My Book 4 GB limit?
 

I have a 500Gb My Book HD, My plan was to store either finished movies or downloaded footage from my SR11 on it ( as a data file). The instruction book pdf says that the max file size is 4 GB. Even if I store finished movies I may be larger than 4 GB (single layer DVD 2 4.7GB) Anyone using a MY Book with a MAC? Does this limit hold true with a MAC as well as with a XP Machine. The book state that the drive is pre-formated as a single FAT 32 partition, but can be re-formated.
Any insight would be apreciated.

The problem here is the FAT32 file system, not the hard drive.

I have a bunch of MyBook Essentials 500 GB hard drives.
I routinely buy one, wipe it clean, and quick format it with NTFS.

And I routinely save on them files ranging from tiny (sub 10 KB) up to extra large (26+ GB).

Indeed. If you have all ready loaded up the drive you can try using the Convert tool provided by windows.

Convert e: /FL:NTFS


where e: is your external drive. I have done this about 20x and have never lost a file YET but If there is something important on the drive you should have it backed up before doing this.

In the future just remember to do a quick format to NTFS with new drives :)

With a Mac?
 

Bill and Josh, it sounds like you guys are using a windows machine. I'll be using a Mac. I haven't used the drive yet so all options are open to me. Is the NTFS the best course for me on a Mac machine?

To get around that limit on the MAC you will have to use one of the Journaled formats. I don't know of any converting tools. In that case you will have to format it before you put your data on. Mac can read NTFS files but it cannot write to that format.

A stock Mac can't write to a NTFS (windows) partition. It can read NTFS but if you want to write to the drive you will need to use the Mac HFSX (or HFS+) file system. If the drive is new just format it as a HFSX partition and you own't have the 4 gig limit of FAT32.

Just so you know, you won't be able to use that drive with a PC. The only file system with read and write compatibility between PC and Mac is FAT.

Yep, I was a few seconds a head of you Chris. I use a Mac for day to day stuff and a PC for editing so I go back and forth a lot :)

To clarify yes, the Journaled format will be Mac only, it will not go over to the PC as far as I know.

Thanks
 

Thank you to the 3 of you for helping me out with this.