MacDisk manage the old HFS volumes (classical magnetic Macintosh media)and the recent HFS+ format (also called Extended Mac OS, journalled or not). MacDisk, when launched from a Windows partition created by the boot manager Bootcamp on a Macintosh with Intel processor, can access the Macintosh partition to copy files back and forth.
Presentation
- I have used MacDrive in the past, but I recently stumbled upon this free method (assuming you have a Mac OS X install disc). Looks good, but I haven't had a chance to test it. Note: The free method uses the Boot Camp driver in the OS X install disk. It seems to be read-only and for the Intel processor only (i.e., it doesn't work with an AMD-based processor).
- Download and install the HFS+ for Windows by Paragon Software. Your drive will show up in Explorer. Straightforward UI for working with HFS+ partitions as easily as native volumes. Easy to navigate all.
MacDisk is an utility for reading, writing and formatting Apple Macintoshmagnetic media on an IBM compatible PC, without any hardware modification ofthe computer and without any add-on.
MacDisk is a 32-bit application and runs under all recent versions of Windows(Vista and 7/8/10 included, even 64 bits).
Supported Media
- HD (High Density) floppy disks (1.44 MB),
- Plain hard disks without any capacity limit (see also our page onDisk Interfaces and on Hugedisks). Caution, Thunderbolt disks are not supported yet.
- CD-ROMs, pure HFS, hybrid (HFS/ISO 9660) and evenISO 9660 CD-ROMs with Apple extensions
- DVD-ROMs, which are in fact just huge CD-ROMs
- Iomega Zip cartridges, 100 and 250 MB
- Iomega Jaz removable disks, 1 and 2 GB
- External hard disks connected on the USB or FireWire (IEEE 1394) bus
- SyQuest cartridges, all capacities
- Bernoulli disks, all capacities
- USB media (keys, drives, token)
- Magneto-optical cartridges of 128 and 230 MB (3.5') and of 300, 350, 600, 650 MB (5.25').
Macintosh CD-ROMs are managed as read-only volumes. If you want to createMacintosh CD-ROMs or DVD-ROMs on your PC, please checkMacImage.
All kinds of Zip cartridges are supported(be it on SCSI bus, on USB bus, on IDE/ATAPI bus or on the parallel port).
Under Windows 2000 and higher, we don't use the Aspi layer any more, but a servicelaunched under the local system. See the MacDisk datasheet and the Lsdiorw page.
File System Compatibility
MacDisk manage the old HFS volumes (classical magnetic Macintosh media)and the recent HFS+format (also called Extended Mac OS, journalled or not).
MacDisk, when launched from a Windows partition created by the boot managerBootcamp on a Macintosh with Intel processor, can access the Macintosh partitionto copy files back and forth.
Why MacDisk?
MacDisk is aimed at all users needing to exchange data files between theMacintosh and the PC.
MacDisk is an indispensable tool for data exchanges between sibling applicationsthat exist in both Macintosh and PC (Windows) versions, like MS-Word, MS-Excel,PageMaker, Quark Xpress as well as transfering compatible data formats (Ascii,graphical files).
To get a better understanding of MacDisk features, you can download theHelp File. Its always sunny season 10 episodes.
MacDisk Version 8.0
MacDisk is a 32-bit program. The latest version for Windows 2000 and higher addsmany new functions: it now supports all CD-ROM drives (SCSI, USB, IDE/ATAPI),all kinds of CD-ROMs (HFS, HFS+, hybrid, even multi-session ones). The 32-bitversion is much faster than former ones. For an example, a 80-MB file is copiedfrom the CD-ROM drive to the hard disk in less than a minute!
More, the new interface offers an Explorer bar to navigate the Macintosh volumeand a listview which allows to sort the items according to the name, to the type,to the data or resource length, to the creation/modification date and to thesignature.
Hfs For Windows Free
Where does parallels store windows. This feature is very interesting, for an example if you get an USB token withboth Word and Excel files. A sort according to the signature will allow you tocopy selectively the Word files in a specific subfolder and the Excel files inanother one. Likewise, if you do DTP, you'll be able to copy selectively theTiff pictures, the EPS files and the layouts.
See our Preview Page on its newfeatures and its new user interface (with numerous screen captures).
And What About DD Floppy Disks?
MacDisk cannot read Apple Macintosh DD (400 KB or 800 KB) floppy disks.Apple chose to implement the GCR coding (Group Coded Recording) witha variable spindle speed to squeeze more data on the outer tracks of the medium.There are no software solutions to mimic that on the PC, and the existing hardware solutions become more and more of 'historical nature' (Central Point Option Board DeLuxe, Apple external floppy drive connected to a MicroSolution controller).
However, I recently learned that one of those cards is still available: theCatweasel board can read DD imageswith a normal PC-floppy (connected to it) as well as many other formats.
For the time being, the only practical solutions is to find a working Macintoshwith a floppy drive to copy the files onto another floppy (HD) or anothermedium.
MacDisk Features
MacDisk manages the Macintosh signatures and addsa corresponding extension to the files copied from the Mac to the PC.Conversely, MacDisk gives a signature to the files copied on the Macintoshvolume to make 'double-clickable' icons. The lookup table is freely editable(with the SignEdit utility).
MacDisk is a low-level disk utility and not a conversion program. It doesn'tmodify the contents of the files (to avoid yet another source of problems). Itis bundled with MacText, a little text converteraimed at some Macintosh text formats.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Most big applications existing on both platforms open the files created onthe other platform. That is, Word for Windows opens Word Mac files. This holdstrue also for Excel, PageMaker, Xpress and many others. See ourHints & Tips for more information about convertingand transferring data files between Macintosh and PC.
Read Hfs Partition Windows
Font Transfers
From version 4.5, MacDisk offers certain features to transfer and convertfont files between the Macintosh and the PC.
How to Buy MacDisk?
Read Write Hfs On Windows
To Go Further..
- Download a demo package to check yourself whatthe program may do for you
- Testimonials Page (a few sentences may say itbetter than thousand words..
