfer you should be fine with a >32GB FAT32 parition, you don't need to use MacDrive.

Remember you are limited to 4GB for individual files on FAT32

Knoppix takes Window's inability to read the Mac FS and OS9 inability to read NTFS out of the equation because it can read both, when you boot from the CD it will load both the drives up and you can copy between them then take the drive out and plug it into the Mac and read from it, you would have to learn a bit about Linux to get it going.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Friday, 4 March 2005 16:46 (twenty years ago)

hmmm... these Protools files are bigger than 4GB. I have the files right now on a NTFS formatted drive. I'm going to need to get them on my Mac for editing then back onto the NTFS for retransfer to the PC.
Sounds like Knoppix might be the answer. Does Knoppix allow for a Mac to copy files onto an NTFS formatted drive? Is Knoppix available online? I'm up for learning about Linux...

― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 4 March 2005 17:34 (twenty years ago)

then again, maybe the PC end of the chain should invest in MacDrive.
That way, I can keep my Mac-ness.

― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 4 March 2005 17:45 (twenty years ago)

why are you running 9.2?

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 4 March 2005 17:50 (twenty years ago)

Knoppix won't boot on the Mac. So what you need to do is plug the drive into the Mac, format it, then get a CD with Knoppix on it, plug the drive into the PC and boot the PC with Knoppix. Copy the files over from the PC onto the Mac-formatted drive and voila! The rest I leave for you to google.

― TOMBOT, Friday, 4 March 2005 17:56 (twenty years ago)

also, how big is your ipod? you could just use that.

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 4 March 2005 17:57 (twenty years ago)

I'm running 9.2 for ProTools reasons? Compatablity with the hardware? (Question marks to denote that I'm no authority)
iPod is 40G ... what's the scoop on that?

― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 4 March 2005 18:00 (twenty years ago)

is your ipod formatted for pc or mac?

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 4 March 2005 18:01 (twenty years ago)

also mac os 10.3 is totally compatible with protools at this point, i think?

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 4 March 2005 18:01 (twenty years ago)

snappy you should call me.

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 4 March 2005 18:03 (twenty years ago)

ipod is mac.
have to look in to OS 10.3 compatibility, though...
RING, RING...

― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 4 March 2005 18:06 (twenty years ago)

If you can get your MAC to run OS X for the purposes of the data transfer then it can read NTFS volumes.

The easiest way is to stick a crossover ethernet cable between the two.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 4 March 2005 18:35 (twenty years ago)

Also the slowest and most prone to failure.

― TOMBOT, Friday, 4 March 2005 18:37 (twenty years ago)

aha: so I can use my other Mac w OSX to read/copy the NTFS drive. Then I'll copy the files to a Mac-formatted drive for transfer to the OS 9.2 Mac. Then reverse this process for taking things back to PC land.
Udating the Protools Mac for OS X would be optimal in the long run? Anyone has hands-on knowledge of updating a Prootools LE system with Digi 001 on a OS 9.2 to OS X?

― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 4 March 2005 19:10 (twenty years ago)

if you can get the computers next to each other, networking is the way to go.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 4 March 2005 19:28 (twenty years ago)

i like to keep the protools one detached from anything connected to the internet, for reasons of paranoia.

― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 4 March 2005 19:33 (twenty years ago)

Fair enough but the Mac need not be connected to the internet and the mac has no pox that can infect the PC.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 4 March 2005 19:34 (twenty years ago)

oh I see, but there's a fairly large river and more than a few city blocks between the Mac and PC.

― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 4 March 2005 19:39 (twenty years ago)

Ethernet: 10 Mbits/Sec
Firewire: 400 Mbits/Sec

Seriously now Ed

― TOMBOT, Friday, 4 March 2005 19:42 (twenty years ago)

15 minutes to transfer 30G info onto hardrive vis USB
20 hours to transfer same amount via ethernet.

― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 4 March 2005 19:47 (twenty years ago)

Even at 10Mbits (and both will be at least 100Mbit) it will not take long and better that dealing with the vagaries of alien file systems. Although OS X on the mac and NTFS is the way to go.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 4 March 2005 19:47 (twenty years ago)

I'm used to an office full of gigabit.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 4 March 2005 19:49 (twenty years ago)

Someone suggested formatting a 40g iPod for PC and using that to transfer files. What say ye, O Data Gods?

― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 4 March 2005 19:53 (twenty years ago)

Would work.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 4 March 2005 19:55 (twenty years ago)

Thank you, everybody! This has been a big help.

― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 4 March 2005 20:01 (twenty years ago)

Does Knoppix allow for a Mac to copy files onto an NTFS formatted drive?

No - only Windows can (reliably) write to an NTFS disk.

― caitlin (caitlin), Friday, 4 March 2005 20:06 (twenty years ago)

the next knoppix, 3.8 or whatever, supposedly solves that problem.

― TOMBOT, Friday, 4 March 2005 20:10 (twenty years ago)

so until 3.8 comes out to get files from Mac to PC, i'll need to save to a mac formatted disk, then open on the PC using knoppix (or Macdrive)?

― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 4 March 2005 20:20 (twenty years ago)

Yes.

― TOMBOT, Friday, 4 March 2005 20:35 (twenty years ago)

Word. Thanks again.

― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 4 March 2005 20:42 (twenty years ago)

I think a PC formatted Ipod is FAT32 (my PC formatted 6GB mini is), so if your files are over 4GB each then it wont work.

Best way atm is Mac formatted Firewire HDD and Knoppix.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Saturday, 5 March 2005 18:59 (twenty years ago)

no way, a pc formatted ipod is NTFS.

― cutty (mcutt), Saturday, 5 March 2005 19:39 (twenty years ago)

must just be my mini then.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Saturday, 5 March 2005 19:49 (twenty years ago)

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