Maxtor External. Can't write to it on my friend's computer - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

-Ever- · 02-16-2004, 10:48 PM

I'm at my friends house with my external firewire maxtor drive. I've been using it on my xp system and I'm trying to grab some of his files off his g5 osx system. It says that the disc can't be modified, in that it's locked for some reason.
Any ideas?
Thanks
-T

yakimushi · 02-17-2004, 12:46 AM

OSX can't write to an NTFS formatted drive. Assuming that the drive has been formatted with NTFS, but thats what WindowsXP defaults to so I think thats a safe assumption.

I think OSX will read FAT32 partitions, OS9 did.

-Ever- · 02-17-2004, 09:00 AM

Thanks

-Ever- · 02-17-2004, 03:42 PM

I'm trying to format my Maxtor now and NTFS is the only selection available from the pull-down menu.
What gives? Will XP not format it in Fat32? Maybe I should try formatting it on my friend's Mac, but he lives pretty far away...!
Thanks for any help guys
-T

steveincolumbus · 02-17-2004, 06:44 PM

I think it can still be done in command line, I know the gui's don't like you useing fat....

Mephex · 02-17-2004, 06:50 PM

Craazy, really ? You can't format a drive in FAT32 from XP ?

Let us know how the command line method works for you, that sucks.

-Ever- · 02-18-2004, 12:46 AM

Thanks for the replies guys.
What's this 'command line' you're talking about?

LNCPapa · 02-18-2004, 06:40 AM

Reason you can format it FAT32 is that it's bigger than 32 gig - partition the drive and you'll have FAT32 as an option. You can also use other tools such as Partition Magic to make it FAT32 even if it's bigger than 32 gig.

Mephex · 02-18-2004, 06:59 AM

I just realized I am unable to run fdisk from the command line in win2k, so I assume it's the same in XP ?

With the drive attached, right click on My Computer, and select "Manage".

Cruise down to "Disk Management", and find the external drive.

You should be able to blow away the existing NTFS partition, then recreate smaller FAT32 partitions. I hope this helps.

-Ever- · 02-18-2004, 08:44 AM

Thanks Mephex.
I got that far. I deleted the partition, and went through with creating a new one. What should I put as the size to make the partition in gigabytes? I just said 75, clicked next, and it asked if I wanted to format the partition. Do I want to? If so, I can still only select NTFS...Will not formatting it just make it a fat32 partition...? I don't know.

Thanks
-Tim

Mephex · 02-18-2004, 08:51 AM

In order to format in FAT32, the partition cannot be larger then 32GB. So with your 250GB drive, you'll end up having around 7 partitions.

You can read more about that here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;314463

What you may be able to do, is have one or two FAT partitions, and then format the rest in NTFS. This may be able to allow you to use the drive on your friends system, while not having so many partitions.

I'd try to create one 30-32GB partition, format with FAT32. Then attempt to access the drive with your friends computer.

yakimushi · 02-18-2004, 09:50 AM

Er... the partition CAN be larger than 32GB: http://www.allensmith.net/Storage/HDDlimit/FAT32.htm

You just can't create it with Win2000/XP.

I'd suggest using another partioning tool like Partition Magic or perhaps you can find something free out there.

However, I would just create the 32GB partition and format the rest using NTFS.

-Ever- · 02-18-2004, 10:55 AM

Thanks Yakimushi.
Mephex: what do you think about Yakimushi's post? He, and others, say that XP can't create fat32 without Partition Magic, and you're saying you can. I went back into the manager, typed in 32gb instead, and it still said ntfs...
Thanks for your help all!
-Tim

--EDIT-- Whoops! Just went in and said 31gb instead of a full 32gb and I can now do Fat32.
So I just ran a 'quick format' on the partition and it opens up just fine now. I'll go ahead and try this on my buddies computer. I might just wind up grabbing his files then going back to a full ntfs partition. Care to give me a brief in-a-nutshell of the plusses and minuses of fat32 and ntfs? I'm using the drive mainly for high quality audio storage and general backing up use.
Thanks for everything guys. You were more help than any of the computer-specific forums I posted on

-T

Mephex · 02-18-2004, 11:03 AM

I think it's right on, I hadn't realized I couldn't run fdisk in win2k before today.

The more I read though, the more I see that this has been the norm since NT4.0. I say used Partition Magic or something similiar too then, sorry for the wild goose chase.

yakimushi · 02-18-2004, 03:54 PM

NTFS is a superior file system, period.

It is faster, more stable, supports larger drives, and also has journaling and security.

The only real benefit to FAT32 is that its pretty universal. Most systems will have no trouble reading or writing to it.

Also, after 32GB the FAT32 file system starts to use 32k cluster sizes. This generates more wasted space than NTFS, which defaults to 4kb.

Another option you may want to consider, instead of a monster 32gb FAT32 partition, just make it 5GB's or so. Use it as a proxy between the Mac and your PC. You can always put the files into the NTFS partition once you get back to your PC. 5gb out of 200 isn't going to make a huge difference.

steveincolumbus · 02-18-2004, 07:05 PM

why use fdisk in 2k xp? use disk manager.... gui based, no reboots needed and can format and all from it......and no need to buy any more software

02-16-2004, 10:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	Maxtor External. Can't write to it on my friend's computer I'm at my friends house with my external firewire maxtor drive. I've been using it on my xp system and I'm trying to grab some of his files off his g5 osx system. It says that the disc can't be modified, in that it's locked for some reason. Any ideas? Thanks -T __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses--

02-17-2004, 09:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	Thanks __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses--

02-17-2004, 03:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	I'm trying to format my Maxtor now and NTFS is the only selection available from the pull-down menu. What gives? Will XP not format it in Fat32? Maybe I should try formatting it on my friend's Mac, but he lives pretty far away...! Thanks for any help guys -T __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses--

02-18-2004, 12:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	Thanks for the replies guys. What's this 'command line' you're talking about? __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses--

02-18-2004, 06:40 AM	#8 (permalink)
LNCPapa Crazy Location: Notre Dame	Reason you can format it FAT32 is that it's bigger than 32 gig - partition the drive and you'll have FAT32 as an option. You can also use other tools such as Partition Magic to make it FAT32 even if it's bigger than 32 gig. __________________ No mercy for the bandwidth impaired

02-17-2004, 12:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
yakimushi Addict	OSX can't write to an NTFS formatted drive. Assuming that the drive has been formatted with NTFS, but thats what WindowsXP defaults to so I think thats a safe assumption. I think OSX will read FAT32 partitions, OS9 did.

02-17-2004, 06:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
steveincolumbus Psycho Location: BFE, Kentucky	I think it can still be done in command line, I know the gui's don't like you useing fat....

02-17-2004, 06:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mephex Psycho	Craazy, really ? You can't format a drive in FAT32 from XP ? Let us know how the command line method works for you, that sucks.

02-18-2004, 06:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
Mephex Psycho	I just realized I am unable to run fdisk from the command line in win2k, so I assume it's the same in XP ? With the drive attached, right click on My Computer, and select "Manage". Cruise down to "Disk Management", and find the external drive. You should be able to blow away the existing NTFS partition, then recreate smaller FAT32 partitions. I hope this helps.

02-18-2004, 08:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	Thanks Mephex. I got that far. I deleted the partition, and went through with creating a new one. What should I put as the size to make the partition in gigabytes? I just said 75, clicked next, and it asked if I wanted to format the partition. Do I want to? If so, I can still only select NTFS...Will not formatting it just make it a fat32 partition...? I don't know. Thanks -Tim __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses--

02-18-2004, 08:51 AM	#11 (permalink)
Mephex Psycho	In order to format in FAT32, the partition cannot be larger then 32GB. So with your 250GB drive, you'll end up having around 7 partitions. You can read more about that here: http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;314463 What you may be able to do, is have one or two FAT partitions, and then format the rest in NTFS. This may be able to allow you to use the drive on your friends system, while not having so many partitions. I'd try to create one 30-32GB partition, format with FAT32. Then attempt to access the drive with your friends computer.

02-18-2004, 09:50 AM	#12 (permalink)
yakimushi Addict	Er... the partition CAN be larger than 32GB: http://www.allensmith.net/Storage/HDDlimit/FAT32.htm You just can't create it with Win2000/XP. I'd suggest using another partioning tool like Partition Magic or perhaps you can find something free out there. However, I would just create the 32GB partition and format the rest using NTFS.

02-18-2004, 10:55 AM	#13 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	Thanks Yakimushi. Mephex: what do you think about Yakimushi's post? He, and others, say that XP can't create fat32 without Partition Magic, and you're saying you can. I went back into the manager, typed in 32gb instead, and it still said ntfs... Thanks for your help all! -Tim --EDIT-- Whoops! Just went in and said 31gb instead of a full 32gb and I can now do Fat32. So I just ran a 'quick format' on the partition and it opens up just fine now. I'll go ahead and try this on my buddies computer. I might just wind up grabbing his files then going back to a full ntfs partition. Care to give me a brief in-a-nutshell of the plusses and minuses of fat32 and ntfs? I'm using the drive mainly for high quality audio storage and general backing up use. Thanks for everything guys. You were more help than any of the computer-specific forums I posted on -T __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses-- Last edited by -Ever-; 02-18-2004 at 11:07 AM..

02-18-2004, 11:03 AM	#14 (permalink)
Mephex Psycho	I think it's right on, I hadn't realized I couldn't run fdisk in win2k before today. The more I read though, the more I see that this has been the norm since NT4.0. I say used Partition Magic or something similiar too then, sorry for the wild goose chase.

02-18-2004, 03:54 PM	#15 (permalink)
yakimushi Addict	NTFS is a superior file system, period. It is faster, more stable, supports larger drives, and also has journaling and security. The only real benefit to FAT32 is that its pretty universal. Most systems will have no trouble reading or writing to it. Also, after 32GB the FAT32 file system starts to use 32k cluster sizes. This generates more wasted space than NTFS, which defaults to 4kb. Another option you may want to consider, instead of a monster 32gb FAT32 partition, just make it 5GB's or so. Use it as a proxy between the Mac and your PC. You can always put the files into the NTFS partition once you get back to your PC. 5gb out of 200 isn't going to make a huge difference.

02-18-2004, 07:05 PM	#16 (permalink)
steveincolumbus Psycho Location: BFE, Kentucky	why use fdisk in 2k xp? use disk manager.... gui based, no reboots needed and can format and all from it......and no need to buy any more software