Getting files from VERY old Mac to new Windows PC - Computer Technical Help

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Getting files from VERY old Mac to new Windows PC

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03-20-2024 , 04:24 PM

Rizzeedizzee

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Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,106

I have a very, very old Mac. For context, it's running Word 2011. I'm going to finally get around to replacing it, this time opting for a Windows PC because I never really became a Mac guy. I have A LOT of large files on the MAC which I will want to transfer to PC. But I also want to use this as an excuse to back up these files, so I'm going to go the route of an external hard drive to act as both the means of transfer and then the back-up storage.

My question is whether there will be any issue finding one that will work with such an old Mac and such a new PC? If not, does anyone have any good recommendations? Or am I going about this all wrong?

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03-21-2024 , 05:59 AM

agamblerthen

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Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 547

Have you thought about using a cloud service like DropBox?

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03-21-2024 , 01:06 PM

codeartisan

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Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 183

If you format the drive as FAT32, that is pretty much guaranteed to work with all versions of Windows and MacOS . (Note, it doesn't support individual files of 4Gb or larger).

Also remember the 3-2-1 approach to backups:

3 copies of the data
2 backup copies on different media types
1 backup copy offsite

Using a cloud service and an external hard drive will help achieve this.

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03-21-2024 , 01:40 PM

Rizzeedizzee

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Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,106

Quote:

Originally Posted by codeartisan

If you format the drive as FAT32, that is pretty much guaranteed to work with all versions of Windows and MacOS . (Note, it doesn't support individual files of 4Gb or larger).

Thanks for the reply.

Do only certain external drives support FAT32, or is it an option for most if not all of them?

How will I be able to tell what the default "format" of the drive is, and, if it's not FAT32, how I can modify it to be FAT32? Or will the materials that come with the drive make this apparent?

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03-21-2024 , 01:45 PM

Rizzeedizzee

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Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,106

Quote:

Originally Posted by agamblerthen

Have you thought about using a cloud service like DropBox?

I considered it, and might do so as "belt and suspenders". But I like the idea of not only the drive being a means to get the files from one computer to another but thereafter still including the files, thus having them located somewhere I know is completely safe and stable and in turn giving me added peace of mind.

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03-21-2024 , 02:51 PM

codeartisan

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Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 183

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizzeedizzee

I always like to reformat any new drive I buy to get rid of any preinstalled crap.

Not knowing what version of MacOS you are running it's probably best to format on your PC. Plenty of step by step instructions on the internet - the ones listed here seem as good as any.

I think FAT32 only supports up to 2TB capacity, but other than that pretty much any external drive will suit your needs.

Last edited by codeartisan; 03-21-2024 at 03:03 PM.

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03-21-2024 , 03:08 PM

Rizzeedizzee

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Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,106

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Originally Posted by codeartisan

My Mac OS is running Sierra 10.12.6, last updated in.....gulp....2019

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03-21-2024 , 07:37 PM

codeartisan

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Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 183

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizzeedizzee

My Mac OS is running Sierra 10.12.6, last updated in.....gulp....2019

That's state of the art compared to my 2010 Macbook Air.

You should be fine with the FAT32 formatted drive.

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