Posted on 11/30/2016 5:52:29 AM PST by ETL
Hi all, I'm trying to transfer some files I have on a micro-SD card to a friend's MacBook Air. I used my Windows-based PC to fill the card and when I insert it into the Mac the Mac doesn't recognize it (it doesn't show up on the desktop or by clicking "Find"). I talked to someone from BestBuy's GeekSquad on the phone last night and they said that Macs can't read cards unless they're formatted in something called "Fat 32". They said I could reformat the card while it's inserted in the Mac, or, if I recall correctly, on a PC, but that the process deletes the contents of the card. So would I be able to refill the card on my or any other Windows-based PC if it is formatted in "Fat 32"? If not, any other suggestions for transferring the contents of the Windows SD card to a MacBook? I have almost no knowledge of Apple or Macs, so please keep any possible solutions simple. Thanks.
Usually they come from the factory FAT
Yes, I know I don’t need internet access to do the transfer. I was referring to the difficulty communicating on the forum via a smartphone.
Sorry. I misread. Best of luck!
Thanks, all, for your helpful responses and advice. Will read through and consider all. Smartphone internet access makes it somewhat difficult.
2 machines?
You forgot NSA’s computer(s) and Wikileaks. Maybe the Chinese and Russians, too. And a couple of 14 year old hackers.
Other than that, Google is as secure a computer system as one can imagine. ;-)
My card is 16GB with 14.7 available. I have it filled with 14.7.
Interesting. Never heard of it. Where do you get it?
I wouldn’t try it. It’s one of those “matter, anti-matter” things. It never goes well when you bring them together.
Yes, from my limited experience with Apple products, I cannot for the life me get why they are so popular. Several years ago I bought an iPod, and, when I discovered its many short comings, couldn’t return it fast enough. I actually had to tell them it wasn’t working properly so that they would refund me.
Dropbox
Thanks, but I’d rather not upload the files to a website.
Thanks. I do have Yahoo Dropbox for large file sharing, but would rather not use it in this case.
Thanks. Looks promising. Will check it out.
Thanks. But I prefer to transfer via the card. And I have Yahoo Dropbox, which I imagine is similar.
Macs should be able to read the card if it’s in NTFS. They just can’t write to it natively.
However, if you are having issues, like most people said try copying the data back to your PC, reformat the card using exFAT. (NOT FAT or FAT32. They’re less efficient and have several file size limitations.) Also, your Mac has a sdcard slot?
If that still doesn’t work, try transferring the files using a regular USB drive.
Using a PC, how do I check what format the card is now?
The MacBook Air is my friend’s. I don’t have it here. But it does have the SD slot. It just isn’t recognizing or reading the card.
I wouldn’t transfer anything to google.
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