Toshiba external hard drive; problems using Mac and Windows

[RickGurnon]

I need to know how to backup both a Macbook Air and a desktop computer running Windows on a 3T toshiba canvio external hard drive. The manual says you can partition the hard drive but it only works on the Mac. The desktop "sees" the external drive but won't let me back up to it. Help?

 

[Boogieman_WD]

Hey there, Rick.

In order to be able to use your drive with both Windows and Mac OS X, you'll have to format it by using a file system that's supported by both operating systems. In this case you can use exFAT. So reformat your drive and when you have to select the files system, go with exFAT instead of HFS+.
Another option would be to have to separate partitions and format one of them for Mac OS X and one of them for Windows.

Here's how to format your hard drive: How to partition and format a drive on Windows and macOS. Note that you should backup any important data which you might have written on the drive, before you reformat it, as this is a data destructive process.

Hope that helps.
Boogieman_WD

 

[RickGurnon]

Could you repost the link...it opens as just a blank page.

 

[Boogieman_WD]

Sure thing, although it's a bit strange. I'm able to open it just fine. Try this one: https://support.wdc.com/knowledgebase/answer.aspx?ID=3865
If you're still having the same issues, you could give it a go with a different browser to see if the same thing happens.

 

[RickGurnon]

It WORKED! Thanks very much.

 

[Boogieman_WD]

Glad to hear it! Good job!