7
Formatting New External Hard Drive
source link: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/formatting-new-external-hard-drive.2276317/
Go to the source link to view the article. You can view the picture content, updated content and better typesetting reading experience. If the link is broken, please click the button below to view the snapshot at that time.
Formatting New External Hard Drive
Feb 17, 2007
NB, Canada
I just got the new MBA M1, to replace my 2011 MBP (which is Mac OS Journaled).
My current external drive I use for my Time Machine backup is the same, with a partition also for FAT 32 (in case I had to put files onto Windows).
I have a new 2 TB external drive. What's the best way to partition it? Should it be converted to APFS for the Time Machine backup?
I'd like to partition it 3 ways...1TB for Time Machine, 500GB Mac OS Journaled (sorry, I'm rusty so I don't know if APFS automatically means Mac OS Journaled nowadays)...then I'd like to do 500GB as exFAT - for files that might have to go on a windows computer (unlikely, but precaution).
Does this make sense? Is there any reason I shouldn't go to APFS?
My current external drive I use for my Time Machine backup is the same, with a partition also for FAT 32 (in case I had to put files onto Windows).
I have a new 2 TB external drive. What's the best way to partition it? Should it be converted to APFS for the Time Machine backup?
I'd like to partition it 3 ways...1TB for Time Machine, 500GB Mac OS Journaled (sorry, I'm rusty so I don't know if APFS automatically means Mac OS Journaled nowadays)...then I'd like to do 500GB as exFAT - for files that might have to go on a windows computer (unlikely, but precaution).
Does this make sense? Is there any reason I shouldn't go to APFS?
Fishrrman
macrumors Core
Feb 20, 2009
20,621
7,345
For time machine, use HFS+ (Mac OS extended with journaling enabled, GUID partition format).
In fact, for ALL platter-based hard drives (no matter what you use them for), I still recommend HFS+.
I would advise AGAINST putting any PC compatible partition (exfat, etc.) onto a drive that is being used for a tm backup, or for any other "important" Mac file storage.
If you need a drive with which to share with PCs, get a standalone drive to be used ONLY for that purpose.
Don't "mix up" Mac/PC formats on a single drive.
Fewer potential for problems that way...
In fact, for ALL platter-based hard drives (no matter what you use them for), I still recommend HFS+.
I would advise AGAINST putting any PC compatible partition (exfat, etc.) onto a drive that is being used for a tm backup, or for any other "important" Mac file storage.
If you need a drive with which to share with PCs, get a standalone drive to be used ONLY for that purpose.
Don't "mix up" Mac/PC formats on a single drive.
Fewer potential for problems that way...
Feb 17, 2007
NB, Canada
Okay - So I should not convert to APFS? Is HFS+ the non-APFS format?For time machine, use HFS+ (Mac OS extended with journaling enabled, GUID partition format).
In fact, for ALL platter-based hard drives (no matter what you use them for), I still recommend HFS+.
I would advise AGAINST putting any PC compatible partition (exfat, etc.) onto a drive that is being used for a tm backup, or for any other "important" Mac file storage.
If you need a drive with which to share with PCs, get a standalone drive to be used ONLY for that purpose.
Don't "mix up" Mac/PC formats on a single drive.
Fewer potential for problems that way...
Edit to Add - all my external drives (including the internal on my 2011 MBP, are SSD. So they aren't platter.
Feb 21, 2012
5,215
2,436
New Jersey Pine Barrens
I agree, and would go one step farther not not partition or store ANYTHING else on your backup disk. A backup is useless if you can't be confident in its integrity and using it for something else increases the risk of problems. Get separate disks for all your needs, they are cheap. If your Windows needs are modest, maybe just use a flash drive?I would advise AGAINST putting any PC compatible partition (exfat, etc.) onto a drive that is being used for a tm backup, or for any other "important" Mac file storage.
If your data is important, also consider adding at least one other backup disk. Personally I use Time Machine, a bootable Carbon Copy Clone on an external SSD and BackBlaze backups to the cloud.
Feb 21, 2012
5,215
2,436
New Jersey Pine Barrens
Personally, I format my external SSD's with APFS. I really can't see any downside to that.Edit to Add - all my external drives (including the internal on my 2011 MBP, are SSD. So they aren't platter.
Feb 17, 2007
NB, Canada
Will the new MBA still work fine with HDD's that are formatted with HFS+ (like my older backup drives)Personally, I format my external SSD's with APFS. I really can't see any downside to that.
Feb 21, 2012
5,215
2,436
New Jersey Pine Barrens
Don't see why it wouldn't, but since I don't have an M1 Mac that's just an assumption.
Recommend
About Joyk
Aggregate valuable and interesting links.
Joyk means Joy of geeK