Cross-Platform Backing Up Windows XP

Cross-Platform Backing Up Instructions:
Windows to Macintosh

When transferring files cross-platform, it's important to use mediathat can be read on machines running both Windows and the Macintosh OS. 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 few files 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 beenknown to fail on occasion.

If your Windows computer 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 on my computer?

If your computer has a CD-RW drive, you can burn CDs. If it has a DVD-RW, you can burn CDs as well as DVDs.

You can also look at the front panel of your disc drive(s) to determine its type. If ReWritable is listed under disc then you have a CD-RW drive.If DVD-R/RW is displayed, then you have a DVD-RW drive.

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 Windows computer. To erase a CD-RW in Windows XP SP2, see the Windows XP CD Burning documentation.

2. Will a Macintosh computer read the CDs that I burn?
   
   All Macs on campus have CD drives, which should generally have no problem reading CD-Rs and most CD-RWs burned on a Windows computer. You should always test the CDs you burn on a Mac before the files are erased on the original Windows machine to be sure that no errors occurred during the burning process and that the Mac's CD-ROM drive recognizes the disc you burned.
   
3. How do I burn CD and use it on a Mac?
   
   Please see our documentation: How to copy to a CD with Windows XP
   
   When you insert a CD into the destination Mac, a CD icon will appear on the Desktop. Double-click on it to access your files. Please see the Macintosh OS documentation if you need further instructions on using a Macintosh 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 Windows and Macintosh 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 Windows computer. To erase a DVD-RW in Windows XP SP2, see the Nero 6 documentation.

2. Will a Macintosh computer read the DVDs that I burn?
   
   The vast majority of Macs on campus have DVD drives that can read most DVD-Rs and DVD-RWs burned on a Windows computer.You should always test the DVDs you burn on a Mac before the files are erased on the original Windows computer to be sure that no errors occurred during the burning process and that the Mac's DVD-ROM drive recognizes the disc you burned.
   
3. How do I burn a DVD?
   
   Please see our documentation: Burning DVDs with Nero 6
   
   When you insert a DVD into the destination Mac, a DVD icon will appear on the Desktop. Double-click on it to access your files. Please see the Macintosh OS documentation if you need further instructions on using a Macintosh 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 Windows and Macintosh 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 Windows and Macintosh 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, or 512mb. 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 Macintosh 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 the Mac beforehand to ensure that the driver has been installed and that you can find the USB port on the machine. New PowerMacs will have USB ports on the front of the tower and iMacs will have USB ports easily accessible on the back of the machine.
   
3. How do I copy files to a flash drive and use it on a Macintosh computer?
   
   Please see our documentation: How to use a Flash Drive
   
   When you insert a flash drive into the destination Mac, a disk icon will appear on the Desktop. Double-click on it to access your files. Please see the Macintosh OS documentation if you need further instructions on using a Macintosh computer.

Zip Disks

If your Windows computer does not have a zip drive, external 250MB zip drives canbe checked out from the Knapp Media & Technology Center for temporary use.

Does my Windows computer have a zip drive?

From the Desktop, right-click on My Computer and select Properties. Click the Hardware tab and select Device Manager. Expand the option Disk drives. You will see the type of zip drive installed in your computer.

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

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

   
   *Note: 100MB zip disks are read-only in 750MB zip drives.
   
2. Will a Macintosh computer have a zip drive?
   
   New Macintosh computers on campus will not have internal or external zip drives, so please check the Mac 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 My Computer. The zip disk will appear as a Removable Disk drive. Files can be directly dragged into the zip disk window.
   
   When you insert a zip disk into the destination Mac, a disk icon will appear on the Desktop. Double-click on it to access your files. Please see the Macintosh OS documentation if you need further instructions on using a Macintosh computer.

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Transferring Browser Bookmarks/Favorites

1. Which browsers does the Macintosh OS support?
   
   There are OS X versions of Internet Explorer, Netscape, and Firefox, as well as Safari, a Macintosh-only browser. You can import bookmarks from any of your Windows browsers into a Macintosh 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. You may encounter an addition file called Thumbs.db on disks used on a Windows computer and then opened on a Macintosh. Since this file will be re-created every single time you switch from Windows to a Mac, it is best to ignore it.
   
2. Not all programs that run in Windows have a comparable version for Macs and vice versa. In addition, formatting may vary between the Windows version and Macintosh version of a particular piece of software. When switching from the Windows to the Macintosh 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 back 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 right-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