How to read and write Mac drives on Windows

windows mac external-hard-drive hfs

200,096

Solution 1

For read only access you can try hfs explorer

Solution 2

You can install Apple bootcamp drivers (no official download links but you can find it on other sites) on a non-Apple machine. This will install HFS+ (the other name for Mac OS Extended) drivers for Windows.

Originally found on MacRumors forum, detailed instructions here

Solution 3

For those with Windows 7, drivers can be found using Apple KB: TS3172

http://support.apple.com/kb/ts3172

Solution 4

I found the solution in here. It works just great. They are the official Apple´s driver set. It works with latest format (End 2012).

Solution 5

Seems like MediaFour MacDrive is the recommended one from various places. If anyone has any good and free alternatives or just other alternatives, I'd like to know about those though :)

Along with the ability to read and write to Mac disks and volumes, you can also create Mac disks for easy file transfers and backups. The built-in MacDrive Disk Manager gives you the power to partition, format, analyze and repair disks, while the newly revamped CD/DVD Creator allows you to burn Mac CDs and DVDs.

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200,096

Svish

Software Developer, Geek, HSP, SDA, ..., open, honest, careful, perfectionist, ... Currently into indoor rowing and rock climbing, just to mention something non-computer-related... Not the best at bragging about myself... so... not sure what more to write... 🤔

Updated on September 17, 2022

Comments

Svish over 1 year

I have some external hard drives that are Mac OS Extended (Journaled) formatted. What software can you recommend for working with those drives when under Windows? Do you have any experience with this?

Would be best if the software is free, but it doesn't have to be.

Hope someone can help!
- Svish about 14 years
  
  @Charles: I have, to the ones where I have gotten an answer. But I'll go through them again if you want.
CharlesB about 14 years

Hasn't been updated since 1999, so I doubt it can work on journaled HFS partition Readme doesn't mention support for WinXP (stops at Win98)
Admin about 14 years

Thats right, it will only work with hfs and not hfs+ , SORRY! Support for Windows XP SP2 and SP3 is OK.
Honk about 14 years

code.google.com/p/macfuse
Svish about 14 years

If they were my drives I totally would :p
Svish about 14 years

Interesting! Will have to try that out.
CharlesB almost 14 years

Svish, did you have a chance to test this solution? I'm curious to know if it works
Svish almost 14 years

No, but I really want to! My problem is that I'm missing the bootcamp drivers as I don't know anyone that has Bootcamp... and things have been a bit busy so haven't found time to search for them other places =/
Surreal Dreams over 11 years

This link is dead.
CupawnTae about 9 years

@SurrealDreams fixed