Getting my Documents and Photos from MacBook Pro laptop to new Desktop PC from PCSpecialist

K

kevbry

Active member
Hi totally newbie here again and having bought my PC from PCSpecialist and getting great advice from people on here..... How do I get my files off this MacBook Pro onto an USB Seagate External 2tb Hard drive then onto my new Windows PC ....previous data on the USB Seagate External Hard Drive was from old Windows 7 laptop so that just copied on no bother... then formatted it with new PC and tried to copy 3 folders from Macbook Pro ..Photo's...Documents..Downloads by dragging them onto Hard drive but when I plug it into new Windows PC it doesn't do anything not even recognise it as before e.g. Seagate Expansion F drive came up last time putting stuff on from old Windows 7 Laptop..... any help much appreciated....

Kev
 
ubuysa

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
Format the external hard drive that you will use to transfer the files as FAT32, both Windows and MAC can read/write to that format. Note that there is a maximum allowable file size of 4GB and a maximum partition size of 2TB with FAT32.
 
SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
ubuysa said:
Format the external hard drive that you will use to transfer the files as FAT32, both Windows and MAC can read/write to that format. Note that there is a maximum allowable file size of 4GB and a maximum partition size of 2TB with FAT32.
Click to expand...
That’s why you use exfat as it has a max file size of many many exobytes. It’s also much faster.
 
ubuysa

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
SpyderTracks said:
That’s why you use exfat as it has a max file size of many many exobytes. It’s also much faster.
Click to expand...
But not as widely supported. Linux doesn't support exFAT natively for example, nor does xBox. FAT32 is pretty much universal and whilst the 2TB limit is on the lower side the 4GB file size isn't.

If you want maximum interoperability FAT32 is a safer bet than exFAT.

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SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
ubuysa said:
But not as widely supported. Linux doesn't support exFAT natively for example, nor does xBox. FAT32 is pretty much universal and whilst the 2TB limit is on the lower side the 4GB file size isn't.

If you want maximum interoperability FAT32 is a safer bet than exFAT.

Sent using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
OP was asking for windows to macOS.
 
K

kevbry

Active member
Hi everyone thanks for the info...it did ask me what format but never had a clue... and its from a Mac to a PC that it won't recognise anything when plugged into my PC not even the hard drive lol ..... it did when there was files from a Windows 7 laptop ....as for 2tb there was only 350gbs of files on ...but thanks for the input as its a great learning curve for me as over 12 years since Ive used a PC lol
 
ubuysa

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
kevbry said:
Hi everyone thanks for the info...it did ask me what format but never had a clue... and its from a Mac to a PC that it won't recognise anything when plugged into my PC not even the hard drive lol ..... it did when there was files from a Windows 7 laptop ....as for 2tb there was only 350gbs of files on ...but thanks for the input as its a great learning curve for me as over 12 years since Ive used a PC lol
Click to expand...
Have you copied the files successfully now then?
 
K

kevbry

Active member
Hi yes I believe so using exFat...although Documents and Downloads look fine on my PC some in my Pictures folder are showing as need a Codec as there HEVC Video Extensions..... is this right to see them properly?
 
SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
kevbry said:
Hi yes I believe so using exFat...although Documents and Downloads look fine on my PC some in my Pictures folder are showing as need a Codec as there HEVC Video Extensions..... is this right to see them properly?
Click to expand...
Just use VLC player for media files. WMP is awful!
 
ubuysa

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
kevbry said:
Hi yes I believe so using exFat...although Documents and Downloads look fine on my PC some in my Pictures folder are showing as need a Codec as there HEVC Video Extensions..... is this right to see them properly?
Click to expand...
Good news. +1 for the VLC suggestion. [emoji3]

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K

kevbry

Active member
Thanks for that.... Now just have to work out anything else needs taken off this MacBook Pro before I sell it lol ...Ive done Documents, Pictures and Download Folders ....any suggestions?
 
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