Windows XP/MAC OSX Folder Sharing

[Shavo_Tech]

Hello, I have a 2TB external hard drive connected to my PC using Windows XP Home SP2 (E and I am interested in viewing a folder on that hard drive on My MACBOOK Pro.

I am sharing the folder on my PC, and I go SHARED on my MAC, and I try to open the folder, but get the message "The operation could not be completed because the original item for the folder could not be found"

I dont know how to solve this

Any help appreciated,
Shavo_Tech

[Buzz]

How is the external formatted? NTFS? FAT32?

[Shavo_Tech]

NTFS.
Sometimes I can see Shared Documents, but only half the time.

[Buzz]

NTFS is primarily a Windows-only format. Macs can often read from an NTFS drive, but can have troubles as well. For optimum compatibility between the two systems the drive should be formatted FAT32. However, FAT32 has a limit of 4GB for any single file.

Your best bet is to back up the external, then reformat it as FAT32. Or at least create a FAT32 partition on the drive.

[Shavo_Tech]

I dont think I want to go to all that trouble to format it to FAT32, because this external hard drive has all my precious files, also backup files and I have DV Tape files bigger then 4GB.

All I want to do is play the .avi files on my external hard drive wirelessly through the home network.

[Buzz]

Okay, well all I can tell you is that NFTS format is not Mac-Friendly. And well.. .avi2 is not either.

[Shavo_Tech]

That comment is completely not true......
1. I have 5 other NTFS INTERNAL drives that read fine...
2. What is this 2001? Have you ever heard of DivX or VLC? there are dozens of plug-ins and stand alone players

[Buzz]

Just trying to help.. Good luck with your problem, and your attitude.

[otokonoko]

Guys,
I read your posts and figured I should reply to give my own bit of information:

When I try to share an xp folder, it gives me the same message Shavo_tech got. But when I copy a folder into the Shared Folders of winxp, my macbook pro is always able to access and modify it.

Also, there is no NTFTS/FAT32 issue here, in case it wasn't cleared up. My winxp hard drive is NTFS format and has the same problem.

So, my only suggestion is to use the shared folder until someone comes up with a real solution

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by otokonoko

Also, there is no NTFTS/FAT32 issue here, in case it wasn't cleared up. My winxp hard drive is NTFS format and has the same problem.

Sure sounds like an NTFS format issue to me.