Cross-Platform Backing Up Macintosh OS X

Cross-Platform Backing Up Instructions:
Macintosh to Windows

When transferring files cross-platform, it's important to use media that can be read on machines running both Macintosh OS and Windows. Your choice will be further limited based on the types of drives and ports available on the given machines you are using. Below are guidelines and tips for determining which media is best for your situation, whether you are backing up all your files to change platforms permanently or you are simply transferring a fewfiles to a different platform.

Permanent File Transfer
Temporary File Transfer
Transferring Browser Bookmarks/Favorites
Tips for Transferring Files

Permanent File Transfer

Note: IS recommends that you make 2 backup copies. Backup media has been known to fail on occasion.

If your Mac has a CD-RW or DVD-RW drive, you should use CDs or DVDs to back up your files or to transport large files between computers. Due to the unreliable nature of Zip Disks, IS no longer recommends using them for backup when a CD-RW or DVD-RW drive is available. Please see the Temporary File Transfer instructions for more information about Zip Disks.

Which type of disc drive is in my computer?

To determine which type of disc drive is in your Mac, go to the Apple Menu and choose About this Mac. Take note of which version of OS X your Mac is running. Then click on More Info. This willbring up the Apple System Profiler.

OS X v.10.2: Click on the Devices and Volumes tab. Look next to BUS. If you see CD-RW, you can burn CDs.
OS X v.10.3: Click on the triangle to the leftof Hardware so that it faces down. Click on ATA andscroll downuntil you find the CD drive type. If you see CD-RW,you can burn CDs.
OS X v.10.4: Click on the triangle to the left of Hardwaresothat it faces down. Click on Disc Burning. If you see CD-Write,you can burnCDs.If you seeDVD-Write, you can burn CDs as well as DVDs.

CDs

1. Types of CDs: There are two types of recordable CDs, the most common sizes being 650MB and 700MB.

• CD-R stands for Compact Disc Recordable. Data can only be written (ie, copied) once to a CD-R and CD-Rs can be used on any computer with a CD-ROM drive. CD-Rs are best used for permanent data storage such as backing up your hard drive, sharing non-editable information, and saving large presentations.
  
• CD-RW stands for Compact Disc Re-Writable. Data can be written and erased much like a Zip disk. Not all CD-ROM drives can read CD-RWs, so CD-RWs may be limited to computers less than five years old. These discs are best used for transporting large files between computers, archiving data, storing large data files while you work on them, updating important files each week, and backing up files from your hard drive. Make sure you have new, blank discs in case the disc becomes corrupted. If you are using preformatted discs, choose discs that are formatted for a Macintosh computer. To erase a CD-RW in OS X, see the DiscBurner documentation.

2. Will a Windows computer read the CDs that I burn?
   
   All Windows computers on campus have CD drives, which should generally have no problem reading CD-Rs and most CD-RWs burned on a Macintosh computer. You should always test the CDs you burn on a Windows computer before the files are erased on the original Mac to be sure that no errors occurred during the burning process and that the Windows computer's CD-ROM drive recognizes the disc you burned.
   
3. How do I burn a CD and use it on a Windows computer?
   
   Please see our documentation for eitherDiscBurner or Toast 6 Titanium. Please note that Toast is not yet compatible with OS X v.10.4.
   
   When you insert a CD into the destination Windows computer, the CD may automatically run. To manually access the CD from the Desktop double click on My Computer. Under Devices with Removable Storage you will see the CD drive. Double-click on it to access your files. Please see the Windows XP documentation if you need further instructions on using a Windows computer.
   

DVDs

1. Types of DVDs: There are many types of recordable DVDs on the market, but not all DVD-ROM drives will recognize every type of DVD. IS recommends DVD-Rs (look for the minus sign between DVD and R) for the best chance of being recognized on both the Macintosh and Windows platforms. Each single-layer DVD-R can hold approximately 4.7GB of data. While more expensive than CD-Rs, they also can hold more than six CDs worth of data and are the most efficient solution for archiving or transporting gigabytes of information.

• DVD-R stands for Digital Versatile/Video Disc Recordable. Data can only be written (ie, copied) once to a DVD-R and DVD-Rs can be used on any computer with a DVD-ROM drive. CD-Rs are best used for permanent data storage such as backing up your hard drive, sharing non-editable information, and saving large presentations.
  
• DVD-RW stands for Digital Versatile/Video Disc ReWritable. Data can be written and erased much like a Zip disk. Not all DVD-ROM drives can read DVD-RWs, so DVD-RWs may be limited to computers less than five years old. These discs are best used for transporting large files between computers, archiving data, storing large data files while you work on them, updating important files each week, and backing up files from your hard drive. Make sure you have new, blank discs in case the disc becomes corrupted. If you are using preformatted discs, choose discs that are formatted for a Macintosh computer. To erase a DVD-RW in OS X, see the DiscBurner documentation.

2. Will a Windows computer read the DVDs that I burn?
   
   The vast majority of Windows computers on campus have DVD drives that can read most DVD-Rs and DVD-RWs burned on a Mac computer. You should always test the DVDs you burn on a Windows computer before the files are erased on the original Mac to be sure that no errors occurred during the burning process and that the Windows computer's DVD-ROM drive recognizes the disc you burned.
   
3. How do I burn a DVD and use it on a Windows computer?
   
   Please see our documentation for either DiscBurner or Toast 6 Titanium. Please note that Toast is not yet compatible with OS X v.10.4.
   
   When you insert a DVD into the destination Windows computer, the DVD may automatically run. To manually access the DVD from the Desktop double click on My Computer. Under Devices with Removable Storage you will see the DVD drive. Double-click on it to access your files. Please see the Windows XP documentation if you need further instructions on using a Windows computer.

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Temporary File Transfer

Due to the unreliable nature of zip disks and flash drives, you should never store your only copy of a file on these types of media. Flash drives for are now an excellent solution for transporting files temporarily between Macintosh and Windows computers since the majority of computers on campus no longer have floppy drives, and many no longer have zip drives. If the file or files you need to transfer are too large to fit on a flash drive, you can burn them to a CD or DVD. Please see the Permanent File Transfer instructionsfor more information on burning CDs and DVDs.

Flash Drives

1. What is a flash drive?
   
   A flash drive is a small self-powered drive that connects to a computer directly through a USB port and is both Macintosh and Windows compatible. They are also commonly referred to as key drives, thumb drives, jump drives, USB drives and pen drives. Flash drives come with varying amounts of memory, typically 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, or 1GB. If you have more information to back up than the amount of memory on your flash drive, IS recommends that you burn CDs or DVDs.
   
2. Will a Windows computer recognize my flash drive?
   
   Flash drives are supported on all campus machines, although some require a user to install drivers before use. If you need to use a file on a flash drive for a class, meeting, or presentation, test your flash drive on a Windows computer beforehand to ensure that the driver has been installed and that you can find the USB port on the machine. New Windows computers will have USB ports on the front of the tower as well as on the back of the machine.
   
3. How do I copy files to a flash drive and use it on a Windows computer?
   
   Please see our documentation: How to use a Flash Drive
   
   After you insert a flash drive into the destination Windows computer, you should see a message in the system tray near the clock saying that a new device has been found. To manually access the drive from the Desktop, double click on My Computer. Under Devices with Removable Storage you will see the flash drive. Double-click on it to access your files. Please see the Windows XP documentation if you need further instructions on using a Windows computer.

Zip Disks

1. Which type and size zip disks can I use in a Macintosh zip drive and also in a Windows zip drive?
   
   While Macintosh computers will recognize both PC and Mac formatted zip disks, Windows computers will only recognize PC formatted disks. Therefore, you must use a PC formatted zip disk if you are transporting files to a Windows computer. Please follow the guidelines below to determine which size zip disks can be used for transporting files:
   
   

   Macintosh Zip Drive	Windows Zip Drive	Size of Zip Disks that can be used
   100MB	100MB or 250MB	100MB
   250MB	100MB	100MB
   	250MB	100MB or 250MB
   	750MB	250MB

   
   Note: 100MB zip disks are read-only in 750MB zip drives.
   
2. Will a Windows computer have a zip drive?
   
   New Windows computers on campus will not have internal or external zip drives, so please check the computer you'll be using in advance to make sure there is a zip drive available. If there isn't, you can copy files to a flash drive or to a CD or DVD.
   
3. How do I copy files to a zip disk?
   
   From the Desktop, double-click on the white USB drive icon to see the files and folders currently stored on the drive. Files can be dragged directly into the zip disk window.
   
   When you insert a zip disk into the destination Windows computer, a folder may automatically pop up. To manually access the zip disk from the Desktop, double click on My Computer. Under Devices with Removable Storage you will see the zip drive. Double-click on it to access your files. Please see the Windows XP documentation if you need further instructions on using a Windows computer.

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Transferring Browser Bookmarks/Favorites

1. Which browsers does Windows support?
   
   Windows supports many of the same browsers as the Macintosh OS including Internet Explorer, Netscape, and Firefox, so your bookmarks can be exported from a Mac and imported to a Windows computer. If you have bookmarks in a Macintosh-only browser such as Safari v.1, these bookmarks can be imported into another Macintosh browser that has an equivalent on the Windows platform such as Netscape or Firefox, and then exported for use in a Windows browser.
   
2. How do I transfer my bookmarks/favorites?
   
   Please see our instructions on Backing up Bookmarks.

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Tips for Transferring Files

1. Disksused on a Macintoshcomputerandthenopenedona Windows computer may have an addition file called .Trashes,.VirexSpeedscan,.DS_Store, Virex Speedscan, Thumbs.db, or duplicate files/folders witha period and underscore before the file name, such as ._Assignment.Since these files will be re-created every single time youswitchfroma Mac to a Windows computer, it is best to ignore them.
   
2. Not all programs that run in Windows have a comparable version for Macs and vice versa. In addition, formatting may vary between the Macintosh version and Windows version of a particular piece of software. When switching from the Macintosh to Windows platform, it is important to test your files on the new operating system and software to ensure compatibility.
   
3. Sometimes files created on a Macintosh computer will not have a file extension at the end of the filename. If you save files on a Mac and then transport them to a Windows machine, bear in mind that Windows requires the three-letter file extension such as .doc, .xls, .ppt, etc. in order for the file to be opened. You can append the appropriate extension if it is missing by control-clicking on the file and choosing Rename.

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	Wellesley College | Information Services | Archives Computing | Library | Media Services | Telephone & Voicemail

• Erin Foti, efoti@wellesley.edu
• Information Services
• Date Created: November 18, 2005
• Last Modified: May 4, 2007
• Page Expires: July 1, 2008