How to share files between Mac and Windows Partition?

Hi!

I am a first time mac user and am loving the experience, however, there are occasions when i need to bootcamp windows (office, games) and etc.. (i do have fusion, but games perform better in bootcamp)..

However, i would like to know how do i make the same exact files be accessible between the two.

one of the options i thought about, was to create a 3rd partition in NTFS (FAT32 only goes up to 32GB, and its too small for me).. would that be accessible by both windows and mac? what i am trying to do is to share my music library so i can access it from both mac and windows

 

osx cant write to ntfs natively. You need to get ntfs-3g, or i think someone mentioned that paragon makes a program you can buy.

In windows you'll have to get macdrive if you want to write to the osx partition, as windows doesnt support hfs+ natively.

Theres also a free program called HFS explorer, that allows you to view and copy files from your hfs partition within windows. I used that for a while, but macdrive really is more useful.

The easiest way on the osx side, is just to format it using fat32, but as you said thats not an option.

 

but if i format it into ntfs, will i be able to add the files to my itunes library?
cause if yes, i can simply have a 3rd partition, and have windows write normally and use the ntfs-3g to write it when im on mac

 

Yea, youd have to set it up so that it would use the ntfs drive to store music, or whatever. I dont know your specific setup. But OSX can read ntfs drives.

And yea you could have a third partition, far32, that would be like a place to put files that both windows and osx could access. Not sure if thats what you were asking, but yea.

 

Another approach would be to get a ExpressCard (32GB) and it can be accessed via both OS, uses more power though and also you still need NTFS-3G for OSX to write to it.

 

but i think 32GB is too little if i start adding videos and etc

 

If 32GB is too small then you will need NTFS, which means your best bet is going down the third partition route like you suggested.

 

Why create a third partition? Surely your Boot Camp partition is NTFS already?

 

Yes you are right, all he needs is a way to make the NTFS partition visible in OSX, which I can't say I have ever tried before, so I reserve my judgment.

 

cause i was kind of reluctant in case i mount the drive into fusion, wouldnt that make the drive "disappear"?

 

For MAC to Windows, get macfuse and ntfs-3g, google it, easy installations

For Windows to MAC, get MacDrive, google it

Talk done!

 

while youre using the bootcamp partition in fusion, you cant access it because its using it.

After you're done, you just gotta remount it using disk utility, and itll come back.

 

If you are running Fusion with your Boot Camp partition, you can set up your Mac drive as a network drive in Fusion, and your Fusioned Boot Camp drive as a network drive in OS X. That way you can just use Finder/Explorer to copy paste files between them.

 

I usually transfer files with my little USB thumb drive. Larger files I use a DVD RW disk.

 

Semi-off-topic question here. I have like a 8GB movie project file on my desktop that I want to transfer to my MBP. I do have a 160GB portable hard drive but its formatted in FAT32. How can I transfer the file? I only way so far I could think of it to split it into 3-4 smaller .rar files, but my computer is kinda slow so that might take a while. Any ideas?

 

You could partition your external drive into NTFS, then load the file on OS X using Macfuse or something.

 

Oops sorry I forgot to mention I wanted to leave the external drive as FAT32.

 

Guess your only option is to compress and separate the files then. Unless you can establish a gigabit network between the PC and your Mac.

 

Ok thx no idea how to set-up a "gigabit network" so I guess compressing is my only option.

 

No... you have another option which consists of you looking up "gigabit network" on google and learning about how to do it from there. Setting up a gigabit network would definitely be the easiest. Its essentially plugging in an Ethernet cord between your computers and transferring files.