Once you have done with formatting, your external hard drive will be able to write and read files from both a PC and Mac. The resulting FAT32 file system will be compatible with all versions of Mac OS X, and Windows including Windows 10 back to 95.

Photo by Sharon Vaknin/CNET If you need to expand your storage space with an external hard drive and you use both Mac and PC, you'll likely run into a few obstacles. Hard drives advertised as being compatible with Windows and Mac OS may have misled you into thinking you could actually use one hard drive for both computers.

You can, but not out of the box. Most external hard drives (HD) are sold in a format called NTFS, which is designed to work with Windows. Macs read and write to a different format, called HFS+. Another format, called FAT32 is compatible with both OS platforms. Here's a look at how the different HD format types function: FAT32 (File Allocation Table) - Natively read/write FAT32 on Windows and Mac OS X.

- Maximum file size: 4GB - Maximum volume size: 2TB NTFS (Windows NT File System) - Natively read/write NTFS on Windows. - Read-only NTFS on Mac OS X - Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and above but has proven instable. - Maximum file size: 16 TB - Maximum volume size: 256TB HFS+ (Hierarchical File System, aka Mac OS Extended) - Natively read/write HFS+ on Mac OS X - Required for Time Machine - Maximum file size: 8 - Maximum volume size: 8EiB Isn't FAT32 the obvious solution? According to the list above, formatting your hard drive to FAT32 so that you can read and write on either OS seems like the obvious solution.

The video and directions below will guide you through the process, but before you format your HD to FAT32, beware of these drawbacks: • FAT32 offers no security, unlike NTFS, which allows you to set permissions. If your HD gets into the wrong hands, that person will be able to access your data. • The max size for any given file stored on a FAT32-formatted HD is 4GB. So, for example, if you want to store a 9GB movie, it will be impossible. • In general, FAT32 drives are more susceptible to disk errors. • It's not a huge issue, but FAT32 is less efficient at storing files.

Its large cluster sizes waste disk space, unlike the other HD storage formats. If you've considered these issues and would still like to use FAT32, this video will guide you through the process of formatting your HD to FAT32 using a Windows or Mac PC: OK, what are my alternatives to using FAT32? The good news is, it's not FAT32 or nothing.

The alternative solutions do require more tinkering, but if you do not want to risk FAT32's lack of security, choose from one of the following alternatives. Option 1: Format to NTFS, and use NTFS-3G to read/write on Mac. If you keep your hard drive's out-of-the-box NTFS format for all the reasons FAT32 displeases, there's a workaround that will allow your Mac to read and write files to the drive. Is an open-source program that, when coupled with, will let you use your NTFS drive on your Mac. However, it is an open-source program, so use it at your own risk.

Mac configure smtp for gmail send. It was the sending that was the issue. As I mentioned towards the end of my message, in the screen previous to the second image, there was an option to choose another SMTP server, which I set up as - as you suggested, too - smtp.gmail.com giving my username and password. But this did not solve my problem. Outgoing mail server for Apple Mail. Anyhow, the set up process of an SMTP server on Apple Mail is very easy: 1. Click on “Preferences” in the “Mail” menu. Open the “Accounts” tab and click on “Server settings”. Now enter in the “Outgoing mail server” voice your outgoing mail server name (for instance, pro.turbo-smtp.com).

Applicationize is an open-source, free service I built that replicates the 'Create Application Shortcuts' behavior on Mac by generating a Chrome Extension of your favorite website on-the-fly that opens in its own window with its own dock icon! How to Create Application Shortcuts in Google Chrome for Mac. Of opening it as usual in Chrome or using Fluid to create the shortcut. Create Application Shortcuts in Google Chrome on a Mac. How to create shortcuts for programs.

Many have vouched for its success, but others complain about bugs. The commercial solution, which will give you access to support and software updates, is. It's $20, offers Lion support, and you get a five-day trial to try before you buy.