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ipod-faqs >> iPod & iPhone Discussions >> iPod classic & iPod 5G/video

Mac Formatted iPod on a Windows Machine

I'm wondering if anyone has their Classic formatted for Mac while also being able to use it on the PC. I know about the 3rd party app needed to make this happen. I would just like to hear from anyone doing this now and which app you're using. Also , just hoping to still use iTunes because of playlists.
[313 byte] By [frankiev] at [2007-11-11 21:22:41]
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# 1 Re: Mac Formatted iPod on a Windows Machine
In theory, any Mac-formatted USB drive can mount under Windows XP or Vista if you have MacDrive installed on the Windows machine. But iPods are very flakey devices. I've seen weird behavior, especially when you try to use Windows-formatted iPods on Macs. When I did that once, I had numerous freezes, crashes, reboots... you name it. I wound up having to reformat the iPod under Mac two or three times before it finally stabilized.

I suspect going the opposite way -- Mac-formatted iPod on Windows -- also won't be very reliable. My advice would be to avoid it.
MusicTrax at 2007-11-15 12:10:31 >
# 2 Re: Mac Formatted iPod on a Windows Machine
MacDrive (http://www.dataviz.com/purchase/shopdvz/detail.html?prod_id=1136) is what you are after. Install it on a PC and the PC will read Mac formatted disks. iTunes has no issues with reading the iPod after this - the problem lies with getting Windows initially to read a Mac formatted disk.

If you are going to use the iPod mainly with the PC however I would definitely consider reformatting it for PC, as then you can do updates of the firmware which otherwise can't be done.
dimmer at 2007-11-15 12:11:34 >
# 3 Re: Mac Formatted iPod on a Windows Machine
Great minds think alike - I haven't had these issues going either way however (one of the few issues I don't have with iTunes it seems!), so it may depend upon your specific system, and what drivers are installed etc etc. Don't know if there is a way of testing MacDrive first to see if it works for you before purchasing?
dimmer at 2007-11-15 12:12:33 >
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