[butterbean]

Boyfriend bought a large external hard drive so we can both use it to backup our laptops. I'm trying to work out how to best do this.
I have a PB G4, and would like to create a bootable copy. He's got an IBM ThinkPad, and just wants to backup various files + music and photos.
1. partition external drive?
2. formatting for both OSX and Windoze -- Do I format the drive in Fat32, or can I format each partition differently?
3. I've read that SuperDuper doesn't support Fat32 formatting. Problem? Other easy to use software for cloning?
Any thoughts will be much appreciated. This is totally new territory for me. Thanks.

[quicklook2]

with the cheap price of large external drives you have no reason to not have one for both platforms.

[butterbean]

True. However, my BF kindly bought this drive as a gift for me . . . in his mind another way to make my life easier. So it's important to me to make the situation work.

[macnuke]

it's yours. therefore he needs his own if he is on the PC. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
FAT32 will allow both to access ( R/W ) but in truth, it really isn't as reliable as two separate drives.
and a partition with two formating schemes is the fastest way to get into trouble.

[quicklook2]

Quote:

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True. However, my BF kindly bought this drive as a gift for me . . . in his mind another way to make my life easier. So it's important to me to make the situation work.

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so you buy him one for valentines day and all will be a lot smoother for both your backups.
you are just going to make having a backup a whole lot easier for both the platforms.
if he is a god bf than he will understand and if he does not...

[butterbean]

Okay, you and Macnuke have convinced me. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[butterbean]

Oops, I meant you and "quicklook2" have convinced me!

[butterbean]

You're right - he will understand, as he's a prince.
Backing up to commence shortly.
/forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Thanks.

[macnuke]

knew what you meant the first time /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
fortune with you

[quicklook2]

glad to help and you will be happier in the long run.
good luck.

[butterbean]

One more question, if I'm not being too pesky...
The external HD in question is USB 2.0. Can I even use it with my Powerbook G4 Alum? System profiler wasn't helpful.
Many thanks for the help.

[quicklook2]

Quote:

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One more question, if I'm not being too pesky...
The external HD in question is USB 2.0. Can I even use it with my Powerbook G4 Alum? System profiler wasn't helpful.
Many thanks for the help.

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format it for hfs+ and it should be good to go.
it is probably set up for a pc.

[drmbb]

You will not be able to make a bootable full system clone of your G4 with a USB drive though. OS X on powerpc machines will not boot from a USB device. You will want a firewire drive for the G4 if you want a bootable clone for quick and easy full system restore.
A USB drive will be fine for non-bootable file backup though.

[butterbean]

Hey thanks for adding that very important information. In fact, I made that discovery last night as I was reading the documentation for SuperDuper. I do, indeed, want to create a bootable backup, and so have decided to order a nice LaCie FireWire drive which is on sale at Small Dog.
My BF had great intentions, though, and he will put the USB drive to good use. I will have to suggest to him that he might check with me before he buys me any gear. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif